Friday | May 9, 2008 Politics   Global Debate: The Rape of Burma Where do Burma’s generals hide all the money? Read More >>   Gaza’s Crushed Childhoods On February 28, four children playing soccer were hit by a missile, which dismembered them so completely their families couldn't identify their bodies. Read More >>   Showdown in Tibet China is rounding up “criminals” across Tibet and will “re-educate” them about their misguided beliefs in Tibetan freedom and independence... Read More >> Previous News Global Debate: The Rape of Burma Gaza’s Crushed Childhoods Tony Blair’s Palestine Showdown in Tibet The Next American Leader The Three Trillion Dollar War When Disaster Strikes, Are NGOs More Trouble Than They’re Worth? Global Debate: A Vote against Voting in Pakistan Global Opinion: China’s Dangerous Nobodies Global Debate: Pakistan’s Iranian Shadow Global Opinion: India’s Bollywood Power Global Debate: Pakistan After Bhutto Global Debate: The Transatlantic Muslim Divide Letter On Islam And The Government Letter on Environmental Challenges Letters On David Hardingham; Hill & Knowlton Is Gayoom Really Committed To Protecting Our Environment? Letters on Human Rights Commission; Seperation of Powers Human Rights Chief Responds To His Critics Letter on the Human Rights Commission Letters on Anni’s Arrest & Getting Rid of Gayoom Global Debate: Ending The Tragedy Of Darfur Global Comment: The Best and Brightest Fanatics Watching The Majlis Global Debate: Weak America = Weakened Europe Global News: Palestine’s House Divided Global Debate: Iran’s Thought Criminals Letter On Dr Shaheed’s Role In Salah Case Global Debate: Beyond The Death Penalty Global News: The Palestine Follies Global News: The Last Interventionist Gasim Elected Special Majlis Speaker MDP Protest In Pictures X-Ray: Why I Left MDP Letters In Support Of Aniya Clarification: Dr. Shaheed's Comments Adhaalath Speaks Out On Aniya Affair President Prevents Special Majlis Agreeing Rules For Referendum Government Reveals Private Broadcasting Contract Letters On Aniya’s Comments On The Veil Deputy Secretary General’s Veil Comments Shake MDP Unity State Confiscates Passport Of MDP’s Acting President Letters On Mr. Green’s Buddhas Letters On Government Health Insurance; The Dhivehi Observer In Defense Of DO; In Offense At Hassan Sobir - The Debate Rages The Pitiful State Of Maldivian Web Media Finding An Excuse For Reform ‘The MHRC Should Stop Pontificating And Do Its Job’ Harbours for Votes Letters On FOM Selected Tourism Boycott & Bed Tax PODCAST: Aneesa Ahmed Talks To Minivan News DRP-MDP Talks: So Far, So Good PODCAST: Last Word From Thinadhoo Letters on the Tsunami and Yameen Vs Gasim Test Advert - Apartment for Sale in Colombo The Adhaalath Party & Religion: Elephants In Our Rooms Nasheed's Defamation Law: Muzzling The Press Defamation Bill: A Double-Edged Sword Letter Regarding The British Red Cross U-Turn Over Defamation International Anti-Corruption Day Letters On Persecution of Fishermen; Islamic Fundamentalism The Indian Congress Party is the Biggest Obstacle for a Democratic Maldives Answer to Gayoom’s Question Letters On The Need For Unity Within The MDP Televising Majlis Sessions State Sponsored Terrorism Do Not Believe What You Read in the Press “People’s Revolution” is the Only Answer to Maldives’ Political Problems Welcome To The Dark Side Of Life: Press Freedom In Maldives Letters On The UN’s Decision To Surrender Ahmed Abbas To Police Toward A Future Without Gayoom Is Islam A Threat To The Maldives? Next PR Stop: North Korea? Up Close and Very Personal Hill & Knowlton: The Limits Of Spin Master of All Trades Coastguard Broke Human Rights Treaties “Leave Our Surfing Association Alone” How Not To Conduct A Show Trial Letter on Gayoom's Legacy Civic Power and the People’s Rights: Nonviolent Action for a New World New ‘Dawn’ On Justice Why The MDP Won Westminster House Letter On Black Friday Festivities “We’ve Been Lied To For 30 Years” Courage Lies In Deeds Not Boastful Lies Letters on Ibrahim Shafiu’s “Limited Protest” Letters On Gayoom's Record On Public Services, And Separation of Powers Lessons In Dictatorship