{"id":187,"date":"2009-11-03T18:32:24","date_gmt":"2009-11-03T18:32:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ilyashussainibrahim.com\/?p=187"},"modified":"2016-07-21T18:50:53","modified_gmt":"2016-07-21T18:50:53","slug":"interview-wdo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ilyashussainibrahim.com\/?p=187","title":{"rendered":"Interview w\/DO"},"content":{"rendered":"

Interview with Dhivehi Observer
\nafter \u2018Black Friday<\/strong><\/p>\n

November 2004 \u2013 Translated from Dhivehi Interview<\/p>\n

Question: Would you give us a brief description of your life?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Since my graduation in 1984 to the present day, I have worked towards establishing
\ndemocracy and human rights in its best form in Maldives during my visits to all
\ninhabited islands of Maldives. I can say that I have friends in every inhabited island. My
\nfriends vary from chiefs of the islands to the most common person are close friends. I
\ncan discuss all kinds of matters with these friends. So people like me and support me.
\nMaldivians are always interested in listening to reform ideas.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since 1984, I have been serving the Maldivian government. On 8 August the Minister
\nof Atolls sent a letter to the President\u2019s Office saying that there is no work for me to
\ndo at the ministry, so I have been given a notice of employment termination now.<\/p>\n

Up until this date, there was work for me to do but on the day of the Special
\nconstitutional Majlis\u2019 first meeting, where there was disagreement in interpreting a
\nconstitutional clause, the minister made it personal and did this to me. There was
\ndisagreement among the members with regard to the interpretation of some clauses in
\nthe constitution. I disagreed with the decision of the Atolls minister who was the
\ntemporary speaker during this meeting.<\/p>\n

In my opinion, the minister\u2019s decision was contrary to the constitution and so I took the
\nmatter to the court. I took the temporary speaker of the Special constitutional Majlis to
\nthe court, not the private individual Abdulla Hameed of Meenaz house and I no issues
\nwith him. There should not be any personal hatred between us. If he is to hold a
\ngrudge over this kind of matter then it shows the ineptness of the minister.<\/p>\n

During the rule of this regime, I have been imprisoned five times and kept in solitary
\nconfinement in a cell in Dhoonidhoo. In addition to these imprisonments, I was
\ninterrogated and reprimanded by Anbaree Abdul Sattar and Isthafa Ibrahim Manik by
\nsummoning me to the Defence Ministry, soon after I returned from overseas after
\ngraduation in 1984, over articles I wrote for a students\u2019 magazine. They said the
\narticles discussed Maldivian politics. This matter ended with a threat, instead of
\nimprisonment.<\/p>\n

1. First time in Dhoonidhoo prison
\nThis was a matter involved with having heard about the existence of a cassette tape
\nwith a recording of a phone conversation between the then state Minister for Defence
\nIlyas Ibrahim and Maakun Abdul Sattar who was held in Dhoonidhoo prison cell at the
\ntime over massive misappropriation charges as the managing director of FPID.<\/p>\n

Abdul Sattar received a phone call from the state Minister through a NSS officer while
\nhe was in the Dhoonidhoo cell. I was kept in the Dhoonidhoo prison cell for 45 days
\nand then taken to the court and sentenced for 6 months imprisonment. This trial was
\nstrange. The person who was responsible for breaking the law remained safe, while
\nthose who listened to the recording of the conversation were severely punished.<\/p>\n

No question was asked about the nature or content of the conversation between the
\nthen state Minister for Defence who phoned a person charged with a criminal
\noffence, and in custody, to discuss the criminal matter. Many people who listened to
\nthe recording of the conversation were imprisoned and then sentenced to further
\nimprisonment, and others were banished. Such is the justice of this regime. During my
\ntrial I asked the court whether it is justice to chop all branches and leave the trunk of
\nthe tree.<\/p>\n

2. Second time in Dhoonidhoo prison
\nWhen the government banned Sangu during its infancy, it was the most well-known
\nindependent magazine in Maldives. At this time, I registered a political magazine called
\nManthiri. I registered the magazine according to the laws and rules at the ministry of
\nInformation and obtained all required permits. With the layout and the permits, I went
\naround to all main publishing houses in Maldives but in vain. They refused to publish
\nout of the fear of the regime.<\/p>\n

