fares
Kidnapers Arrested: Huvadhoo Atoll Dhekunu Buri Fares Maathoda
Two government employees were held hostage by a group of six people, since 2 pm local time on the 2nd of January till late afternoon the following day, in Huvadhoo atoll Dhekunu Buri (Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll) Fares Maathoda (pronounced Fa-res, res, as in restaurant).
The two men taken hostage were on the island in order to carry out an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the government proposed dredging of the island’s lagoon, scheduled to be complete during the first quarter of 2006. It is reported that the two government employees were working at the main office when the would-be captors turned up and over powered them.
Abdul Gafoor Hashim, who is currently on the island, told olhuala.com, that the captors “demanded the government to commence the proposed dredging project immediately, if the government wanted the hostages to be released unharmed” while speaking to us via telephone.
Hashim also told olhuala.com that members of the Maldives Police Service (MPS) arrived on the scene and managed to resolve the hostage situation peacefully, through negotiations, on the 3rd of January.
Violence broke out on the island as the MPS arrived on the island today, in order to arrest the hostage takers. “The President of the Gaafu Dhaalu branch of NDP [local slang for the MDP, the Maldivian Democratic Party] S.T.O. Saeed and the vice president Qasam [also known as Dhiharey Fihaara Qasam] arrived on Fares Maathoda with some three hundred people in order to prevent the police from coming on to the island” said Hashim.
The MDP backed thugs hurled stones and wielded iron bars at the police.
Three police constables were injured and some six rioters were injured in the scuffling that followed. One police constable was seriously injured when a stone thrown by the violent mob split his skull open. His condition is reported to be critical and is being treated in GDH. Kaadedhdhoo.
The hostage takers, Mueedu Mustafa, Ibrahim Shakir, Nafiz Ali, Amsoodu Mohamed and Hassan Habeeb, all active members of the MDP have been arrested. It is reported that they are being held in GDH. Kaadedhdhoo, prior to being transferred to MPS Headquatres in Male’ for questioning.
It is also reported that the MDP mob that arrived with Saeed and Qasam are still on Fares-Maathodaa Island.
Hashim further stated that it was rumoured on the island, that this was in fact the beginning of the campaign of civil disobedience and public riots promised by Mr Ibrahim Ismail, the leader of the Maldivian Democratic Party, following his election as party leader.
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Two government employees were held hostage by a group of six people, since 2 pm local time on the 2nd of January till late afternoon the following day, in Huvadhoo atoll Dhekunu Buri (Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll) Fares Maathoda (pronounced Fa-res, res, as in restaurant).
The two men taken hostage were on the island in order to carry out an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the government proposed dredging of the island’s lagoon, scheduled to be complete during the first quarter of 2006. It is reported that the two government employees were working at the main office when the would-be captors turned up and over powered them.
Abdul Gafoor Hashim, who is currently on the island, told olhuala.com, that the captors “demanded the government to commence the proposed dredging project immediately, if the government wanted the hostages to be released unharmed” while speaking to us via telephone.
Hashim also told olhuala.com that members of the Maldives Police Service (MPS) arrived on the scene and managed to resolve the hostage situation peacefully, through negotiations, on the 3rd of January.
Violence broke out on the island as the MPS arrived on the island today, in order to arrest the hostage takers. “The President of the Gaafu Dhaalu branch of NDP [local slang for the MDP, the Maldivian Democratic Party] S.T.O. Saeed and the vice president Qasam [also known as Dhiharey Fihaara Qasam] arrived on Fares Maathoda with some three hundred people in order to prevent the police from coming on to the island” said Hashim.
The MDP backed thugs hurled stones and wielded iron bars at the police.
Three police constables were injured and some six rioters were injured in the scuffling that followed. One police constable was seriously injured when a stone thrown by the violent mob split his skull open. His condition is reported to be critical and is being treated in GDH. Kaadedhdhoo.
The hostage takers, Mueedu Mustafa, Ibrahim Shakir, Nafiz Ali, Amsoodu Mohamed and Hassan Habeeb, all active members of the MDP have been arrested. It is reported that they are being held in GDH. Kaadedhdhoo, prior to being transferred to MPS Headquatres in Male’ for questioning.
It is also reported that the MDP mob that arrived with Saeed and Qasam are still on Fares-Maathodaa Island.
Hashim further stated that it was rumoured on the island, that this was in fact the beginning of the campaign of civil disobedience and public riots promised by Mr Ibrahim Ismail, the leader of the Maldivian Democratic Party, following his election as party leader.
Click to read full article