F funn “FIHKAN”

Written by: Ali Assad


What does the title mean? Nothing. Absolutely and utterly nonsense, just like the ridiculous propaganda spread by President Nasheed’s loyalists regarding the investments in Faafu atoll. Is it a spelling mistake? Definitely not, and done deliberately in search of attention, just like MDP that is fooling the Maldivians with false information and lies regarding Faafu Atoll mega projects. Was the writer trying to use a “V” instead of the “F” in “Fihkan”, which would mean selling in Dhivehi. The answer is NO, the title is just a symbol that signifies the ridiculous theories of the opposition.

On a more serious note, is President Yameen selling Maldives to Saudi Arabia?

The real facts are that under the amendments to the constitution; for bid specific projects approved by the government of an investment that exceeds USD 1 Billion, 70 percent of land has to be reclaimed to be awarded freehold ownership rights, to a quantity of land that does not exceed 10 percent of total Maldivian land at any given time.

Maldivian law and constitution will always apply, whether given on lease for 99 years or awarded on freehold ownership rights.

Maldives is 99 percent sea. Is President Yameen selling the remaining 1 percent?

The answer is a big NO. What is happening in these mega billion dollar projects is that 70 percent of land has to be created to get freehold rights. The amount of land that can be awarded at any given time will be less than 10 percent of this “1 percent” of total land mass of Maldives.

President Yameen is talking about a 10 billion dollars’ project, that in monetary terms is enough money to double the already existing Maldivian land.

The amendment to the constitution was passed with opposition MDP’s support. Then why all the fuss NOW, when a Muslim leader proposes to invest? Is it because it will almost end Western Influence on Maldives? Is it because Saudi Arabia is a 100 percent Muslim nation? Is it because MDP leadership is influenced by Christians missionaries that contradicts the Islamic status of Maldives? Why is MDP not talking about Iheaven project?

Whatever the answer, ten billion dollars means more development to Maldives than the total development of the past century.

Does Saudi Arabia have any vested interest in Maldives? Saudi Arabia neither have any conflicts or strategic geographic interest in the region. Unlike other countries Saudi Arabia is the only 100% Muslim nation in the world other than Maldives. Similar to Maldives, Saudi Arabia is a Sunni Muslim nation. The only interest Saudi Arabia has is protecting its twin smaller Muslim brother.

Is TEN BILLION DOLLARS almost equal to the recent past’s 10 YEARS total Maldives’ budget? Why not find out for yourself.

Then why is the opposition, especially President Nasheed, so exaggeratedly, and quite melodramatically vexed about Saudi Arabia? Is it because President Nasheed is losing hope by the growing bilateral ties of Maldives-Saudi Arabia, to accomplish the one and only precondition for him to come back to power, that is allowing Christianity in Maldives?

The answer might not be limited to one reason, but definitely it is also because that a ten-billion-dollar project is a sure sign that the incumbent President Yameen will win the 2018 presidential race. Insha Allah.

WHO sold Maldives?

Selling Maldives for personal gain, whether for wealth and power or for any other reason, is sadly something our generation has witnessed.

In 1988, there was an attempt by a group of Maldivians masterminded by Sikka Ahmed Ismail Maniku (former President Nasheed’s in-law) to seize Maldives with 80 armed mercenaries of a Tamil secessionist organisation from Sri Lanka. It is believed that Sikka Ahmed agreed to provide the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) a support base in Maldives to help their cause in Sri Lanka. Maldives sold to gain power.