Mohamed Saeed, the owner of Cyprea print, said that although I had all the permits he
\nwas afraid of publishing it. After a three hour political discussion with Ali Hussein of
\nNovelty Printers, his answer was that he could only publish it if I could bring him a
\nletter from the relevant government authorities that there would be no problem after
\nthe magazine was printed at his printery.<\/p>\n

It turned out that no government department would issue this type of guarantee. So
\nwe had to go to neighbouring Sri Lanka to print the magazine. As the printed copies of
\nthe magazine arrived at the Hulhule\u2019 airport, the authorities confiscated all the copies.
\nWe shipped 1000 copies by air but the Defence Ministry received about 800 copies.
\nSome copies disappeared in the customs.<\/p>\n

The other editor of Manthiri magazine Adam Rasheed Ahmed of Thalwaaruge (Galolhu
\nward) and myself were arrested and imprisoned. In prison, Vaavu Lhahutthu and
\nmyself were woken up in the middle of the night and interrogated over an article in the
\nmagazine I had written under the title: \u2018Is the 3 November 88 aggressive attack to
\ndisappear into the history as it is now?\u2019<\/p>\n

In this article, I discussed how Progress Light ship was gunned and sunk by the Indian
\nnavy ship Godhavaree while it was in international waters, and also how small bombs
\nwere scattered on the ship from a helicopter. This was carried out after high ranking
\nMaldivian NSS officers were on board the Indian navy ship, and at their orders. I was
\ntold about this by a flight engineer of Godhavaree at a meeting with me in the library of
\nthe Islamic Centre in Male\u2019. I was told that there was no evidence to prove this story
\nand I was accused of lying and sentenced for 6 months imprisonment.<\/p>\n

3. Third time in Dhoonidhoo prison
\nThe third time was in relation to an explosion incident in Male\u2019 in 1990. A group of
\nyoung people who were involved in a democratic reform movement carried out an
\nexplosion in the Sultan park in a way would not cause harm to anyone or damage to
\nproperty, after being they have been subject to constant harassment from a gang
\nknown as Binbi force led by Abbas Ibrahim and Kaashidhoo Hussein Fulhu on behalf
\nof the then state minister for Defence Ilyas Ibrahim.<\/p>\n

When this incident took place in late 1990, I was locked in a cell in Dhoonidhoo prison.
\nBut the authorities suspected that Anni (Mohamed Nasheed) and I were aware of the
\nincident, so I was kept in detention. During this time in prison, I was kept in a cell 6 ft
\nby 3 ft, made of corrugated iron sheets sometimes in eh-hulhu cuffs, kees bidi (saw
\nteeth cuffs), chain cuffs, and I was subjected to the punishments of all sorts of
\nshackles.<\/p>\n

I was interrogated excessively in relation to some members of the Peoples\u2019 Majlis at
\nthe time. I was questioned about Dr Mohamed Waheed and Mohamed (Gogo) Latheef
\nand other leaders. Incessantly, I was told that I was aware that the members of the
\nMajlis discussed holding a vote of no confidence in the president, and I should tell my
\ninterrogators about it.<\/p>\n

I was kept in this tortured condition for 45 days in the cell, and then taken to the court
\nwithout allowing me to go home, and sentenced to six years imprisonment. I was
\nsentenced under the terrorism law for not informing the authorities about the explosion
\nin Sultan park.<\/p>\n

After keeping me in the small cell in Dhoonidhoo prison for 18 months, I was
\ntransferred to Himmafushi prison (north of Male\u2019 in Kaafu atoll). After 18 months in this
\nprison I was released \u2013 after three years of jail.<\/p>\n

4. Fourth time in Dhoonidhoo prison
\nThis time, I was taken to prison in relation to the events that took place on 20
\nSeptember 2003 after the murder of Evan Naseem (at Maafushi prison south of Male\u2019
\nin Kaafu atoll).<\/p>\n

I was accused of being a leader in the events that followed, and kept in custody for
\n45 days. When released, I signed a document informing me that they have finished
\nquestioning me and there were no further questions to ask me.<\/p>\n

This was a conspiracy against me, and a completely fabricated accusation without a
\nshred of evidence. When the incidents took place in Male\u2019 I was in Hulhumale\u2019. There
\nare people who can testify this fact.<\/p>\n

5. Fifth time in Dhoonidhoo prison
\nThe fifth time, I was locked up in a cell in Dhoonidhoo in relation to some activities
\ncarried out by people at Republic square on 12 and 13 August 2004. This is what is
\npopularly known as the events of Black Friday.<\/p>\n

