Sunday, January 17, 2010
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
Can Aswan reform the police whilst trained torturers remain embedded in the system?
Mohamed Aswan, a former Lieutenant, has been transferred to the Home Ministry today, charged with reforming the police. The Maldives cabinet held an emergency meeting over the weekend amid fears of continued police brutality in custody. Aswan was appointed Minister of State for Home Affair yesterday. He was already a member of the new government, serving as Minister of State, Principal Collector of Customs.
In the report, Aswan stated “There exists a well ingrained and institutionalized system of torture in jail. This may lead to a deplorable situation with disastrous consequences. The jail squads in charge of inmates are well versed in the horrendous methods of torture. There even exists a special language, a lexicon where the commandant need not express in so many words which form of torture to inflict. One example of this lexicon is the order to take inmates to the beach.
Beach in this instance means to take the inmate/s to an isolated stretch of beach and bash them up with truncheons and military boots until they confess”. Lieutenant Aswan also gave detailed methods of torture and a list of the main perpetrators, many of whom three months later were exposed as the killers of Evan Naseem.
One of his first acts within months of appointing himself as Commander in Chief and Head of Police was to order the construction of wooden contraptions with tiny holes to lock up the ankles of prisoners. Several carpenters at the RKL workshop have made known their willingness to testify as witnesses. Cells measuring about 30 square feet were constructed in the island of Dhoonidhoo and various other islands in Male' atoll.
National Security Servive (NSS) jail squads began training under Libyan instructors under Gayyoom’s regime. Maldivians were little aware that this was a new start in institutionalizing an ingrained culture of torture. The methodology included evolving a special code of seemingly ambiguous language which to jail squads were clear as to which regimen of torture a victim is to be inflicted with.
Repetitive systematic tortures under Dictator Gayyoom lasted 30 years. Since 1978, numerous inmates have testified that regular and institutionalized and repetitive systemic torture inflicted in Maumoon's jails include the following methods.
1. Solitary confinement by itself or together with one or more of the following methods of torture. Most solitary confinement cells are made of corrugated iron with barely enough room to move the body. There is no room to lie down. In the sun, the temperatures in these cells could exceed 40 degrees Celsius.
2. Handcuffing for extended periods, which may last months. Handcuffs are used to cuff together all four limbs in all imaginable permutations and combinations.
3. Putting in stocks / pillory (refer illustration) : The victim is restrained with his or her ankles and locked in holes in a block of wood. The victim's hands are cuffed and chained to one of his shins. The victim remains bent and does not have the use of his/her hands except when the chain holding the cuff is loosened for eating. Even then the victims hands are cuffed and has to eat off a plate kept on his lap. Defecation and urination is done on the spot and the victim remains with his or her own human waste for hours, sometimes days on end. Victims of the stocks almost invariably suffer from spinal conditions for life, if they survive this ordeal.
4. Hanging by the arms, legs. Sometimes from iron door or window frames, in a few instances, from the rims of water-wells.
5. Rape of women prisoners. Sometimes other women inmates are forced to watch.
6. "Mounting on the angle": The victim's arms are passed backwards through the vertical bars (about 60 cm apart) of the vent above the door in a prison cell. The wrists are then tightly handcuffed. The body is left dangling for hours at a time. The victim almost invariably has both shoulders and/or elbows dislocated during this exercise.
7. Indiscriminate beating
Often officials wearing military-style boots stomp on the victim. (in one well-documented case, a 17 year old youth was beaten up on the spinal area, in the interrogation room. He was paralyzed for life).
Female victims are left in various degrees of nakedness
9. Forcing detainees to stand on a chair
For hours with arms outstretched and a heavy object in each palm
10. Made to squat on the toes
with a length of timber between the upper and lower legs, tightly tucked behind the knee. The weight of the body results in the dislocation of the knee by a slow process.
Today, Dictator Gayyoom is suffering from acute dementia and doesn’t remember that, not only he knew and ordered to torture people, especially political opponents; he in fact trained and created a ‘torture’ force within the security apparatus to do just that.
President Nasheed knows all about Dictator Gayyoom’s torture. Ask him to give detailed accounts of how many times he was unlawfully imprisoned, incarcerated and tortured.
President Nasheed will be lucky to reach 50 before he is paralysed from the chronic injuries to his spine inflicted by dictator Gayyoom’s torture force.
Sadly, many of these torturers remain in the Maldives Police Service even today and that is why we hear of torture stories every now and then.
Torture Victims Association to seek justice over human rights abuses
Frustrated with the performance of government institutions, a new NGO founded by MDP members, the ‘Torture Victims Association’ (TVA) has vowed to gather cases and take them to international courts in the pursuit of justice, if necessary.
On Saturday night at the first of a series of rallies calling for justice for human rights abuses committed under the former government, TVA founding member and parliamentary group leader of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) ‘Reeko’ Moosa Manik said those who suffered grievously had waited “long enough”.
“But today I’m announcing, everyone stand up for your rights,” he said.
The rallies were attended by senior officials of the government as well as senior MDP members who spoke of their experiences in jail.
The first gathering on Saturday followed remarks by former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on a live radio show where he denied ordering the torture of political opponents.
“No Maldivian citizen was unjustly punished that I was aware of or on my orders,” he said.
At a press conference yesterday, Moosa said the objective of the new NGO was to seek redress for injustices.
“Our main purpose is to bring an end to the torture that has gone on in this country for most of its history,” he said.
Former governments established “a culture of torture” in order to remain in power and suppress dissent, he said.
Moosa said the society was distinct from MDP as it was “100 per cent” comprised of victims and appealed to the media not to “twist” the association to portray it as a political endeavor.
The association plans to contact and enlist the help of international human rights organizations and the UN Human Rights agencies.
A team comprising of “Maizan” Ali Manik, Ahmed Naseem, state minister for foreign affairs, Dr Ahmed Ali Sawad, tourism minister and Dr Ahmed Shaheed, foreign minister, were working towards this end, he said.
At the press conference, Naseem said the impetus for forming MDP came from the unjust practices of Gayoom’s government.
Naseem characterised the work of the society as a “national task”because victims of torture have been incapable of speaking about their
experiences.
Torture was “institutionalised” by the former government, he said,and families were destroyed when dissidents were targeted.
“If you walk down the road and meet 100 people, 40 of them would have been tortured at some point,” he said.
Naseem said if Maldivian courts fail to provide redress for injustices, the association would take the cases to international courts.
“Maizan” Ali Manik said the association would gather information and records and find a way to make the history of torture in the Maldives available to the public.
Not political
Naseem also emphasised that the new NGO was not political.
“The idea is to make sure these things do not happen again in the Maldives,” he said. “It’s nothing to do with what the government is doing. Today, young people have no idea what stocks are. At the turn of the century it was commonplace to use these things in the Maldives – they don’t know about medieval torture devices that were banned in 14th century Europe being used very recently in the Maldives.”
Government institutions such as the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) had proven unsatisfactory and had made a lot of excuses, he said.
“I don’t know if it is a lack of passion, a lack of efficiency or a lack of will,” Naseem said. “Few such government institutions work very well in any country. A government offical will often just work for a salary; they may not have the same passion for their job as a private non government organisation.”
The NGO was “just one way” of addressing the situation, he said, noting that there were “various ways” including court settlements and the proposed Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).
“But there are criminals here who need to be brought to justice,” he said. “People can’t move ahead without justice.”
