Maldives – A Police State

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Foreign Minister, Dr Shaheed, recently stated in an interview to Reuters that the Maldives GDP was set to fall over 10%, from an 8% growth rate (2004) to –2.4% (2005). World Bank Maldives Country Director, Alastair McKechnie, echoed this grim prediction and the feared knock on effects: ‘The Government doesn’t have enough money…this creates a major problem in financing the delivery of services such as paying teachers.’ The main causes of the recession are the severe impact of the 26th December 2004 tsunami and the subsequent slow recovery of the tourism industry. The highest oil prices in decades have only compounded the pressure on the Maldivian economy.

In response to the crisis, President Maumoon Gayoom, announced an emergency increase of $140 million to the government’s budget and has been swift to seek extra funds to bolster the state. Reports state over $345 million of additional aid has been requested by the Maldives to states including India, USA, Japan and Australia.

However, in a country where, as McKechnie states, there are still several thousand without permanent housing months after the tsunami, even more report water/electricity shortages and facing what Dr Shaheed describes as ‘perhaps the worst position for decades’ it is remarkable to discover the CIA reports 5.5% of GDP, approximately $41.1 million, is spent on military expenditures.

The Maldives has engaged in no international conflicts since independence in 1965. However, the expenditure of 5.5% of its GDP on its military places it 14th highest amongst all states. Almost all countries boasting greater proportion of GDP on military capabilities are currently, or have recently been, engaged in civil war or international conflict. These include Angola, Eritrea and Israel. The reasoning behind massive military budgets in states such as these is perhaps understandable; the Maldives, however, is an anomaly. With the lack of security problems in the country for decades a strong conventional army was not needed so instead the ballooning military budget was channelled into the National Security Service (NSS).

The NSS is charged with vast responsibilities in internal affairs; it performs both army and naval duties in addition to intelligence control. The division of NSS military from NSS police has not soothed the fears of many that the organisation functions as Gayoom’s personal praetorian guard. The NSS swears allegiance to the president alone, not to the Dhivehi state. In a state where youth unemployment is rising, the attractive benefits offered for joining, such as comprehensive family medical support, ensure a steady flow of loyal applicants. Reports of gross human rights abuses, including torture and murder, have been levelled at the NSS during Gayoom’s reign. International human rights organisations such as Amnesty International have echoed the demands from the European Union that such abuses must stop, but to no avail. NSS actions during the demonstrations of August 2004 and August 2005 attracted international condemnation for the heavy handed and brutal tactics adopted in suppressing political opposition. The world has seen through Gayoom’s misrepresentation of reforms and his manipulation of the NSS. The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative recognises ‘the arrests…are particularly concerning as they appear to be aimed at intimidating and weakening the opposition party and their supporters.’

Gayoom’s position in the Maldives shares an affinity with archetypal dictatorships. The longest serving ruler in Asia, consistently condemned for gross violations of human rights, channels an unjustifiably large proportion of government funds into consolidating his own position. The NSS display against pro-democracy activists in August revealed its true objective; the equipment and technology purchased by the state is only ever utilised against Gayoom’s political opposition.

While millions of dollars are poured into consolidating Gayoom’s domination of the political arena it is once again the poorest members of society who will suffer the most. It appears Gayoom is more concerned with protecting his position rather than helping those in need.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Friends of Maldives

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E: enquiries@friendsofmaldives.org
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NOTES TO EDITORS

Friends of Maldives – www.friendsofmaldives.org

Friends of Maldives (FOM) is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) dedicated to the protection and promotion of human rights in the Maldives. Based in Salisbury, England and established in 2003. FOM focuses its activities on providing support and publicity to prisoners of conscience and good governance in the Maldives.