On Friday 13 August, I was taken straight from home to a Dhoonidhoo prison cell. I
\nwas transferred from the cell back to home on Tuesday 19 November 2004 in the
\nafternoon and kept under house detention, after being kept in the cell for 89 days. I am
\nstill under house detention.<\/p>\n

On 1 November 2004, a public announcement was made that my case had been sent
\nto the court. I was arrested under article 6 of Public laws No. 4\/68 part 2 of schedule
\n1: \u2018Offences that allow arrest, and offences that do not allow arrest\u2019.<\/p>\n

On 6 October 2004, I signed three copies of the official forms informed that my
\ninvestigation was completed. From this moment on, the investigation was officially
\ncompleted. But I was kept in custody, contrary to the laws and regulations. I have
\nbeen prevented from attending meetings of the constitutional Majlis, in breach of the
\nlaws and regulations. Someone must take responsibility for these matters.<\/p>\n

Question: How did you get arrested on Black Friday, 13 August 2004? Why,
\nwhen and where?<\/strong><\/p>\n

On Friday, 13 August 2004 at night around 7.30 pm, while I was watching the Asia
\nToday program on BBC TV, the NSS came to arrest me. At the time, Anni\u2019s (Mohamed
\nNasheed\u2019s) interview was just about to start.<\/p>\n

I was very sad to have to leave without being able to listen to what Anni had to say.
\nYes, I was in my home with my wife and two children in front of the TV. Five NSS
\nofficers came into the house asking where I was, and then told me that I had to go
\nwith them to the police station. So I got ready to go, leaving my mobile phone and
\nwallet with my wife, and went with the officers.<\/p>\n

When I walked out to the street, there was a police jeep ready and waiting to take me
\naway. I was told to get into the jeep. We drove off and stopped in front of Bandeyrige.
\nThe whole area was packed with NSS officers with batons. They opened the door of
\nthe jeep and led me out and told me to take off my glasses and put them in my pocket.
\nThen two officers held me very hard and another blindfolded me very tightly with a
\npiece of black cloth.<\/p>\n

They put my hands together behind my back and tied it with a cable tie plastic strip.
\nThis was a type of thing used on criminals in war. It is prohibited in a situation like this
\n(Ilyas is referring to international law). They first left the strip loose and then put one
\nend through and pulled it twice to tighten with the weight from my hands . It was
\npainful and they took a photograph at that moment with a flash light. Before being
\nblindfolded, I had noticed a female NSS officer with a camera.<\/p>\n

They pushed me really hard from behind, and said \u2018Let\u2019s go.\u2019 As I was led me, they
\nkept pinching really hard on my back and my chest. They kept on kicking my legs with
\ntheir steel boots, while abusing me in insulting tones. Their behaviour was contrary to
\ncivil police behaviour. They called out, \u2018Hey big man, what had happened to you! Don\u2019t
\nstand still, run! Hey, he\u2019s a politician! He called for Abdulla Hameed\u2019s resignation and he
\nis the member for Alif Dhaal!\u2019<\/p>\n

They called out this kind of abuse in sarcastic tones. This was their song as they
\nkicked me. I still have scars on right knee from the injuries caused by this kicking. Once
\nI was inside the entrance of Bandeyrige, someone hit me very hard with two fists and
\nshoved me as he told me to walk fast. I ran into a corner of a wall and fell over and
\nscratched a section just below my right shoulder. The scars are still visible.<\/p>\n

They took me somewhere while kicking and shoving me constantly. At some point, I
\nheard the voice of Ibrahim Didi who is an officer of the NSS, and recognising his voice
\nI called him, \u2018Hey, Ibrahim Didi,\u2019 and asked him to remove the cable tying my hands. I
\nsaid that I am not made of cable wire. I am muscle, blood and bones. My hands had
\nbecome numb and blue. I heard him order his men to untie the cable around my hands.
\nBut the men who were holding me ignored him, so I repeated the same thing three
\ntimes at Ibrahim Didi and asked if this is what they do to members of the Special Majlis
\nand started yelling very loudly.<\/p>\n

Then I heard him say very loudly, \u2018Undo that thing!\u2019 He also ordered that the blindfold be
\nremoved, and told them to take me upstairs and that I was one of the members. While I
\nwas blindfolded, I also felt the rubbing of ink on my right upper arm. When they
\nremoved my blindfold I realised that they had written the number \u2019140\u2032 in bold print on
\nmy arm. It was written in blue ink in and took two days to remove. An officer named
\nAbdulla Rasheed met us at the foot of the staircase and those who led me, handed me
\nover to him. Abdulla Rasheed took me upstairs and told me to sit down on a large
\narmchair.<\/p>\n

