Shan and Shihab: Namoona Dhoni's child victims

The fear of losing his failing political grip has got the Dictator so demented that he has no inclination anymore of what is right and wrong, what is human and what is animal. His behaviour over 10th November has certainly demonstrated this to the whole country. And there is no story that better illustrates this than Shan and Shihab's story.

Ibrahim Shan (Orchidgeaage, S. Hithadhoo) is a 17 year old who used to work on the Herethere construction site before he began his momentous journey on Namoonaa dhoni. According to the laws of this country Shan is a child � yet he has been forced to accept adult responsibilities early on in life because this country cannot protect its children. His journey on Namoonaa dhoni has also shown us that he has absolutely no rights by virtue of the fact that the law of the land defines him as child.

Hussein Shihab (Eviarin, S. Hithadhoo) is a 16 year old who had just finished Grade 8 in Muhibudheen School and was traveling to Male' for the school holidays with both his parents. No one could mistake Hussein Shihab for anything but a child. Yet, he was kept away from his parents and subjected to conditions that would test an adult's strength.

Shan describes their experience on Namoonaa dhoni. "It was like Rannamaari, you know? This light started shining from a distance. It came towards us and soon it was lighting up our boat. Abbas Riza kept telling us not to be afraid. Even when the Coast Guard vessel started crossing in front of us, causing our boat to toss and turn, Abbas kept telling us not to be afraid. I listened to him."

Shan tells of the final moments of their journey of Namoonaa dhoni. "We were in Thaa atoll. We knew that it was the end. They were about to board us. I was afraid we would be beaten. When riot police came to me, I told them I was 17. But they treated me like everyone else. They tied my hands with a cable tie and took me to their boat." Shan shows his hands which bear the marks where the cable tie has cut into his skin.

Hussein Shihab continues the story of their detention in Dhoonidhoo. "Shan and I were kept in tents. It was raining a lot and the tents leaked. When we complained they would move us to another tent but they were all the same. One night when I woke up, I was soaked and my pillow was soaked as well. They'd never given me a bed sheet even when they put me in there because they had run out. That night I was so cold! I was shivering and kept calling for a guard. No one came. Finally I came out and looked for an NCO. We are not allowed to do that. When people come to see us, like from the Human Rights Commission, they show us and say we are free, we can walk around, go where we want. But the truth is we were not allowed to leave a small area and we got into trouble if we did. But that night I had to go out to find an NCO. I couldn't lie there wet. But the NCO just told me to wait for morning and he couldn't do anything that night."

Fortunately for the boys, the visit by the Human Rights Commission improved their situation a little bit. After the boys complained about the sleeping conditions to the representatives from the Human Rights Commission, they were moved to the staff Billiard Room (a room with open sides).

However, other atrocities continued. The day after they were moved Shan got sick. His shoulder started paining and he started having difficulty breathing. He requested to see a doctor but he was told that he was pretending and was not taken to see the doctor. Shan did not see a doctor until a day before he was released. The doctor in Dhoonidhoo Medical gave Shan an ointment to apply on his shoulder but did not investigate or treat his breathing difficulties.

Hussein Shihab tells an equally pungent story of his attempts to meet his parents who were arrested with him. He says the first time he was taken to investigation with his mother. There was no lawyer and when the investigating officers tried to get him and his mother to sign their statements without a lawyer, he demanded for one and told his mother also not to sign anything without a lawyer. Hussein Shihab says the investigating officers got angry with him about this and sent him outside. After that Hussein Shihab did not have any official access to his parents. He did meet them outside the investigation room twice and was able to talk to them a little bit. Hussein Shihab says that he did not even get a phone call when he wanted to contact other members of his family.

Shan says his experience on Namoonaa dhoni and Dhoonidhoo has become a psychological fear that will stay with him for a very long time. There is no doubt that the same holds true for the younger, more vulnerable Hussein Shihab as well.

At the much delayed 11th November meeting, the Dictator talked of children being dragged into politics by the opposition. Being the Demented One, it is not surprising that he saw his reflection in the mirror and saw the devil. Who else would expect a child to grow up apolitical after being terrorized on the open sea for days for nothing more than going to Male' for the school holidays and then being imprisoned for days in the most deplorable conditions a child can imagine?