stabinterview
Attack victim's exclusive interview to olhuala.com
Ismail Rifau, Political correspondent
Male’, Maldives, 18th January 2006, 2220 Hrs Hrs (olhuala.com) – Olhuala.com has been able to get an exclusive interview with Hussain, one of the victims of today's gangland violence in Male'. Speaking via mobile phone from a private room at the ADK hospital, he expressed surprise at the comments made by the MDP big guns who visited him and the other victims his brother Hassan and MDP cell vice president Shiruhaan.
Q: How are you?
A: I am as well as can be expected. I think I was lucky. I have injuries to my head, hands and foot. I was trying to defend myself after I stepped into defend Shiruhaan.
Q: What happened to Shiruhaan?
A: He has a 12-inch wound when a box-cutter was scraped down his abdomen. He was bleeding profusely when he was brought here.
Q: Who attacked you?
A: A gang led by Rabarey [Razeen] of H. Hundred Flowers. They all had cutters and iron bars.
Q: Is Razeen a DRP member. Does he have links to the DRP?
A: Razeen signed for the MDP last year along with most of us. He was involved with putting up Kaanal's posters in Male' along with a lot of the Kuda Henveiru gang. Someone said he helped DRP's Yoosay in his campaign, but I don't think he had any time given he was always with us.
Q: What was the argument about?
A: A girl. These things happen but they don't always get this bad.
Q: Who visited you?
A: Zaki, Mavota, Falah, Shiuna and too many people. I didn't know what was going on. The doctor was trying to keep them away but they forced themselves into the emergency area.
Q: What did they ask you?
A: They did not ask me anything! They started telling me what I had to say. They had a version of events. I heard a lot of "DRP, DRP, Maumoon, Adam Zahir, etc." but I didn't know what they were talking about. I was asking people how Hassan was but no one told me.
They have placed people in my room to 'look after me'. I have asked them to leave, telling them I am fine by myself. But they refuse to leave unless I have to go to the toilet.
Q: Has any other political party contacted you?
A: No. Why should they?
Hussain has a history of drug addiction and has been convicted several times. He was seen as a loyal supporter of Ibra but the MDP's attempt to exploit his suffering may see him question the wisdom of this allegiance.
click to read full interview