President Nasheed became the first person in Maldivian history to call for a boycott of Maldives tourism industry, stop the aid received by Maldives and even place sanctions on Maldives. During the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, Nasheed and Friends Of Maldives (FOM) tried to stop the Tsunami Aid to Maldives, claiming all the aid was going to Maumoon’s personal benefits. To further pressure Maumoon and hence, expedite democratic reform to Maldives, strong boycotting campaigns of Maldivian tourism industry were done. As a favourite tool of Nasheed, to pressure government by crippling the economy, these boycotting campaigns were carried out during Dr. Waheed’s presidency and even during incumbent President Yameen’s term. In addition, to further destroy the booming economy and pressure President Yameen, Nasheed campaigned hard in the international community to impose sanctions on Maldives. These strategies were believed to be formulated by FOM members, a few elements in the UK Conservative Party like Sir Hugo Swire and in association with Christian Solidarity Worldwide. Maldives’ economy sold to gain power and personal benefits.

The climax of the calls for democratic reform and the boycotting campaign of tourism industry was the first terrorist bomb blast in Maldives on 29 September 2007. The virgin peaceful tranquility of Maldives was shattered. Other few incidents also include the religious extremist issues encountered in Alif Alif Atoll Himandhoo and the violent police confrontations that followed. However, during Maumoon’s era, there was strict controls on the spread of religious extremism. With democracy things changed, and Nasheed boasts publicly that he had given religious freedom to the sheikhs (Islamic scholars). The Side effects of the shortcomings of a Western imported democracy was evident during President Nasheed short term in office, that showcased an increase in extremist activity. When he visited Himandhoo, he addressed the crowd in Dhivehi saying there is no extremism in Himandhoo but in English when he faces foreign media, Maldives is full of fundamentalists and terrorists backing the old regime. Maldivian name, religious unity, peace and stability sold in the name of democracy.

As reported by Aditi Phadnis in Business Standard on 27 December 2008, "The Maldives has many anxieties, Nasheed told reporters over a glass of Sula Shiraz, and physical security is just one of them. One of his aides suggested reporters investigate more thoroughly the route taken by the Mumbai bombers — it is not inconceivable that one of them might have used Maldives as a staging post at some point. Two islands in the Maldives are virtually in control of the “mullahs”, although Nasheed said many of the mullahs were also in the coalition government, and are obliged to be restrained. Nasheed is one of the few democratically elected leaders in South Asia, who wishes the Opposition was more active — the fact is, he confessed, there is very little opposition in the Maldives which is a political danger for it leaves the field free for Islamic militants to occupy that space. Nasheed has a lot of ideas to develop his country. Tackling Islamic fundamentalism is going to be his biggest challenge”. (From the quoted article, some sentences discussing other topics removed. To view full article please visit Business Standard site). Even if President Nasheed has an alcohol addiction, as a Muslim president why he should be drinking while representing Maldives is highly questionable. Of course, Maldives have faced problems of religious extremism and terrorism but to overrate it and make false baseless allegations that Maldivians are involved in terrorist bombings in India or elsewhere, just to please Western “friends”, for political fame and grab headlines is irresponsible. Maldives’ name and pride sold for personal satisfaction and political fame.

On 10 November 2008, President Nasheed announced an intent to create a sovereign wealth fund with money earned from tourism that could be used to purchase land elsewhere for the Maldives people to relocate, when according to Nasheed it submerges underwater within 20 years and Australia was considered as a resettlement location. It is hard to believe that heartfelt good intentions were behind this, as Nasheed was, at the same period, calling on investors to consider Maldives as a good investment opportunity. Anyone not under the influence of drugs will understand the feasibility of a 30, 50 or a 99-year investment going underwater in 20 years. Nasheed was renowned to do almost anything for a media headline. Destroying Maldivian’s investment opportunities to portray himself as an environmental hero. Maldives’ economy sold for a photo opportunity.