It was “amazing”, he said, “how people who were tortured by the regime still support it. It’s like Stockholm Syndrome – it’s very difficult for many people to talk about how they were abused. Some are very ashamed. I myself find it hard to speak about what happened to me. Women were raped and will not talk about it public. But many people have said they will speak in recordings, or without their face revealed. Many want [the process] to remain confidential.”
Naseem insisted the investigations “will not turn into a witch hunt. We are just trying to gather information.”
The NGO would seek international assistance and funding, he said, as “we don’t know how to go about these things in the Maldives.”
Opposition reaction
Gayoom’s spokesman Mohamed Hussein ‘Mundhu’ Shareef denounced the TVA as “another voodoo NGO in the Maldives.”
“We’ve seen this before: Moosa gets on a platform to do what he does best – level accusations at Gayoom. His sell by date is up.”
Mundhu accused the MDP of orchestrating the new NGO.
“The MDP needs to boost motivation among hardcore supporters to bring them out of the yellow haruge, and the thing that unites the MDP is Gayoom,” he said. “If you go to the root you’ll find it’s at the second floor of the president’s office.”
If the government wanted to investigate corruption, Mundhu said, “there is a constitutionally empowered body. If the police are overstepping their boundaries, what is the point of funding a body like the police integrity commission if it’s not going to be used? And how can they appoint a state minister like Mohamed Aswan to investigate police reform and expect him to be impartial?”
The DRP “has never had a problem with the police”, Mundhu added. “We’re not the ones complaining and sending letters. When one of our activists was recently arrested for defacing municipality property, when he came out he told me that while the food was not very good, the police treated him very well.”
Mundhu appeared less opposed to the prospect of a TRC, “but I do not believe any mistreatment happened with the direct knowledge of the previous executive.”
Disruption
Organisers of the TVA rally accused the DRP of attempting to disrupt the association’s event on Saturday night, an action Naseem condemned as “disgusting”.
Mundhu rejected the claim.
“We’re not MDP, we don’t attack and disrupt [rallies],” he said. “At the same time, why is the MDP holding its gathering right outside the DRP office every night – is it designed to stop us holding our own rallies?”
The DRP was also concerned about state broadcaster TVM’s coverage of the event, he added.
“When we saw the live TVM coverage we rang to ask why the giving away airtime, and they said it was a new formula and they would be happy to sell us an hour of airtime for Rf22,000. We don’t have the money for that, but it was nice to know.”
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Maldives - Culture & History
Historians believe the Maldives were once Buddhist, like nearby Sri Lanka, but today Muslim culture dominates. Television broadcasts stop five times a day for the call to prayer, foreigners are banned from bringing symbols of other religions into the country, alcohol is prohibited on non-resort islands and modest dress is essential on island tours. Before you panic, swimwear and tropical cocktails are the norm at the resorts. The closest most visitors get to authentic Divehi culture are the cultural shows laid on by resorts, or occasional village tours, which is a shame as the Maldivians are proud of their interesting island customs.
Most shows feature the traditional dance and music known as bodu beru, meaning 'big drum'. Dancers begin with a slow, nonchalant swaying and swinging of the arms, and become more animated as the tempo increases, finishing in a rhythmic frenzy. There are four to six drummers in an ensemble, and the sound has strong African influences. Contemporary local rock bands often perform at resorts, where they do credible covers of the usual old favourites. When they perform for a local audience they may incorporate elements of bodu beru in their music, with lots of percussion and extended drum solos. Cassettes from local bands are sold in Mal? music shops.
Islam is the national religion and all Maldivians are Sunni Muslims. No other religions are permitted, though ancient beliefs survive: for example, islanders fear jinnis - evil spirits which come from the sea, land and sky. These are blamed for everything that cannot be explained by religion or science. Archaeologists have found evidence of Buddhist stupas and ancient sun-worshipping cultures on some of the outlying islands but little trace of these cultures has survived.
Fish and rice are the staple foods of Maldivians with meat and chicken eaten only on special occasions. National dishes include fried fish, fish curry and fish soup. Arecanut (an oval nut chewed with betel leaf, cloves and lime) is the equivalent of an after-dinner mint. Alcohol is only available in tourist resorts, and at the airport hotel. The local brew is raa, a sweet and delicious toddy tapped from the crown of the palm trunk. Apart from coconuts, there are very few fruits and vegetables grown on the islands, so most of the food served at tourist resorts is imported.
Modern History
The sultanate became an elected rather than a hereditary position when the islands' first constitution was drawn up in 1932. In 1953 the sultanate was abolished and a republic proclaimed, with Amin Didi as the first president. Less than a year later Didi was overthrown; the sultanate was returned, with Mohammed Farid Didi elected as the 94th sultan of the Maldives. Around the same time, the British secured permission to re-establish its wartime airfield on Addu Atoll in the far south of the country. In 1956 the Royal Air Force began developing the base as a staging post, employing hundreds of Maldivians and undertaking the resettlement of the Gan islanders. But when Ibrahim Nasir was elected prime minister in 1957 he immediately called for a review of the agreement, demanding that the lease be shortened and the annual payment increased.
This was followed by an insurrection against the government by the inhabitants of Addu and Suvadiva (Huvadu) atolls, who objected to Nasir's demand that the British cease employing local labour. Influenced by the British presence, they decided to cut ties altogether and form an independent state. In 1962 Nasir sent gunboats to the southern atolls and the rebellion was quashed. Britain recognised the islands' sovereignty soon after and in 1965 the Maldives became fully independent.
Following a referendum in 1968 the sultanate was again abolished and a new republic inaugurated with Nasir as president. His autocratic rule ended a decade later when, fearing for his life, he fled the country for Singapore. The progressive Maumoon Abdul Gayoom was elected president in his place. Gayoom has been in power ever since, surviving coup attempts in 1980 and 1988.
Recent History
Recent years have been characterised by modernisation, rapid economic growth, and improvement in most social indicators. The main contributors to this growth have been the fishing industry, tourism and foreign aid. President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom was elected for a record sixth five-year term in 2003, the same year Amnesty International accused his government of human rights abuses.
The president has been in power since 1978, and faces pressures for political liberalisation and the introduction of multi-party democracy. Pro-democracy demonstrations in August 2004 led to dozens of dissidents being detained without charge, prompting the EU to suspend a multi-million dollar aid package. Many critics of the regime remain under house arrest on deserted outlying islands. Meanwhile, the prospect of environmental annihilation caused by rising sea levels overshadows island life. There has even been talk of the Maldives suing polluting Western nations for damage caused to their islands by rising sea levels linked to global warming.
The December 2004 tsunami sent waves up to 5m high surging over the Maldives. As the highest point on the islands is just 1.5m above sea level, much of the area was completely devastated and had to be evacuated. Some 20,500 islanders were displaced from their homes and 81 people were killed, including three tourists. A further 27 people are missing, presumed lost in the disaster.
