letter to brown
Letter to David Browne of eTurbonews
Dear Mr David Browne,
I am glad that a news agency such as eTurbonews has taken such a keen interest on the Maldives. I would also like thank you on behalf of the Maldivian people for the kind words you published, and I am sure that your article under the heading ‘UK advocacy group urges boycott of Maldives resorts’ was indeed written with good intentions, and with the best interests of the Maldivian people at heart.
As olhuala.com is one of the leading political reporters on Maldivian current affairs, I would like to make some observations and comment on a few inaccuracies in your published article if I may. I would also like to state that, these comments are meant in the utmost sincerity to clarify the issues to you in some detail.
First of all I would like to inform you that there is no registered UK based aid and campaign group under the name ‘Friends of Maldives’. There is in fact a charity registered under that name, run by one Ms Toni de la Roque. This charity has no connection to the organisation (run by David Hardingham) that you have mentioned in your article. Hardingham is in violation of UK laws, by using a registered name, unlawfully.
In your article you state that the Friends of Maldives (FoM) was calling on tourists to boycott 24 island resorts.
I would like to point out that, in their brochure, the FoM calls for the boycott of 28 resorts, namely Bandos Island Resort, Cocoa Island, Tulaagiri Island, Dhonveli Beach resort, Hakuraa Club, Alidhoo, Dhonakulhi, Paradise Island resort, Olhuveli Beach resort, Lily Beach Island Resort, Vilu Reef Beach resort, Kandooma resort, Sun Island resort, Fun Island resort, Holiday Island resort, Royal Island resort, Vakarufalhi Island resort, Dhonimigili resort, Biyadhoo island resort, Kalhufahalafushi resort, Maavelaavaru resort Funamadua resort, Coco Palm resort, Makunudu Island resort, Meeru Island resort, Rangali Hilton, Veligandu Island Resort and Kurumba Village (please see olhuala.com archives for information on the brochure).
You also seem to imply, that this campaign will not affect the general public, when in reality this ‘boycott list’ of resort islands constitutes nearly 38% of the total number of tourist beds in the Maldives and employs a considerable fraction of the entire labour force of the country (boycott total: 6331, total beds: 16,858 information from the Maldives Tourism Ministry official website).
Further, if for arguments sake we assume that the President Gayyoom is a brutal dictator, do you think this attack on the country’s economy would affect Gayyoom’s power base? (Surely the lengthy economic sanctions against Iraq did not affect Saddam Hussain, but the consequences were suffered by the Iraqi people).
All the tourist resorts pay bed taxes and annual royalties to the government. The government has other sources of income. Hence do you see any reason for boycotting a selected number of resorts, other than the elimination of rival resorts by discrediting their integrity through false accusations?
Do you think an organisation promoting human rights should call on the world to starve a country in order to save it?
You have also mentioned that this list of islands was devised by Maldivians.
This information is correct. It was devised by resort owning members of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) who run the FoM (an entity of the MDP’s international wing). This campaign is in fact an effort to eliminate their business competitors while discrediting the government with false allegations.
It is known that members of the MDP devised this list, for their political benefit, while increasing profit margins at the same time through elimination of their competitors.
Did you know that the FoM is operated by the above-mentioned David Hardingham, who is the leader of MDP’s international wing? Did you know that, the FoM is a political organisation rather than human rights ambassadors? Are you aware that Hardingham has never been to the Maldives while he speaks about it so ‘passionately’ as if he practically grew up there? Are you aware that Hardigham has no first hand knowledge of the Maldives or its people?
Did you also know that, the MDP’s chief financier, Mr Ahmed Ismail Maniku (also known as Sikka) is also Hardingham’s financial backer?
Did you also know that the FoM failed to list the resorts owned by Sikka on their boycott list, while Sikka was convicted on 19 counts of murder and sentenced to death in 1989?
Is it ethical to visit resort islands owned by convicted mass murderers?
Are you also aware that Hardingham receives funds from Account Number: 011-066186 101 HSBC Bank, Colombo – 3, Sri Lanka, the US Dollar account of Ahmed Ismail Maniku (Sikka)?