In this room were Ibra (Ibrahim Ismail), Dr. Munavvar, Gasim Ibrahim and Ibrahim
\nHussein Zaki. While the five of us were held there, two other members were also
\nbrought in \u2013 Thaa atoll member Hussein Rasheed and Baa atoll member Ali Faiz.<\/p>\n

When they removed my blindfold, I saw how brutally the people were being treated. It
\nwas the same way as I saw on TV, like prisoners in the Iraq-America war, they were
\npiled up blindfolded inside Bandeyrige on the floor. There were about a hundred
\npeople blindfolded, hands and legs tied together with plastic strips and piled up. Some
\nof the people had been thrown there like refuse and others were just left there. There
\nwas at least one NSS guard for every two-three detainees there. I heard people
\ncrying. I saw people with their clothes torn and bloodied.<\/p>\n

As we sat upstairs, I heard people downstairs crying and asking for help and yelling
\nwith pain. We also heard the NSS shouting. The men guarding the seven of us,
\nwatched the scene through the windows and they visibly took pleasure in what they
\nsaw.<\/p>\n

At 3.30 am that night, they took us to the Shaheed Ali Building and we were told they
\nhad arrested us for supporting the illegal gathering of people on 12 and 13 August
\n2004. This was carried out by two officers called Nawaz and Ali Ahmed. After the
\ncall for dawn prayer, we were taken on board a coast guard speed launch that
\nlooked like a gulf-craft to Dhoonidhoo. I was given a mundu of very thin cotton, a white
\nt-shit, toothbrush, a tube of toothpaste and soap. After taking signature and finger
\nprints for the receipt of these items, I was put into cell number 17. At that time the sun
\nhas not yet risen. This administrative task was carried out by lady Ibrahim Manik. He
\nthe chief of the Dhoonidhoo prison.<\/p>\n

At that time, there was a task force of 15, in full-kit, operating under the command of
\nan officer with one strip on his sleeve, Abdulla Abdul-Raheem. The task of this force
\nwas to transport people to Dhoonidhoo and subdue and torture them. Many people
\nclaim to have been tortured on the way to Dhoonidhoo. On the way to Girifushi from
\nMale\u2019, and from Girifushi to Dhoonidhoo, many disclosed to me that they were
\nsubjected to various types cruel treatment. Some people were sexually assaulted.
\nThese matters can be verified from reports of various human rights organisations.<\/p>\n

Question: How long were you kept in the cell?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I was kept in solitary confinement in a cell from the night of 13 August when they took
\nme to Dhoonidhoo prison until 5.00pm on 9 November 2004. I was transferred from cell
\n17 to cell 26, on Monday 11 October 2004. By then I had been in cell 17 for 60 days.
\nThis was the day other detainees Abujee, Zuhaira, Dhonbi (Elena Abbas), Naube,
\nMani Latheef, and Mariyam Manike were taken to Male\u2019 from detention in Dhoonidhoo
\njail.<\/p>\n

The transfers from one cell to another were carried out because of the renovation
\nwork on the cells that began as we were taken to the prison. They renovated about
\nsix cells at a time. When completed, they put detainees in there and then started work
\non another six cells. They continued this construction work until it was all completed.
\nWhen I was transferred to cell 26, all the new changes had been completed. This
\nrenovation work on the cells meant removal of the toilet door, constructing a concrete
\ntable, a concrete stool, a concrete shelf and a raised concrete platform for a mattress.<\/p>\n

With these concrete structures, the cell was virtually full. Cells are 8ft by 8ft, and
\nthere is not even enough space to spread a prayer mat and no space to exercise.
\nEven before these changes were made there was hardly any air movement in the
\ncells. With the new changes, they replaced a small gap two bars across, with a small
\nplastic pipe. The previous gap became small holes in the concrete and there was no
\nmovement of air inside the cell. In some cells, the ventilation gap in the toilet was made
\neven smaller than before. All these changes were designed to cause more stress and
\nharm to the prisoners.<\/p>\n

During the time of construction work, all inmates in the cells were in pain and
\nsuffering. Some people had breathing difficulties. The medical practitioner at IGMH, Dr
\nShakeel, visits Dhoonidhoo and he is aware of all these facts. It is important that his
\nreports go to the Health ministry.<\/p>\n