The east coast was hardest hit, particularly in the North and South Mal? Atolls, although the capital, Mal?, was mostly unaffected. In the far south, Vilufushi in the Thaa Atoll and Kolhufushi in the Meemu Atoll were badly damaged. In the north, Kandholhudhoo island in the Raa Atoll was completely destroyed, displacing 3000 people from their homes. Several thousand residents of the worst effected islands are still homeless, staying in temporary accommodation or the homes of neighbouring islanders. The slow pace of reconstruction of replacement housing is causing some resentment, and there are signs that the welcome for refugees is wearing thin. Some people have even suggested that the islands affected by the disaster were punished by god for allowing alcohol and other Western vices to take root in these Muslim islands - not exactly a positive direction for a nation economically dependent on tourism. According to the UN, even though a majority of resorts are now open to tourists, the Maldives will suffer the worst economic effects of all the nations struck by the Indian Ocean tsunami. This is partly due to its dependence on tourism and fishing and partly a consequence of the costs of reconstruction over such geographically spread-out islands.
Politics may prove an even bigger issue for the Maldives. In April 2005, the exiled opposition leader Mohammed Nasheed returned to the Maldives and was promptly arrested, along with 100 supporters, for alleged treason against the Gayoom regime. Independent journalists have reported summary raids on island communities by the security services, who are banned from reading independent newspapers and listening to independent radio stations by a Gayoom edict. With supporters of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party now being arrested at an unprecedented rate, many locals are asking whether the protectionist policies of the Maldivian government are just a ruse to keep the people living under a dictatorship.
Pre 20th Century History
The first inhabitants probably arrived in the archipelago from Sri Lanka and southern India before 500 BC. Some archaeologists - including the explorer Thor Heyerdahl - believe that an ancient race of sun-worshipping people called the Redin were the first settlers; their custom of orienting important buildings towards the sun is still evident today in the layout of many Maldivian mosques. Most experts agree that these early settlers were absorbed into the Buddhist culture brought to the Maldives by settlers from Sri Lanka and India after 500 BC.
Arab traders en route to the Far East recorded visits to the Maldives from the 2nd century AD onwards. Known as the 'Money Isles', they provided enormous quantities of cowrie shells, an international currency of the early ages.
The conversion to Islam, in 1153 AD, is a watershed in Maldivian history. According to legend, a sea jinni (evil spirit) called Rannamaari demanded regular sacrifices of young virgin girls in Mal?. Abu Al Barakat, a visiting North African Arab, took the place of a sacrificial virgin, and drove the demon away by reading from the Koran, the Islamic holy book. The Maldivian king at the time was sold on Islam, and Barakat later became the first sultan. A series of six sultanic dynasties followed - 84 sultans and sultanas in all. At one stage, when the Portuguese first arrived in the 16th century, there were actually two ruling dynasties: the Malei and the Hilali.
The Portuguese, eager for a greater share of the profitable trade routes of the Indian Ocean, were granted permission to build a fort and a factory in Mal?, but it wasn't long before they wanted more from the Maldives. In 1558, Captain Andreas Andre led a Portuguese invasion which killed Sultan Ali VI. Andre ruled Mal? and much of the country for the next 15 years. Portuguese occupation came to a sticky end in 1573 when an island chief, Mohammed Thakurufaan, led an attack on the main Portuguese garrison and slew the lot.
In the 17th century, the Maldives came under the protection of the Dutch and later the British, but neither established a colonial administration. In the 1860s Borah merchants from Bombay set up warehouses and shops in Mal?, and quickly acquired an almost exclusive monopoly on foreign trade. Sultan Mohammed Mueenuddin II, weary of the Borahs' economic grip, signed an agreement with the British in 1867 which guaranteed the islands' full independence. The Maldives subsequently became a British protectorate, which allowed the British to establish defence facilities on some outlying islands.
History of Maldives
Although archeological finds indicate that the Maldives was inhabited as early as 1500 BC, much of the country’s origin is lost in history - most of which is as much folklore and myth as fact.
It is believed that the most important factor that contributed to the settlement of people in the Maldives is its geographical location. Massive ruins and other archeological remains found in the atolls and islands bordering the Equatorial Channel and the One and a Half Degree Channel in the sound, bear testimony to the fact that people of antiquity had indeed come upon the country during their travels. It is believed that permanent settlements were established around 500 BC by Aryan immigrants from the Indian subcontinent. Many customs, traditional practices and superstitious beliefs that still prevail in the country also attest to the influence of the early Dravidian culture of the Maldives.
Although it is most probable that early Maldivians were Buddhists or Hindus migrating from the Indian subcontinent, the archeologist Thor Heyerdahl, who carried out extensive archeological research in the Maldives and has contributed significantly to the theories of the origins of the country, stated that some of the figures unearthed from ancient mounds bore a striking resemblance to figures he had investigated on Easter Island in the Pacific Ocean. Many of these theories, however, are still a matter of controversy.
The accounts of travelers, who had stopped over (for supplies and because of shipwrecks) as the Maldives is located along the ancient marine trade routes from the West to the East, also serve as useful guides to the history of these small islands. Among these travelers were the Chinese historian Ma Huan and the famous Arab traveler Ibn Batuta. It is also understood that the Maldivians themselves ventured far beyond their own shores; Pliny, for example, states that Maldivian emissaries bore gifts to the Roman Emperor.
Islam – the present state religion of the Maldives is believed to have come to the country from the Arab traders for whom the Maldives became an important stop on their way to the Far East. The legend of how the predominantly Buddhist Maldives converted to a 100% Muslim nation is still a most popular one albeit a matter of recent controversy. Popular belief is that a Moroccan scholar and traveler, Abu Barakaat Yusuf Al-Barbaree was responsible for the advent of Islam in the country; however another version credits a renowned scholar from Tabriz – Sheikh Yusuf Shamsuddin.
Since very early times, the Maldives has remained famous for two main products – sea shells and tuna. During the time when the cowrie shell (cyprea moneta) was prized as a form of currency in many areas of the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent, large quantities of cowrie shells were exported from the country to many parts of the world. Foreign traders would stop over bringing rice, spices and luxury items in exchange for shiploads of cowrie. Maldive fish, which keeps for a long time without any change to its flavour or texture, was also very popular among traders who stopped over at the Maldives. It was an ideal source of protein for carrying on long voyages and its rarity rendered it a prized delicacy in most parts of the Indian subcontinent, where it remains a major ingredient in many dishes even today.
Although the Maldives was by far and large a quiet, peaceful port for traders, the tranquility of the islands was often disturbed by pirates and superpowers of the day. Though her brave sons saved the Maldives from most of the attackers and invaders in a very short time, the Portuguese invaded and reigned in the country for a period of fifteen years before they were overthrown by Maldivian heroes. A French sailor – Francois Pyrard de Laval, who was shipwrecked in the Maldives and stayed on for five years, recounts the events of this time in his chronicles.
In 1887, the Maldives became a British protectorate – in an unusual arrangement where the British ensured the defence of the Maldives yet were not involved in any way with the governing of the country. This close relationship with the British ensured a period of peace and freedom from foreign interference. During the Second World War, the British had forward bases in the north and south of the archipelago and in 1957 the Royal Air Force – RAF established a base in the island of Gan in Addu Atoll. This airbase was closed in 1967.