Hardingham recently stated that he was not an MDP activist. He went on to deny any association between his FoM, Maldives Aid, Minivan Radio Limited and the MDP.
While Hardingham is adamant on lying so blatantly, are you aware that, the constitution of the FoM was drafted by the UK law firm, Clyde & Co (51 Eastcheap, London EC3M 1JP, UK) and that, none other than Ahmed Moosa, the MDP’s junior spokesperson based in Scotland, acted on behalf of the FoM in dealing with Clyde & Co?
Are you also aware, that Clyde & Co also prepared several documents for the MDP, and that Clyde & Co in fact used the same matter number (0401704) for all documents prepared for both the FoM and the MDP, and that the law firm treated both the FoM and the MDP as the same client? Please feel free to contact Rizwan Kanji at Clyde & Co who handled the FoM constitution.
Are you also aware that Ahmed Naseer, of the MDP’s governing council was appointed as company secretary of Hardingham’s UK based Minivan Radio Limited (registration number 05219579) on the 15th of September 2004? Are you also aware that Minivan Radio Limited operates the clandestine ‘news’ website minivannews.com and the Internet radio station minivan radio? Are you also aware that these are in fact propaganda machines for the Maldivian Democratic Party?
You mention in your article that President Gayyoom has ruled for 28 years. He has been President of the Maldives, since November 1978. You also mention that the FoM accuses Gayyoom of human rights violations. This is in fact true. The FoM has accused Gayyoom of committing such crimes several times.
Have you asked Hardingham to back up his accusations with some evidence? Have you ever seen a list of activists who are unaccounted for? Have you ever heard of disappearances of political rivals in the Maldives? Has any political rival of Gayyoom ever been executed or assassinated? Has anyone been executed under the Presidency of Gayyoom although capital punishment exists in Maldivian Law? Are you aware that Gayyoom has saved all who have been sentenced to death from the hangman (including Sikka), during his presidency, through special Presidential pardons and that no one has been executed in the Maldives during Gayyoom’s presidency?
Are you aware that the main crime the FoM accuses Gayyoom of committing is in fact a case of police brutality in a state prison? Hassan Evan Naseem, a boy of 19 years (in prison for narcotics offences) was beaten to death by some bloodthirsty prison wardens. These wardens later shot and killed a number of other inmates (Surely the President cannot be held personally responsible for this. Is Mr Blair, the Prime Minister of England responsible for the police killing of the Brazilian national on the 8th of August 2005?).
Are you also aware that the guards who committed these horrific crimes were in fact charged, tried and sentenced to death by Maldivian courts?
Are you aware that President Gayyoom is widely loved by his people and was elected for a sixth consecutive term in office, in 2003 by an overwhelming majority of over 90 % of the vote?
Are you aware that Mr Gayyoom is also a dignified statesman respected by the international community? This was portrayed in the recent CHOGM held in Malta. Queen Elizabeth II of England, the head of the Commonwealth honoured Mr Gayyoom several times, as widely covered by the media (see also olhuala.com archives).
Mr Gayyoom further received a warm reception from the Islamic states, at the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) meeting held in Jeddah last November.
Would such organisations as Her Majesty’s Commonwealth and the OIC, have endorsed Gayyoom so publicly if he was a dictator or if his government was committing gross human rights’ violations?
Are you aware that, it is widely accepted that, Mr Gayyoom is considered as a leading statesman and an ambassador for human rights and democratic reforms by the West and the Islamic communities?
You also mentioned the cases of Mohamed Nasheed and Jennifer Latheef, in your article.
Are you aware that Mohamed Nasheed the self proclaimed ‘democracy activist’, is the nephew of the above mentioned Sikka and was also involved in the planning of the terrorist attack that killed 19 innocent people in 1988 on the streets of Male’? Are you also aware that Nasheed’s family has always been terrorists, seeking political power through violent means? Are you aware that Nasheed’s father Mr Abdul Sattar, in 1974 attempted to assassinate the then President of the Maldives Mr Ibrahim Naasir, and that Nasheed is merely following his father’s example and final wish to claim the Maldivian Presidency by any means possible?
Are you also aware that, Jennifer Latheef, lead a wave of arson attacks on the streets of Male’ in September 2003? Are you aware that she mutilated the face of a policeman with a brick?