Beyond Protest Letters on: Referenda; Gayoom and Religion; and Drugs Reform Process On Trial Is Islam Compatible With Democracy? Gayoom's Proposed Presidential System is Undemocratic Letters on Legislation and Decrees On the Road to Usher in a Modern Democracy, President Gayoom Impounds the Right of Assembly Maldives Police Service: Cosmetic Overhaul? Tribute to a Freedom Fighter and a Friend Asian Centre for Human Rights calls for Intervention Against ‘State Terror’ in Maldives Ziya Abbass - A Pawn In Gayoom's Politics Today’s Revolution; Borne of Yesteryear’s Oppression ‘Suppression of the Press’ Bill Haveeru Daily ‘Sexing Up’ Massage Parlors Workers of All Atolls, Unite! Remembering Humanitarian Volunteers on World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day No strings attached? Who Next for the MDP? To Play the King New Maldives is in Misery ‘New Maldives’: Can They Deliver, and Do They Really Want To? A Map Without A Compass Maldivian Reporter Gets Life in Prison; CPJ Seeks Thorough Review Daring to Hope Reporters Without Borders Criticises Fahala’s Imprisonment Maldives Aid Appeals to Government not to Destroy Tsunami Marketplace MDP Condemns Violent Crackdown on Peaceful Demonstration Interview: Ahmed Moosa – Democratic Transition in Maldives Reform and Restructure of the National Security Service - Part II Army Bill and Immigration Bill Discussed in Majlis All the King’s Horses and All the King’s Men - Part 3 All the King’s Horses and All the King’s Men - Part 2 All the King’s Horses and All the King’s Men MDP calls for the immediate release of political prisoner Ms Jennifer Latheef Maldives: ICJ renews call for the immediate, unconditional release of Jennifer Latheef MDP calls for the immediate release of peaceful demonstrators MDP Denounces Banning of Peaceful Women's Demonstration MALDIVES: CPJ urges fair, transparent trial for journalist The Roadmap: ‘New Maldives’ Victorious over Old Ratcheting-Up the Intimidation How is MDP’s Leadership Tested? Is Qayyoom In The Insanity Trap? Shiuna’s Arrest Indicative of a Society that Discriminates Against Women Letters on Female Discrimination in Maldives Message from Hon. Ibrahim Hussain Zaki, Vice President and Shadow Foreign Minister, Maldivian Democratic Party MDP Maintains Eating Rice Pudding an Effective Method of Revolution New Marketplace for Kulhudhuffushi thanks to Maldives Aid Friends of Maldives dedicates International Women's Day 2006 to all Maldivian Women Is Qayyoom The God That Succeeded? The Shambles that is Maldives’ Human Rights Commission Letters on DRP's Special Majlis Blocking and MDP's Civil Disobedience Qayyoom’s Rule of Deception Stop Channeling Charity to Terrorists Former Amnesty Prisoner of Conscience to Devote life to Toppling “The Animal” Gayoom Fiddling While Rome Burns Maldives: Cyberdissident Ahmad Didi released, a Photographer Arrested Maldives: Release of Artist and Internet Dissident Highlights Failings of Justice System CPJ Welcomes Release of Maldivian Internet Journalist “New Maldives” Project Mocked Following Slip-up by Government Official Mayhem in Gayoom’s DRP Cries of Hulhumale' Residents Freedom of Information: The Key to Democratic Reform in the Maldives Time for Unity and Solidarity Reforming the Media to Allow More Freedom or Constraint? Letters on the Excess Luxury of Maldives Resorts Waiting for a Political Tsunami Ibra and Anni are a Formidable Duo that can Defeat Gayoom’s Autocracy IGMH - A Profit Based Company? Can We End Qayyoom’s Fear Republic? Letter on the Ill-Treatment of Tsunami Victims India Still Tries to Remain Gayoom’s Savior Maldives Tourism - Where is it Going Wrong? Please - No More Drama! Maldivian Politics Rules! Depolitization of Public Service Is Zahiya the Chicken Minister? Qayyoom’s Understanding of Peace & Security Qayyoom’s Interpretation of Law & Order Is Brigadier Adam the Begotten Son..? Has Qayyoom Run Out of Men? Maumoon’s Psychology of National Unity President’s Loan Scandal Throws a Shadow over Special Majlis Drafting Committee Dauntsey’s Pupils Protest at the Persecution of a Cherished Old Boy “Blood on the Beaches: Torture and