The Maldives gained fully independent status on July 26, 1965 and later changed the government from a Monarchy to a Republic on November 11, 1968.Kakaage
 From left: Hilihilaagey Moosa Didi, Kakaagey Hussain Didi (known in Minicoy as Divehi Ganduvar Hussain Manikfan), his younger daughter Oludugothi Kadeeja Manika and her half brother Kakaagey Ali Didi. Hilihilaagey Moosa Didi was married to Tuttu Amina Didi, daughter of Henveyrugey Ali Kuda-Rannabandeyri Kilegefan and Kakaagey Fatima Didi daughter of Kakaagey Ismail Didi. This photo was taken in the early 1950s when Moosa Didi and Ali Didi briefly visited Minicoy. |
 Landuran Augothi Ebrahim Manikfan, husband of Dievhi Ganduvaru Kadeeja Manika daughter of Kakaagey Abdullah Faarhanaa Kilegefan. Educated in the British ruled city of Calcutta in the late 19th century, Ebrahim Manikfan was the first person from the then Cannanore territory of Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindivi Islands to be educated in the English curriculum. |
 Kakaagey Abdullah Faarhanaa Kilegefan's family. From left: Divehi Ganduvar Kadeeja Manika and her sister Amina Manika standing at the back. The older lady seated is their mother Divehi Ganduvar Aysha Manika. The child on her lap is Kadeeja Manika's daughter Fatima Manika. Circa mid 1920s. |
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Note that the Malé nobility who bore the name of Manikfan changed it in favour of Didi in the late 18th century. The Minicoy nobility and certain families in the southern Maldive atolls retain Manikfan until present times. In Minicoy, Manikfan ladies are called Manika but in the Maldive south, females too are called Manikfan. Manika is not to be confused with the middle class Maldive name of Manike. Young Mohamed Didi must have been named to reflect the family's close ties with Malé. |
Divehi Ganduvar Hassan Manikfan, son of Divehi Ganduvar Kadeeja Manika and Landuran Augothi Ebrahim Manikfan. The Maldives and Minicoy was traditionally a matriarchal society. People took the family name of their mother. The Maldives succumbed to Arab colonialist infiltration and became patriarchal gradually from the 14th century. Minicoy remains proudly indigenous in that regard. Divehi Ganduvar Hassan Manikfan's wife's mother was Athiri-Ganduvar Bouge Don Manika, daughter of Isdhooge Haji Kuda Maniku of Malé.
Kakaage
Peer of the Realm, Kakaagey Abdullah Faarahanaa Kilegefan son of Mavaa Ganduvar Don Didi and the Prince and Peer of the Realm Kakaagey Ali Rannabandeyri Kilegefan son of Ibrahim Rannabandeyri Manikfan and the Princess and Peer of the Realm Kakaagey Aysha Rani Kilegefan (Kalu Goma) daughter of Donbeenaagey Amina Didi and Mohamed Muizzuddine Iskander, King of Twelve Thousand Isles and Sultan of the Maldives. Abdullah Faarhanaa Kilegefan married Divehi Ganduvar Aysha Manika of Minicoy. This photo was taken very early in the 20th century.
 Peer of the Realm, Kakaagey Mohamed Rannabandeyri Kilegefan, brother of Abdullah Faarhanaa Kilegefan. Mohamed Rannabandeyri Kilegefan was Prime Minister of the Maldives several times in the late 19th and early 20th centuries |
 Kakaagey Abdullah Faarahanaa Kilegefan and his grandson Kakaagey Ali Didi circa 1924 |
 Kakaagey Hussain Didi (known in Minicoy as Divehi Ganduvar Hussain Manikfan) and his son Kakaagey Ali Didi. Hussain Didi's father was Kakaagey Abdullah Faarahanaa Kilegefan. Ali Didi's mother was Kakaagey Aysha Didi daughter of Serikkal Don Manika and Kakaagey Ismail Didi brother of Kakaagey Abdullah Faarahanaa Kilegefan. Early 1950s. |
 Kakaagey Ali Didi's mother Kakaagey Aysha Didi (recovering from an operation in the 1970s) and her brother Kakaagey Ahmed Hilmy Faarhanaa Kilegefan, at that time Maldive ambassador to Sri Lanka. |
Old Divehi Ganduvar in Minicoy. This beautiful heritage building is now demolished and replaced by a concrete structure which is still called Divehi Ganduvar. This residence was originally built by a Maldive rebel leader and Kateeb of Utheem island, Mohamed Bodu Thakurufan in the mid-16th century. Bodu Thakurufan and his brothers and followers rebelled against Andiri Andirin, the regent in Malé for the Hilaaly King Manoel Siri Dhirikusa Loka (previously known as Hassan IX). Based in Minicoy, Bodu Thakurufan and his rebels raided the Maldives and eventually captured Malé in 1573 and assassinated Andiri Andirin. Due to the collapse of an alliance with the Ali Raja of Cannanore, Thakurufan was later forced to enter into peace with the Hilaaly king, who lived in Goa. Thakurufan was consequently appointed co-regent along with his brother Hassan Thakurufan.
Maldives History
The Maldives has been an independent state throughout its known history, except for a brief period of 15 years of Portuguese occupation in the 16th century. The Maldives became a British Protectorate in 1887 and remained so until 26 July 1965. The independent Maldives reverted from a Sultanate to a Republic on 11th November 1968. The first written constitution was proclaimed in 1932.
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| Maldives History - Earliest known history of the Maldives is recorded in these metal tabs known as "loamaafaanu". Earliest known history of the Maldives is recorded in these metal tabs known as "loamaafaanu" |
It seems certain that the islands of Maldives were first settled by Aryan immigrants who are believed to have colonised Sri Lanka at the same time, (around 500 BC). Further migration from South India, as well as Sri Lanka, occurred. The latest archaeological findings suggest the islands were inhabited as early as 1500 BC. Around 947 AD, recorded contact with the outside world began with the first Arab traveller. One can imagine accounts taken home depicting the potential for trade in pearls, spices, coconuts, dried fish, and certainly the abundance of cowry shells. The cowry shells were the accepted currency from Africa to China until the sixteenth century. Together with the description of the exotic paradise islands and expensive natural resources, the news the travellers must have taken home probably resulted in the arrival of more ships bearing traders and other travellers.
The outside world influenced Maldivian life significantly as legends and history reveal. Early traders found Buddhist customs and practices. But the greatest contribution made by the Persian and Arab Travellers was the conversion of the Maldivians to Islam in 1153 AD. Dhivehi (Maldivian language) also underwent a certain conversion as a result of contact with the outside world. Perhaps blending rather than converting better describes the evolution of Dhives Akuru to Thaana, the present-day script. The writing of Thaana is from right to left, unlike Dhives Akuru, probably to accommodate the many Arabic words then in everyday use.
Ruling dynasties gave shape to what has become The Republic of Maldives just as volcanic movement shaped the 1,190 islands and coral reefs which rose above the ocean's surface 100,000 years ago. After the conversion to Islam (by Abul Barakaath Yoosuf Al-Barbary), of the first known king of the Maley Dynasty, rulers in 1153 came to be called sultans. King Koimala was renamed Sultan Mohammed-bin-Abdullah for the last thirteen years of his twenty-five year reign. Recorded in Maldivian history are the names of eighty-four Sultans and Sultanas who belonged to six dynasties. The Maley or Theemuge Dynasty lasted 235 years under the rule of twenty-six different sultans. The Hilaii Dynasty ruled next for over a period of 170 years with twenty-nine rulers. During the Hilali period, Sultan Kalhu Mohammed invited the first foreign power to Maldives thus opening diplomatic relations with the world.