Do you think, these are actions of pro-democracy activists?
In regard to the comments published by Sir Ivan Lawrence, have you read the open letter of clarification sent by Dr Hassan Saeed, the Attorney General of the Maldives? (Please see olhuala.com if you have not)
You mentioned the introduction of political parties and commented on the status of political reforms in the Maldives.
Are you aware that President Gayyoom proposed to introduce political parties in 1998? Are you also aware that, the MDP leadership candidate, Dr Munawwar (the then Attorney General) stated in his official legal opinion that, the constitution of the Maldives did not allow political parties to exist. Are you also aware that the current AG, Dr Saeed, did not agree with this opinion, and henceforth, political parties have been introduced in the Maldives, on President Gayyoom’s initiative?
Are you aware that since Gayyoom started his reform agenda, several positive changes have indeed been made, including the introduction of a multi-party system, and the establishment of an independent human rights commission, wider separation of powers and a Judicial Services Commission independent from the executive, to name a few.
Are you also aware that, the main hindrance to the reform process has been the slowness of the work of the Special Majilis (Constitutional Assembly) in amending the constitution? Are you also aware that the main delayers in this Special Majilis are (FoM affiliated) MDP members? Are you aware that they have adopted since, mid 2004, a policy of boycotting, key Majilis sessions, if they feel that they would be defeated by a vote.
I hope that you would take these points with an open mind, and accept that I mean no disrespect at all by pointing you in the right direction.
I would also like to inform you that the information I have provided here is accurate, and that you will find all the information if you wished to clarify the finer details. I would be glad to assist you if that is your wish.
On behalf of the Maldivian people, I urge you to analyse the facts in more detail, before publishing a potentially harmful and inaccurate piece.
Thank you.
Most sincerely,
The Editor- www.olhuala.com
Click to read full article
Related Articles:
FOM calls for tourism boycott again
FOM Brochure
Agreement with Tourism Concern
Maldives United As A Nation In Condemning FOM/Maldives Aid
Drafted FOM constitution
Hardingham lies again
Letter to Mr.Hardingham
I am glad that a news agency such as eTurbonews has taken such a keen interest on the Maldives. I would also like thank you on behalf of the Maldivian people for the kind words you published, and I am sure that your article under the heading ‘UK advocacy group urges boycott of Maldives resorts’ was indeed written with good intentions, and with the best interests of the Maldivian people at heart.
As olhuala.com is one of the leading political reporters on Maldivian current affairs, I would like to make some observations and comment on a few inaccuracies in your published article if I may. I would also like to state that, these comments are meant in the utmost sincerity to clarify the issues to you in some detail.
First of all I would like to inform you that there is no registered UK based aid and campaign group under the name ‘Friends of Maldives’. There is in fact a charity registered under that name, run by one Ms Toni de la Roque. This charity has no connection to the organisation (run by David Hardingham) that you have mentioned in your article. Hardingham is in violation of UK laws, by using a registered name, unlawfully.
In your article you state that the Friends of Maldives (FoM) was calling on tourists to boycott 24 island resorts.
I would like to point out that, in their brochure, the FoM calls for the boycott of 28 resorts, namely Bandos Island Resort, Cocoa Island, Tulaagiri Island, Dhonveli Beach resort, Hakuraa Club, Alidhoo, Dhonakulhi, Paradise Island resort, Olhuveli Beach resort, Lily Beach Island Resort, Vilu Reef Beach resort, Kandooma resort, Sun Island resort, Fun Island resort, Holiday Island resort, Royal Island resort, Vakarufalhi Island resort, Dhonimigili resort, Biyadhoo island resort, Kalhufahalafushi resort, Maavelaavaru resort Funamadua resort, Coco Palm resort, Makunudu Island resort, Meeru Island resort, Rangali Hilton, Veligandu Island Resort and Kurumba Village (please see olhuala.com archives for information on the brochure).
You also seem to imply, that this campaign will not affect the general public, when in reality this ‘boycott list’ of resort islands constitutes nearly 38% of the total number of tourist beds in the Maldives and employs a considerable fraction of the entire labour force of the country (boycott total: 6331, total beds: 16,858 information from the Maldives Tourism Ministry official website).