ill-treatment in the Maldives” Democracy-Deficit in the Maldives Letter on Civil Disobedience Commonwealth Human Rights Forum Condemns Minivan Raid Minivan Travels to Fares Maathodaa and Finds an Island still Living in Terror Maldives Government Orchestrates Sri Lanka Raid on Exiled Radio Station ADK Hospital Leader; a clear-cut case of corruption The Tourism Industry Today – Rapid Destruction Taking Shape “New Maldives” – Pathetic Maumoonism Maldives: Colombo-based Exile Radio and Website Raided in Manipulation of Interpol MDP 'Appalled' by Military's Action in Fares-Maathoda Gayyoom cons Interpol FOM Concerned over Maldivian Government’s Duplicitous use of Interpol to Target Opposition Media Parochialism of Politicians and PhDs Letter on the Soft Loans Scandal Letters on Fat Loans Letter on Dr.Aminath Jameel Building a 'Green' island for tsunami survivors in the Maldives The Cabinet versus the Shadow Cabinet Letters on Mody's Comments and FOM's Selected Resort Boycott MDP Calls for Conciliation; Says Release of Prisoners Will Pave Way for Talks Maldives Aid Looks back on a Year's Tsunami Work Ibra Starts MDP Presidency Term with Tough Words for Gayoom Elections not free nor fair until Gayoom implements HRC and CET recommendations By Elections Campaign Period Draws to an End Presidential Decrees Violate the Constitution This week in Parliament: Annual Budget 2006 Campaign to free Jennifer Latheef Grows as she Completes her Third Month in Prison Letters on Missing the January 2006 Reform Deadline Will Government Critics now Face Drugs Charges Rather than Terrorism? UN agency urges media to encourage tourists’ return to tsunami-hit countries Citizen’s Special Majlis in disarray Letters on Questions of Corruption and FOM’s Selected Resort Boycott Human Rights Commission Press Release For Human Rights Day Maldives and Thaliland: Rebuilding for the future Letters on the Double-Standards of Maldives Justice FOM Calls for Tourist Boycott of Regime-Owned Resorts Majlis Members Raise Question-Marks over Transparency of Resort Bids Letters on the Need to Prevent Corruption in the MDP Is Umar Naseer justifying the torture of Abdulla Mahir? Gayyoom lacks the vision, stature and energy to effectively run the country President Gayoom must Provide a Clearly Timetabled and Verifiable Reform Programme - MDP MDP Election Throws-Up Some Interesting Surprises FOM attends Reporters Without Borders Conference in Paris Relocating Tsunami Victims Causing Rising Tension between island Communities Reporters Without Border Petition over Jenny Latheef Letters on the Sleazy Life of the Former Foreign Minister The Parliamentary debate surrounding the Human Rights Commission Open Letter to Commonwealth Secretary-General Actions definitely speak louder than words Gayoom opts for financial gain over Islamic prohibitions Independents: Supporters of the Status Quo Constituting the Maldives Human Rights Commission under Law RSF Head Robert Ménard prevented from attending the UN Internet summit by Tunisian Regime Letters on Women's Equality in Maldives Letters on Lubna's Ill-Chosen Remarks The Failure of Methods of Controling the People MDP Response to Gayoom's call for All-Party Talks Performance is all that Matters The Danger of MDP Branch Presidents Becoming Little Hitlers MDP Says Gayoom Insincere in Reform Pledges Will the Upcoming MDP Elections Yield a Truly Democratic Result? Honour thy Word Mohamed Nasheed! Letters on DRP's Tharaaves in Addu and Mohamed Shihab No wonder! All STELCO could afford to do is just go bankrupt! Letters on Mohamed Shihab's Handshake Gayoom's Regime Makes fun of Hinduism and Buddhism MDP Concerned Over Government's Threats to Arrest Peaceful Dissenters (More) letters on Dr Shaheed Letters on Dr Shaheed Amnesty International Urgent Action Appeal: Jenny Latheef How Minivan Intends to Cover the MDP Leadership Elections Remembering Rosa Parks - A Hero of Civil Disobedience and America's Civil Rights Movement Gayoom’s Strategic Communications Unit Caught Lying Again Verdict Passed on Jennifer Latheef's Final Appeal MDP’s Minimum Expectations from the Government of Maldives Government