Balmy trade winds brought prosperity to this independent country until the sixteenth century when the Portuguese took more than a passing interest. History creates legendary heroes. It is during this time of Portuguese threat that one of the greatest Maldivian heroes, Mohammed Thakurufaan, was born on the island of Utheem in the northern atoll of Thiladhummathi. As young Mohammed grew to manhood, the Portuguese manned a powerful expedition against The Maldives. Captain Andreas Andre, known as Andhiri Andhirin defeated the Sultan Ali VI, last ruler of the Hilali Dynasty. For fifteen years the invaders tried to maintain control over the islands. But The Maldives were scattered over seas that were often as dangerous as attacks by brave Maldivians waging daring warfare against the colonialist's.
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| The Palace in Utheem where Mohamed Thakurufaanu lived |
Today one can still hear songs and stories, which tell of Mohammed Thakurufaan wiping out the entire Portuguese garrison. The great Mohammed's twelve years of peaceful reign was one of prosperity and reform. He died in 1585 AD, but his Utheemu Dynasty ruled for 127 years with twelve rulers. The winds of war are never even in idyllic islands. They faced a new threat from the Coast of South India. The Raja of Cannanore dispatched a raiding party to attack Male’. The royal palace was destroyed and the Sultan sent into exile; he never returned. Maldivian forces soon repelled the Malabar forces, drove them back, and under the leadership of Ghazi Hassan lzzaddeen, the Huraage Dynasty was founded. The Huraage Dynasty prevailed until 1968 when the Maldives became a Republic. After the Malabar episode, The Maldives established diplomatic relations with Sri Lanka. The two countries formed an alliance that continued throughout Sri Lanka's Dutch and then British colonial periods. A sharp sense for trade and a remarkable ability to keep their own world in tact has allowed the Maldivians to maintain relations with many countries, especially Sri Lanka which still supplies many imported goods.
Protection against foreign influences, however, comes from a desire to exist as their fathers had, in a close-knit society; a national 'family' (that is close to Allah). Like the coral reefs that protect the islands, Maldivians maintain a commitment to keep their own world to themselves, to maintain the Maldivian culture and to protect it from the sometimes negative effects of outsiders.
The paved and unpaved streets are symbolic of The Maldives blending tradition and progress to better the lives of its inhabitants. Male’ is divided into four traditional wards: Henveyru, Galolhu, Machchangoli, and Maafannu. All manners of goods are brought to Male’ from the far flung atolls and imports pass through the capital daily. The Mulee Aage, built in 1913, is the President's official residence located in the centre of the capital. The residence with its intricate white carvings built by Maldivian designers and Sri Lankan architects, is a lovely, graceful complex.
The Friday Mosque or Hukuru Misikiy is a short distance away from the presidential residence. The mosque dates from 1656 and contains wood carvings which give accounts of the conversion of the Maldives to Islam. The surrounding courtyard houses the tombstones of past rulers. The drum shaped Munnaaru, built in 1675, towers over the capital summoning the devout to prayers five times a day. Every Friday, thousands congregate at this mosque to offer prayers. When prayer time is over, the people might make their way to the seafront's busy Marine Drive. Marine Drive's diversity clearly represents the contrast of life in Male.
While modern, white-washed government offices are situated on this busy street, one can also enjoy the busy activity in late afternoon or early morning at the fish market or stop by local stores which sell assorted goods. Then perhaps a cafe that overlooks the ever-changing sparkling waters of the harbour will offer a quiet rest. In Male’, especially on the western ward of Maafannu, tall trees shade the larger residential area of the capital.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
President vetoes special needs legislation
President Mohamed Nasheed has vetoed the bill on protecting the rights of and providing financial assistance to people with special needs following an appeal from NGOs and advice from the attorney general that it would conflict with UN conventions.
Article 91(a) of the constitution states the president shall either assent to a bill within 15 days or return it for reconsideration.
The bill was passed on 21 December and would have automatically become law if the president did not ratify it today.
Mohamed Zuhair, president’s office press secretary, said the legislation was returned as the president believed it could lead to “social, economical and legal problems” if it was enacted.
Zuhair said Attorney General Husnu Suood advised the president that many provisions in the bill conflicted with international standards and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which the Maldives has acceded to.
Suood told the president that the bill would create obstacles for persons with special needs making decisions on their own and participating in society.
Zuhair added the ministry of health and family informed the president that social and economic difficulties could arise if the provisions in the legislation were implemented.
Moreover, the Human Rights Commission of Maldives as well as NGOs Care Society, Handicap International and Association for Disabilities and Development had urged the president to ask parliament to ensure that the law would protect the rights of people with special needs as required by the UN convention.
President returns special needs bill to People’s Parliament
President Mohamed Nasheed has today returned the bill on protecting the rights of people with special needs and providing financial assistance, to the Parliament for reconsideration. The bill was passed by the Parliament on 21 December.
In a letter to the Speaker of the Parliament, the President said that the Attorney General advised him that the bill contained articles that contradicted international standards and the international Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Attorney General Suood noted that the bill did not contain some of the rights stipulated in the convention.
Ministry of Health and Family also says the bill contains several provisions that might lead to socio-economic problems and difficulties in implementation.
In his letter to the Speaker, the President said he believed it was crucial to amend the bill in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Paradise almost lost: Maldives seek to buy a new homeland
The Maldives will begin to divert a portion of the country's billion-dollar annual tourist revenue into buying a new homeland - as an insurance policy against climate change that threatens to turn the 300,000 islanders into environmental refugees, the country's first democratically elected president has told the Guardian.
Mohamed Nasheed, who takes power officially tomorrow in the island's capital, Male, said the chain of 1,200 island and coral atolls dotted 500 miles from the tip of India is likely to disappear under the waves if the current pace of climate change continues to raise sea levels.
The UN forecasts that the seas are likely to rise by up to 59cm by 2100, due to global warming. Most parts of the Maldives are just 1.5m above water. The president said even a "small rise" in sea levels would inundate large parts of the archipelago.
"We can do nothing to stop climate change on our own and so we have to buy land elsewhere. It's an insurance policy for the worst possible outcome. After all, the Israelis [began by buying] land in Palestine," said Nasheed, also known as Anni.
The president, a human rights activist who swept to power in elections last month after ousting Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, the man who once imprisoned him, said he had already broached the idea with a number of countries and found them to be "receptive".
He said Sri Lanka and India were targets because they had similar cultures, cuisines and climates. Australia was also being considered because of the amount of unoccupied land available.
"We do not want to leave the Maldives, but we also do not want to be climate refugees living in tents for decades," he said.
Environmentalists say the issue raises the question of what rights citizens have if their homeland no longer exists. "It's an unprecedented wake-up call," said Tom Picken, head of international climate change at Friends of the Earth. "The Maldives is left to fend for itself. It is a victim of climate change caused by rich countries."
Nasheed said he intended to create a "sovereign wealth fund" from the dollars generated by "importing tourists", in the way that Arab states have done by "exporting oil". "Kuwait might invest in companies; we will invest in land."
The 41-year-old is a rising star in Asia, where he has been compared to Nelson Mandela. Before taking office the new president asked Maldivians to move forward without rancour or retribution - an astonishing call, given that Nasheed had gone to jail 23 times, been tortured and spent 18 months in solitary confinement.
"We have the latitude to remove anyone from government and prosecute them. But I have forgiven my jailers, the torturers. They were following orders ... I ask people to follow my example and leave Gayoom to grow old here," he said.
The Maldives is one of the few Muslim nations to make a relatively peaceful transition from autocracy to democracy. The Gayoom "sultanate" was an iron-fisted regime that ran the police, army and courts, and which banned rival parties.