Further, if for arguments sake we assume that the President Gayyoom is a brutal dictator, do you think this attack on the country’s economy would affect Gayyoom’s power base? (Surely the lengthy economic sanctions against Iraq did not affect Saddam Hussain, but the consequences were suffered by the Iraqi people).
All the tourist resorts pay bed taxes and annual royalties to the government. The government has other sources of income. Hence do you see any reason for boycotting a selected number of resorts, other than the elimination of rival resorts by discrediting their integrity through false accusations?
Do you think an organisation promoting human rights should call on the world to starve a country in order to save it?
You have also mentioned that this list of islands was devised by Maldivians.
This information is correct. It was devised by resort owning members of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) who run the FoM (an entity of the MDP’s international wing). This campaign is in fact an effort to eliminate their business competitors while discrediting the government with false allegations.
It is known that members of the MDP devised this list, for their political benefit, while increasing profit margins at the same time through elimination of their competitors.
Did you know that the FoM is operated by the above-mentioned David Hardingham, who is the leader of MDP’s international wing? Did you know that, the FoM is a political organisation rather than human rights ambassadors? Are you aware that Hardingham has never been to the Maldives while he speaks about it so ‘passionately’ as if he practically grew up there? Are you aware that Hardigham has no first hand knowledge of the Maldives or its people?
Did you also know that, the MDP’s chief financier, Mr Ahmed Ismail Maniku (also known as Sikka) is also Hardingham’s financial backer?
Did you also know that the FoM failed to list the resorts owned by Sikka on their boycott list, while Sikka was convicted on 19 counts of murder and sentenced to death in 1989?
Is it ethical to visit resort islands owned by convicted mass murderers?
Are you also aware that Hardingham receives funds from Account Number: 011-066186 101 HSBC Bank, Colombo – 3, Sri Lanka, the US Dollar account of Ahmed Ismail Maniku (Sikka)?
Hardingham recently stated that he was not an MDP activist. He went on to deny any association between his FoM, Maldives Aid, Minivan Radio Limited and the MDP.
While Hardingham is adamant on lying so blatantly, are you aware that, the constitution of the FoM was drafted by the UK law firm, Clyde & Co (51 Eastcheap, London EC3M 1JP, UK) and that, none other than Ahmed Moosa, the MDP’s junior spokesperson based in Scotland, acted on behalf of the FoM in dealing with Clyde & Co?
Are you also aware, that Clyde & Co also prepared several documents for the MDP, and that Clyde & Co in fact used the same matter number (0401704) for all documents prepared for both the FoM and the MDP, and that the law firm treated both the FoM and the MDP as the same client? Please feel free to contact Rizwan Kanji at Clyde & Co who handled the FoM constitution.
Are you also aware that Ahmed Naseer, of the MDP’s governing council was appointed as company secretary of Hardingham’s UK based Minivan Radio Limited (registration number 05219579) on the 15th of September 2004? Are you also aware that Minivan Radio Limited operates the clandestine ‘news’ website minivannews.com and the Internet radio station minivan radio? Are you also aware that these are in fact propaganda machines for the Maldivian Democratic Party?
You mention in your article that President Gayyoom has ruled for 28 years. He has been President of the Maldives, since November 1978. You also mention that the FoM accuses Gayyoom of human rights violations. This is in fact true. The FoM has accused Gayyoom of committing such crimes several times.
Have you asked Hardingham to back up his accusations with some evidence? Have you ever seen a list of activists who are unaccounted for? Have you ever heard of disappearances of political rivals in the Maldives? Has any political rival of Gayyoom ever been executed or assassinated? Has anyone been executed under the Presidency of Gayyoom although capital punishment exists in Maldivian Law? Are you aware that Gayyoom has saved all who have been sentenced to death from the hangman (including Sikka), during his presidency, through special Presidential pardons and that no one has been executed in the Maldives during Gayyoom’s presidency?