Makes Statement Regarding Case of Jennifer Latheef Why Bling-Bling Maumoon Just Doesn’t Cut it as King We Ask For Democracy And Human Rights Without Oppression And Without Killing Anni's Trial 'Politically Motivated' - MDP Anni Now Being Tried for: ‘Masterminding’ Black Friday; ‘Speaking’ to the BBC; ‘Having Knowledge’ about Gatherings; and ‘Leading a Walk’ around Male’ Rights Group Condemns the 'Kangaroo Trial' of Maldives’ Opposition Leader Trouble in Paradise: What's Wrong in the Maldives? Letters on the MDP Leadership Election Torture: A hallmark of Maldives Criminal Justice System The verdict of Jennifer Latheef has shown the hijacked 'liberties and freedom' in Maldives Maldives – A Police State: A Report Mohamed Shareef is Right Maldives: The Kangaroo Courts of the Paradise Lost An Open letter To President Gayoom MDP strongly condemns the 'unjust' sentencing of Jennifer Latheef MALDIVES: Reporters Without Borders Voices Outrage over Jenny's Sentence RSF Condemns Arrest of Two Journalists on the Minivan Daily Jennifer Latheef Declared Amnesty International Prisoner of Conscience 'It Took Little Over Half an Hour for Judge Fahmy to Rob Jenny of Ten Years of her Life' - Says our Correspondent in Court The Boy who Never Grew Up Trouble in Paradise Maldives: Harassment of human rights defenders must stop - Amnesty International Stand Down! Gasim Ibrahim - Hero or Hypocrite? Adhaalath Party Accuses DRP Newspaper of Smearing it as Anti-Western Ministers Running away from Responsibility I Have Returned to Join You in Your Struggle – Dr Waheed Maldives Aid Desalinisation Plant in Filadhoo Island, North Haa Alifu Atoll March for Democracy Sir Ivan Lawrence QC delegation finds five key flaws in the Maldives Justice system Gayoom Violates Private Property Laws Again Gayoom should desist from being a barrier for Maldivians to live their lives in freedom and dignity – Ahamma Out of the Ashes, an Aspiring Democrat United States Embassy Organizes Week of Friendship with the Maldives Letters on the Dangers of Oligarchs in Maldives Journalist and Human Rights Activist on Trial Amid Continuing Crackdown on Press - RSF Maldives: The difficulties faced by independent newspapers Silk Leads Delegation of Barristers on Human Rights Mission to the Maldives Jennifer Latheef to Face Terrorism Charges as New Intimidation of Journalists’ Case Arises The Other Side of Reform Jenny Latheef’s Trial Exposes the Sick Joke Otherwise Known as Maldives’ ‘Justice’ System Latheef Reflects on the MDP - Two Years On Nine Months from Tsunami, Maldives Tourist Businesses Still Suffer The Horrors of Maafushi Prison in Maldives The Adhaalath Party – On Female Judges, Massage Parlours and the Events of the 12-14th August “Save us from Poverty, Despair and Ruin!” Gayoom Begs the United Nations The Culture of Torture Continues Letters on the Lack of Transport Links Between Airport and Hulhumale' Warming of Party Relations or Warning against Party activities? Will Gayoom Stick to His Own Words? Citizen's Journalism in the Maldives Taking the Option to Deceive Again MALDIVES: Writer and Leading Opposition Politician Mohamed Nasheed Charged with ‘Terrorism’ and ‘Sedition’ MDP chairman, Mohamed Nasheed Waiting to be Tried MDP ‘Speakers’ Under Police Custody MDP Condemns Police Provocation and Intimidation of Party Supporters Statement by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the civil disturbances in the Maldives The Pot Calling the Kettle Black Growing Signs of Unrest in the Maldives ICJ to Observe Trial of Opposition Leader in the Maldives IFEX Members Decry Arrests of Journalists, Protestors International Community united in condemnation of Gayoom Regime - FOM Nobody in the Outside World Believes Gayoom Opposition Party Leader in Maldives Must be Released and Democratic Reform Expedited IFJ Protests Over Renewed Repression in the Maldives A Clarification of Minivan News & Radio’s Role THE DEFINING PHOTOGRAPH Freedom of Expression NGO Blasts Gayoom for Anni's Arrest More Trouble in Paradise: Maldivian Government Arrests pro-democracy Campaigners International Organizations Express Concern Over Detentions