Public flogging, banishment to island gulags and torture were routinely used to suppress dissent and the fledging pro-democracy movement. Gayoom was "elected" president six times in 30 years - but never faced an opponent. However, public pressure grew and last year he conceded that democracy was inevitable.
Upmarket tourism had become a prop for the dictatorial regime. Gayoom's Maldives became the richest country in South Asia, with average incomes reaching $4,600 a year. But the wealth created was skimmed off by cronies - leaving a yawning gap between rich and poor. Speedboats and yachts of local multimillionaires bob in the lagoon of the capital's harbour, while official figures show almost half of Maldivians earn less than a dollar a day.
Male is the world's most densely populated town: 100,000 people cram into two square kilometres. "We have unemployment at 20%. Heroin has become a serious social issue, with crime rising," Nasheed said, adding that the extra social spending he pledged would cost an immediate $243m. He said that without an emergency bailout from the international community, the future of the Maldives as a democracy would be in doubt.
To raise cash, his government will sell off state assets, reduce the cabinet and turn the presidential palace into the country's first university.
"It's desperate. We are a 100% Islamic country and democracy came from within. Do you want to lose that because we were denied the money to deal with the poverty created by the dictatorship?" he said.
The Martyrdom of Kalaafaanu
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| Sultan Ibrahim III (Kalaafaanu) was the son of Sultan Ghazee Muhammed Thakurufaanu Al Auzam. He ascended the throne in the year 993 AH (1585 AD). The famous French traveler, Francois Pyrard de Laval, arrived in the Maldives with his ship "Corbin" in the year 1602 AD, during the reign of Kalaafaanu. The writings of Pyrard relate a number of stories and events in the Maldives during that time. Historical writings show that Kalaafaanu was martyred during an attack by the Malabars in 1609 AD (1017 AH). The battle took place at sea. After the Sultan was killed, the Malabars looted the palace at Malé, tortured members of the royal family, and kidnapped Kalhuthukkala and took him to Cananore. Kalhuthukkala was the great grandson of Kalaafaanu's uncle, Ali Thakurufaanu, and his father was Umar Maafaiy Kilege. Kalhuthukkala remained a captive of Ali Raja in Cananore for a long time and returned to Malé upon his release. After Kalaafaanu, the next ruler was Sultan Hussain Faamuladheyri Kilegefaanu who was the son of Madifushi Umar Olhigina. The new Sultan reigned for 11 years and 5 months and, upon his death, was succeeded by Kalhuthukkala who ruled as Sultan Muhammed Imaduddhin I. Kalhuthukkala was also known as Bodu Rasgefaanu and Shujaaee Muhammed Imaduddhin. He came to the throne in 1029 AH (1620 AD) Bodu Rasgefaanu married Kanbaa Aisha Rani Kilegefaanu who was the widow of Kalaafaanu. Sultan Hussain Faamuladheyri Kilegefaanu, who had succeeded Kalaafaanu, had also married her. She bore a son, Ibrahim to Bodu Rasgefaanu, who later became Sultan Ibrahim Iskandhar. Bodu Rasgefaanu reconstructed the palace which had been destroyed, constructed walls with gun turrets around its perimeter and dug a moat outside the walls and strengthened the defences of the palace. During the fifth year of the reign of Bodu Rasgefaanu, a number of Portuguese caravels came to attack the Maldives. The Sultan assembled all the ministers, senior officials and his troops and made them pledge an oath to fight to the end. At that time there were no city walls or forts or citadels in Malé. There were only five cannons in Malé. However, under the direction of Bodu Rasgefaanu, Maldivians defeated the Portuguese through strategic use of the five cannons. The fleeing Portuguese set ablaze the mosque at Vilingili. The event took place in 1034 AH (1624 AD). | |||||
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| Following that experience, the defences of Malé were strengthened. Fortifications were built near the palace as well as at strategic locations around Malé. Walls with gun turrets were built between the forts, which also had gun emplacements. Thus, Malé could be defended against an attack from any direction. Revetments were built around the island and outlets for ships to ply in and out of Malé were made. After reorganising administration, the Sultan dispatched a mission to Aceh to secure cannons as Malé was under-armed. The ship to Aceh came back with 14 bronze cannons. Around the same time, Maldivians were able to salvage weapons from ships that had been wrecked and abandoned in Maldivian waters. During Bodu Rasgefaanu's reign, his wife's brother, Saamiya Faashana Kilege made an abortive attempt to set up a kingdom at Maafilaafushi. Bodu Rasgefaanu reigned for 29 years and was succeeded upon death by his son, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandhar. | |||||
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History of Maldives
The origin of the first settlers of the Maldives still remains a mystery. The historians date early settlers back to 5th century BC with the Aryan immigrants coming from the neighbouring countries India and Sri Lanka. The Maldivian language is said to be Indo-Aryan with influences from Sinhalese, Tamil, Sanskrit, Persian, Urdhu and Arabic. It is believed that Hinduism existed before Buddhism. The Maldivians were practising Buddhism until AD 1153, when a learned scholar converted the king to Islam. The exact name and origins of this scholar is an ongoing debate. Some are of the opinion that he was a Moroccan traveller named Sheikh. Abul Barakaath Yoosuful Barubaree. Others say that he was from Persia and known as Sheikh Yoosuf Shamsudheenul Thabreyzi. Mr Mohammed Ibrahim Luthufi, an acclaimed contemporary historian and researcher, claims that the name of the person who converted Maldivians to Islam was Sheikh Aburikaab Yoosuf Thabreyzi.
 Hassan Nooreddine II Iskander King of Twelve Thousand Isles and Sultan of the Maldives |
Since the conversion to Islam, the Maldives boasts of a recorded history that is rich and colourful. The system of government was a monarchy with Sultans as sovereigns while Sultanas or queens ruled on rare occasions. Traders from Arabia, India, Sri Lanka and Persia visited the Maldives to exchange goods. Slaves were also brought from Africa. Quite often, sailors were shipwrecked in the treacherous reefs of Maldives. These visitors contributed much to the language and culture of the Maldives. However, the visitors' influence did not change the identity of the country as a secluded haven virtually unknown to the rest of the world.
The abundance of cowry shells, coir rope and ambergris in Maldives attracted Portuguese interest in the country during the 16th century. Consequently the Portuguese launched attacks against Maldives. Their attempts were in vain until a better equipped and organised fleet attacked the capital Malé. In 1558 they seized control of the country, after defeating Ali 6th, the reigning Sultan. Since then, they administered Maldives from Goa in India but had their armed forces and a leader stationed in Maldives. Muhammad Thakurufaanu, from the island of Utheemu in Thiladhunmathi Atoll, waged an effective resistance against the invaders. In 1573 after fierce guerrilla warfare Muhammad Thakurufaanu and his compatriots defeated the Portuguese invaders. Muhammad Thakurufaanu was offered the throne and remains a revered national hero.
The Portuguese did not allow the Maldivians to relax even after their 1573 debacle. The country had a restless time fighting off the colonial pursuits and had to strengthen its defence by building forts and acquiring more arms. Nevertheless there was a substantial time period before the country was captured by an invading force. Malabari pirates from the nearby south Indian coast finally succeeded in 1752 in seizing the Maldivan throne in the capital, Malé. They abducted the Sultan and took him to their country and placed some soldiers to administer Maldives. Only four months later Maldives regained control under the leadership of Muleege Hassan Maniku or Dhon Bandaarain who belonged to a family from Huraa in Malé Atoll.