Are you aware that the main crime the FoM accuses Gayyoom of committing is in fact a case of police brutality in a state prison? Hassan Evan Naseem, a boy of 19 years (in prison for narcotics offences) was beaten to death by some bloodthirsty prison wardens. These wardens later shot and killed a number of other inmates (Surely the President cannot be held personally responsible for this. Is Mr Blair, the Prime Minister of England responsible for the police killing of the Brazilian national on the 8th of August 2005?).
Are you also aware that the guards who committed these horrific crimes were in fact charged, tried and sentenced to death by Maldivian courts?
Are you aware that President Gayyoom is widely loved by his people and was elected for a sixth consecutive term in office, in 2003 by an overwhelming majority of over 90 % of the vote?
Are you aware that Mr Gayyoom is also a dignified statesman respected by the international community? This was portrayed in the recent CHOGM held in Malta. Queen Elizabeth II of England, the head of the Commonwealth honoured Mr Gayyoom several times, as widely covered by the media (see also olhuala.com archives).
Mr Gayyoom further received a warm reception from the Islamic states, at the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) meeting held in Jeddah last November.
Would such organisations as Her Majesty’s Commonwealth and the OIC, have endorsed Gayyoom so publicly if he was a dictator or if his government was committing gross human rights’ violations?
Are you aware that, it is widely accepted that, Mr Gayyoom is considered as a leading statesman and an ambassador for human rights and democratic reforms by the West and the Islamic communities?
You also mentioned the cases of Mohamed Nasheed and Jennifer Latheef, in your article.
Are you aware that Mohamed Nasheed the self proclaimed ‘democracy activist’, is the nephew of the above mentioned Sikka and was also involved in the planning of the terrorist attack that killed 19 innocent people in 1988 on the streets of Male’? Are you also aware that Nasheed’s family has always been terrorists, seeking political power through violent means? Are you aware that Nasheed’s father Mr Abdul Sattar, in 1974 attempted to assassinate the then President of the Maldives Mr Ibrahim Naasir, and that Nasheed is merely following his father’s example and final wish to claim the Maldivian Presidency by any means possible?
Are you also aware that, Jennifer Latheef, lead a wave of arson attacks on the streets of Male’ in September 2003? Are you aware that she mutilated the face of a policeman with a brick?
Do you think, these are actions of pro-democracy activists?
In regard to the comments published by Sir Ivan Lawrence, have you read the open letter of clarification sent by Dr Hassan Saeed, the Attorney General of the Maldives? (Please see olhuala.com if you have not)
You mentioned the introduction of political parties and commented on the status of political reforms in the Maldives.
Are you aware that President Gayyoom proposed to introduce political parties in 1998? Are you also aware that, the MDP leadership candidate, Dr Munawwar (the then Attorney General) stated in his official legal opinion that, the constitution of the Maldives did not allow political parties to exist. Are you also aware that the current AG, Dr Saeed, did not agree with this opinion, and henceforth, political parties have been introduced in the Maldives, on President Gayyoom’s initiative?
Are you aware that since Gayyoom started his reform agenda, several positive changes have indeed been made, including the introduction of a multi-party system, and the establishment of an independent human rights commission, wider separation of powers and a Judicial Services Commission independent from the executive, to name a few.
Are you also aware that, the main hindrance to the reform process has been the slowness of the work of the Special Majilis (Constitutional Assembly) in amending the constitution? Are you also aware that the main delayers in this Special Majilis are (FoM affiliated) MDP members? Are you aware that they have adopted since, mid 2004, a policy of boycotting, key Majilis sessions, if they feel that they would be defeated by a vote.
I hope that you would take these points with an open mind, and accept that I mean no disrespect at all by pointing you in the right direction.
I would also like to inform you that the information I have provided here is accurate, and that you will find all the information if you wished to clarify the finer details. I would be glad to assist you if that is your wish.
On behalf of the Maldivian people, I urge you to analyse the facts in more detail, before publishing a potentially harmful and inaccurate piece.
Thank you.
Most sincerely,
The Editor- www.olhuala.com
Click to read full article
Related Articles:
FOM calls for tourism boycott again
FOM Brochure
Agreement with Tourism Concern
Maldives United As A Nation In Condemning FOM/Maldives Aid
Drafted FOM constitution
Hardingham lies again
Letter to Mr.Hardingham