Later on, after the matter was raised with the Amnesty International members who
\nvisited the prisons, we were given a mask made of cotton material. Even when we
\nwore this mask, within minutes of construction work beginning, the dust and cement
\nwas so thick our hair and body became white.<\/p>\n

They were grinding outside the walls of the cells. They put putty in the cracks and
\nthen put the grinder on it again. They used only a grinder for this work, I did not see a
\nsander. They cut steel and welded doors \u2013 the smoke and noise never ceased until
\nlate at night. The dust was thick and at times it was difficult to breath. No doubt, Dr
\nShakeel will testify this.<\/p>\n

All the prisoners endured this noise and dust. It is worth noting the colour of the paint
\nthey used inside the cells. A colour more suitable for outside was used inside. The
\ncalmer colour was used on the outside walls. The cells\u2019 interiors were painted a rich
\npink colour. Outside, they used a cool light green.<\/p>\n

Dark pink is the same colour the Soviet KGB used in their tiny torturing prison cells.
\nThis was based on the belief that mental disturbance results from constantly being
\nsurrounded by this colour. I think it was done in Dhoonidhoo deliberately.<\/p>\n

The twenty-nine cells in the number 1 prison in Dhoonidhoo were completed around
\n20 October 2004. All the people held in number 2 prison after the Black Friday arrests
\nwere moved to this prison . Among them were Husnu Suood, Sappe\u2019 the member for
\nMeemu, Mohamed Fulhu, IC, Iyaz, Ziyatte, Mahir, Abusee, Anmadey, Falah, Garee
\nAbdulla, Shukoor of Laamu atoll, and presidential candidate Nazeer.<\/p>\n

Yes, I was locked in the cell until 9 November 2004 and then placed under house
\ndetention. Being locked up in these cells inflicted physical and psychological harm.
\nYou can only understand it if you are locked in there. Some people held in these cells
\nbegan to rave like lunatics. The intention was to drive them insane or at least inflict
\nsome harm on their minds.<\/p>\n

Question: How did you spend time in the cell?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I am a very spiritual person. I did a degree in theology. I became spiritually stronger as
\nthe days passed and my determination strengthened. I did not feel depressed or in
\ndespair. Until 18 October, when we began to receive newspapers and magazines, all
\nI had to read and think about was the holy Quran. I performed all compulsory prayers
\nand non-compulsory prayers on time. It was forbidden to converse with anyone and
\ncompletely prohibited to speak to a guard. I kept my mind focused on the future and I
\nwas able to stay in control.<\/p>\n

On 18 October we began receiving the newspapers Haveeru, Miadhu, Aafathis and
\nmagazines such as Newsweek, Time, Huvaas, and Dahruma. Newspapers were
\nseven or ten days old when they arrived at Dhoonidhoo. The magazines arrived were
\nnormally that week\u2019s issues. We were not allowed to have a pen, pencil, paper,
\nnotebook or radio. These things were completely prohibited.<\/p>\n

Most strange is the raids on the cells. During the 89 days, there were two official
\nraids. They did a body and mouth search for pen-tips, a refill or a hidden chip \u2013 not for
\ndrugs. We were referred as political paarteys. They believed we had a mobile phone
\ninside prison to send information to an overseas organisation. They suspected this
\nbecause of what we told foreign representatives who visited us, and how well
\ninformed we were about these matters and the changes taking place in Male\u2019. We had
\nthe first raid the day after Mr James paid a visit to our prison, but we kept on receiving
\ninformation from Male\u2019 as it happened.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Question: Would you give us a brief description of your life?<\/p>\n

Since my graduation in 1984 to the present day, I have worked towards establishing
\ndemocracy and human rights in its best form in Maldives during my visits to all
\ninhabited islands of Maldives. I can say that I have friends in every inhabited island. My
\nfriends vary from chiefs of the islands to the most common person are close friends. I
\ncan discuss all kinds of matters with these friends. So people like me and support me.
\nMaldivians are always interested in listening to reform ideas.<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[3],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ilyashussainibrahim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ilyashussainibrahim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ilyashussainibrahim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ilyashussainibrahim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ilyashussainibrahim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=187"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.ilyashussainibrahim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":191,"href":"https:\/\/www.ilyashussainibrahim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187\/revisions\/191"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ilyashussainibrahim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=187"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ilyashussainibrahim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=187"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ilyashussainibrahim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=187"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}