The British colonial ambitions in the Indian Ocean had their effects on Maldives. They recognised the strategic location of Maldives and the prospect of Maldives being under any other colonial power was unacceptable to them. It was in a period of uncertainty, political rivalry and turmoil in the Maldives that the British offered Maldives a treaty, which was to become a watershed in Maldivian history. Some Maldivian politicians also needed British co-operation to suit their ambitions. It was in this atmosphere of instability that the Maldives went into the agreement with British in 1887. The British pledged to protect the Maldives from any foreign aggression while the Maldives in turn agreed not to collaborate with any other foreign power without British consent. The British were also not to interfere with the internal affairs of the Maldives.
Historians differ in their opinions as to the extent of the independence that Maldives enjoyed under the status of a British Protectorate. It was evident that the Maldives was not a colony per se, however the government of the Maldives sought the advice of British Governor in Ceylon on major issues.
A written constitution did not exist in Maldives till 1932 and the customs and traditions along with Islamic Shariah formed the Law. The sultans usually consulted a group of advisors or bodun who included his ministers and the Fandiyaaru or Chief Justice. The Islamic scholars usually exercised much influence in the government affairs but quite often they were replaced when the Kings were at odds with them. The hereditary system continued to exist but in many occasions the helm of power shifted from one family to the other following internal uprisings and the demise of kings. A constitution was introduced in 1932 after the emergence of a new educated elite. The new constitution, which provided for a People's Assembly of 47 members, did not survive long. It was literally torn apart by the public and the reigning Sultan Mohammed Shamsudheen 3rd was dethroned shortly thereafter in 1934. The Sultan was believed to have used exceeded his legal powers. A new constitution was formed in 1937.
In 1948 the existing agreement between the Maldives and the British were renewed.
In 1953 the Maldives changed from a monarchy to a Republic. Mr Mohammed Amin Didi was the first President of the Maldives. He was a popular politician who had won a referendum held to determine the type of government that the Maldives should have. However, the Republic was short-lived. After a mere eight months Amin Didi was overthrown and a Sultanate was formed once again. The people were outraged because of the prevailing food shortages and the total ban of tobacco by Amin Didi. The Second World War caused famine that continued even in the early 1950s. Against this backdrop it was quite easy to manipulate and mobilise the ignorant masses for political ends by Amin Didi's rivals.
Since the failure of the First Republic, the Maldives was a Sultanate until 1968. The intervening period saw the rule of only one king. Sultan Mohammed Fareedh was to be the last monarch of the Maldives.
During the Second World War, British built a military base in Gan of Addu Atoll and Kelaa of Thiladhunmathi Atoll. They evacuated the bases soon after the war. However, British interest in the Maldives revived during the late 1950s. The British were successful to conclude an agreement with the Prime Minister Ibrahim Ali Didi for the lease of Gan in Addu for 100 years. This agreement signed in 1956 provided Gan, located in the southern tip of the Maldives, as an airfield for the British. It also included the provision of a part of Hithadhoo in Addu Atoll as a radio communication centre for the British.
The agreement was heavily criticised in the Maldives, and led to the resignation of the Prime Minister. He was succeeded by Mr Ibrahim Nasir who sought to solve the problem regarded by the Maldivians as an issue endangering the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Maldives. However, the government of Mr Nasir was to face more serious problems that threatened the integrity of the country. While the British developed Gan as a base for Royal Air Force, the people of the three southern most atolls revolted against the government of Mr Nasir. They formed a separate government and declared the 'United Suvadheeb Republic' in 1959. The British support for them was suspected by the government. The grievances of the people of these three atolls against the government were not entirely unjustified. For centuries, the people of the Huvadhoo, Fua Mulah and Addu Atolls sailed in their wooden vessels odi to Sri Lanka and India and exchanged goods. They travelled independently to these countries without stopping over at Malé; hence there was no government control over these trade affairs. However, Mr Nasir introduced measures which were unfavourable to the three southern most atolls including the prohibition of direct sail to the neighbouring countries without clearing through Malé. The workers in Addu who could have enjoyed the benefits of direct payment from the British were also disappointed with the arrangement in which they were paid through the government in Malé. They believed that the government controlled the exchange rates to their disadvantage.
The separatist uprising was brought to an end by the government of the Maldives in 1963 in some atolls with brute force. However, the unease and hostility continued. The government of the Maldives negotiated with the British for a diplomatic solution. Maldives demanded more independence than the existing agreements provided for. In 1960 an agreement was signed reducing the period of British stay in Addu to 30 years. The British finally agreed to give independence to the Maldives and an agreement was signed in 1965. This historic agreement was signed on 25 July 1965 in Sri Lanka. However, the British presence in Addu Atoll continued till 1976.
In 1968 the monarchy was ended and a Republic wasformed. On 11 November 1968, Mr Ibrahim Nasir was proclaimed the First President of the Second Republic. In 1978 Mr Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom was elected the President of the Maldives. He has been the President for the past 26 years.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
The Diaries of Ahmed Shafeeg bring happiness and sadness to his life
Ahmed was sitting and writing as we entered the house. We said hello and he stood up and greeted us. The first thing he wanted to know was our names and where we lived, and as we introduced ourselves he wrote the information down.
Ahmed Shafeeg, from Shafeeguge house in Malé's Henveiru ward, is a historian. He records each day's events in his diary every morning, and since we arrived on the morning of June 13 we were included straight away.
'You young men aren't upset by this, are you? Am I doing something wrong writing this down? Just tell me. If I do anything you don't like, let me know.' He closed the green book and seemed to be amused.
'I have been keeping a diary since the age of 16. But I wasn't just doing it for my own enjoyment. It's not something just for myself. It belongs to everyone,' says the 75 year old historian.
Shafeeg has archived his diaries, which he has been updating for the last 59 years. He chronicles all the important events occurring in Maldives and around the world. Domestic matters in his household are also included. The diary has become a Shafeeg trademark, that contains the story of his life. The books have become his heart and memory, and when he writes something there he feels happy and fulfilled.
'Most people keep things hidden in their hearts. Instead I keep them hidden in my diary. I write down what I have in my heart, and what I hear each day. It is recorded in point form, and doing it gives me a lot of joy.'
Shafeeg began his diaries when he was a young student at Saniyya School where the principal helped him with his first efforts. 'He was the father of Abdul Sattar Moosa Didi, and used to tell us to write down the speeches of our leaders and then bring our work to him. My interest developed from there, but it only became a habit after I began full-time work. I was employed as a clerk in the Home Ministry with Hassan Didi N. Th., and it was our job to record everything that happened in Maldives each day. Mohamed Ameen [the first Maldivian president] called our book Eki kan-kan higaa goiy, 'Various Events'. We had to make a note of all government activities. After two years I left the position, but I continued to keep a daily diary.
'Later it became an obsession. Even if I'm sick I get someone to write it down for me. When I go abroad I always keep a notebook in my shirt pocket. Everything I've ever heard is kept in the diaries.' Special diary books were not available when Shafeeg started, and his first compilations were entered in exercise books and pads. When the British were in Addu atoll [until 1975], he wrote on the back of the pieces of paper which they printed and circulated.
Shafeeg says that in his diaries he writes down the stories, news and other important events that he come to his attention. If anyone asks him about the exact time of death of a Maldivian or world leader, he can answer easily. He also knows the dates when particular resorts are opened, and when important dignitaries visit islands for the first time. His diaries benefit writers, school children, historians and the entire community.
'Government departments, media people and many writers contact me asking when such and such an event took place. I ask them to wait ten minutes and then I look it up in my diaries. I can find things easily. It's important work.' Shafeeg almost always wears white shirts, and he says that although he is famous for being an historian, in fact he only writes diaries.
'I don't write history, just the diaries. But they are a source of historical information. It is true that most of what I have written in the diaries is very accurate and truthful. Perhaps that is the problem. But my diary belongs to me, and I should have the liberty to write what I like in there. No one can stop me. It is my nature and I'm addicted to it now.'
Shafeeg has personally experienced the trouble that his diaries can cause. His work never finishes and he is determined to continue for as long as he lives, even though some people are distressed at the idea.
'My diaries aren't harmful. They aren't printed or circulated. No one sees them except me. No one can read it, so what is the problem? What's the difference between keeping it in my heart and writing it down? Is there any real difference? No one should be afraid because they are mentioned. Today I have recorded your visit to me... it's just my hobby.'
Due to the diaries, Ahmed Shafeeg has faced three serious problems. He has even been imprisoned on one occasion, but he doesn't want to give any details about that. The only diary that he has lost is the diary for 1995, the year he was taken to gaol.
Shafeeg looks frail now, and can no longer stand properly. When he is performing his prayers he cannot bend down. He uses an inhaler because of breathing difficulties brought on when he was left exposed in very chilly conditions. 'Let's leave this subject,' he says, 'and not talk about it anymore. Let's talk about something else.'
In addition to writing diaries, Shafeeg also keeps many photographs, and it doesn't take him long to find any, either. Within a minute he locates an album of photos of traditional Dhivehi dress. 'I keep everything in very particular order. That's why it doesn't take long to find anything.'
Shafeeg has done important and valuable works on Maldives history, Dhivehi language, formation of the Dhivehi script, Maldivian birds, shells, boat-building, national dress, and Maldivian games.
In appreciation of his services to history the government gave him a public service award in 1980. He received government recognition again 1990 with an award granted during the 25th anniversary of Maldives independence.
Shafeeg worked for the government for 20 years and receives a pension. He has been an atoll chief seven times, and the most emotional periods recorded in his diaries are when his duties separated him from his wife and children. He refuses to go into any details about this, as well.
Shafeeg says that recently he has had to delay his diary entries, and when that happens he leaves a blank space in the diary and writes in a small notebook instead. The blank space is filled in later. 'I catch up six months later, and write it in akuru fili thaana [an obsolete Dhivehi script]. Not everyone will be able to read it.'
Shafeeg has many historically valuable writings, and at the moment he is recording important events in Maldives in a special book. He has been doing this work since 1987.
Shafeeg plays a very important role in gathering and distributing historical information, and if anyone wants his help he welcomes their request with pleasure. It is not in his nature to refuse, or be too busy. As Shafeeg himself is fond of saying: 'Though these things are in my hands, they are not mine. They belong to all.'
Ahmed Shafeeg, from Shafeeguge house in Malé's Henveiru ward, is a historian. He records each day's events in his diary every morning, and since we arrived on the morning of June 13 we were included straight away.
'You young men aren't upset by this, are you? Am I doing something wrong writing this down? Just tell me. If I do anything you don't like, let me know.' He closed the green book and seemed to be amused.
'I have been keeping a diary since the age of 16. But I wasn't just doing it for my own enjoyment. It's not something just for myself. It belongs to everyone,' says the 75 year old historian.
Shafeeg has archived his diaries, which he has been updating for the last 59 years. He chronicles all the important events occurring in Maldives and around the world. Domestic matters in his household are also included. The diary has become a Shafeeg trademark, that contains the story of his life. The books have become his heart and memory, and when he writes something there he feels happy and fulfilled.
'Most people keep things hidden in their hearts. Instead I keep them hidden in my diary. I write down what I have in my heart, and what I hear each day. It is recorded in point form, and doing it gives me a lot of joy.'
 |
'Later it became an obsession. Even if I'm sick I get someone to write it down for me. When I go abroad I always keep a notebook in my shirt pocket. Everything I've ever heard is kept in the diaries.' Special diary books were not available when Shafeeg started, and his first compilations were entered in exercise books and pads. When the British were in Addu atoll [until 1975], he wrote on the back of the pieces of paper which they printed and circulated.
Shafeeg says that in his diaries he writes down the stories, news and other important events that he come to his attention. If anyone asks him about the exact time of death of a Maldivian or world leader, he can answer easily. He also knows the dates when particular resorts are opened, and when important dignitaries visit islands for the first time. His diaries benefit writers, school children, historians and the entire community.
'Government departments, media people and many writers contact me asking when such and such an event took place. I ask them to wait ten minutes and then I look it up in my diaries. I can find things easily. It's important work.' Shafeeg almost always wears white shirts, and he says that although he is famous for being an historian, in fact he only writes diaries.
'I don't write history, just the diaries. But they are a source of historical information. It is true that most of what I have written in the diaries is very accurate and truthful. Perhaps that is the problem. But my diary belongs to me, and I should have the liberty to write what I like in there. No one can stop me. It is my nature and I'm addicted to it now.'
Shafeeg has personally experienced the trouble that his diaries can cause. His work never finishes and he is determined to continue for as long as he lives, even though some people are distressed at the idea.
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Due to the diaries, Ahmed Shafeeg has faced three serious problems. He has even been imprisoned on one occasion, but he doesn't want to give any details about that. The only diary that he has lost is the diary for 1995, the year he was taken to gaol.
Shafeeg looks frail now, and can no longer stand properly. When he is performing his prayers he cannot bend down. He uses an inhaler because of breathing difficulties brought on when he was left exposed in very chilly conditions. 'Let's leave this subject,' he says, 'and not talk about it anymore. Let's talk about something else.'
In addition to writing diaries, Shafeeg also keeps many photographs, and it doesn't take him long to find any, either. Within a minute he locates an album of photos of traditional Dhivehi dress. 'I keep everything in very particular order. That's why it doesn't take long to find anything.'
Shafeeg has done important and valuable works on Maldives history, Dhivehi language, formation of the Dhivehi script, Maldivian birds, shells, boat-building, national dress, and Maldivian games.
In appreciation of his services to history the government gave him a public service award in 1980. He received government recognition again 1990 with an award granted during the 25th anniversary of Maldives independence.
Shafeeg worked for the government for 20 years and receives a pension. He has been an atoll chief seven times, and the most emotional periods recorded in his diaries are when his duties separated him from his wife and children. He refuses to go into any details about this, as well.
Shafeeg says that recently he has had to delay his diary entries, and when that happens he leaves a blank space in the diary and writes in a small notebook instead. The blank space is filled in later. 'I catch up six months later, and write it in akuru fili thaana [an obsolete Dhivehi script]. Not everyone will be able to read it.'
Shafeeg has many historically valuable writings, and at the moment he is recording important events in Maldives in a special book. He has been doing this work since 1987.
Shafeeg plays a very important role in gathering and distributing historical information, and if anyone wants his help he welcomes their request with pleasure. It is not in his nature to refuse, or be too busy. As Shafeeg himself is fond of saying: 'Though these things are in my hands, they are not mine. They belong to all.'
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