President Nasheed relentlessly tried to sell alcohol in inhabited island of Maldives. The pictures and drawings released as a theme for the 17th SAARC summit prominently and openly depicted Christianity. The drawings were prepared by Nasheed's government with the blessing and approval of the cabinet. The true purpose of putting up these drawings in Male' and elsewhere across the country is questionable considering that the proportion of Christianity is not among either the first, second or third religion of SAARC nations. Nasheed's government erected numerous idols in Addu atoll for the SAARC summit. Why were idols and monuments that contradict the principles of Islam brought from all SAARC countries? Suspiciously unlike the other monuments, the idols were put up at the last minute; in the early hours of the morning and were concealed with cloth. Nasheed said he “only heard of the idols after one was destroyed”, but photographs from media clearly show Nasheed watching and applauding while the idols were inaugurated. Maldives’ religion and culture sold to please members of Friends of Maldives and Christian Solidarity Worldwide financiers.

Palestine was a good opportunity to show Nasheed’s Western supporters that he was their best choice. Nearly all Maldivians believe that Palestine is the victim of an occupying force - Israel. The concept of calling Israel “defending itself” with highly sophisticated state of the art military weapons against stone throwing Palestinians is not digestible locally. Majority of Maldivians preferred a two-state solution and an end to the siege and apartheid rule. However, President Nasheed established relations with Israel less than ten days after the UN representative decided they had committed war crimes against the Palestinian people. Nasheed's administration did not criticize Israel in an official capacity but when addressing MDP members in Dhivehi, statements to that effect were made to entertain the crowd. According to WikiLeaks and Israeli newspapers, Nasheed tried to insert stories about Israel, the Jews and the version of Israeli history that Israel wanted, into the Maldivian education system. Israeli government supported Nasheed's government by sending different teams of doctors and agriculturists to Maldives. Nasheed even tried to authorize Israeli flights to land in Maldives, a move which could create a magnet for extremist elements to enter the peaceful Maldives for terrorism activities, in a country highly dependent on tourism. During President Nasir’s time, Nasheed's current foreign minister and uncle 'Kerafa' Naseem had voted on behalf of Maldives at the UN to recognise Israel as an independent nation, an action which was contrary to the view of the government at that time. The most deplorable action of Nasheed’s government was fleeing from the 36th UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) vote to give Palestinians full membership on 31st October 2011. Opposition alleged that Israel agreed to pay Nasheed USD900 million during his term in office for supporting Israeli cause and specially to sell the vote. Maldives’s vote sold for money and unconditional support from the super power United States.

During Nasheed’s presidency, most of the profitable government shareholding company shares were sold, most notably Dhiraagu and MWSC. The highly controversial sale of the most profitable government asset, the Maldives’ International Airport received harsh criticism and protests were organized from the opposition. Leasing the airport to GMR for management purposes with 51% government control would have been an acceptable deal. But leasing it on a one-sided deal that benefited GMR immensely was insane. Not only was Maldives airport the most profitable asset to the government, during GMR’s operation of Maldives airport it cashed in more profit than any other airport under GMR’s ownership. An example of the absurdity of the agreement is that only 1% of profit from the sale of oil was to be given to the government. GMR did not have to invest any money in the development of the airport but government tried to allow GMR to tax the passengers to create necessary funds. In addition, sovereign guarantee was given by the Maldivian government for the loans taken by GMR. Nasheed claimed that the Maldivian International Airport built by Maldivians was a “bucket airport” – justifying the title claiming that airport roofs were leaking and buckets need to be placed under the leaks. After the hurried deal, Parliament Members were seen signing to MDP. Most highly publicized cases include PPM MP Ali Waheed and PPM MP Abdulla Abdul Raheem. After MP Ali Waheed’s transfer to MDP, not only did Ali Waheed and his wife purchased plots of land worth millions, his mother also purchased a plot of land in Male worth millions. Maldives’ International Airport - the main gateway for development sold to generate cash to run a political party and purchase Parliament Members.

After Nasheed lost power, he travelled a lot to Western countries to bolster support and finance for his cause. During such visits, his speech in Denmark sparked controversy in Maldives. While Maldivian media was obsessed with “alternative narrative” and “helpline”, MDP claimed that Nasheed speech was twisted and misinterpreted for political gain. What the local media failed to notice but something which clearly cornered Nasheed was his statement “I believe that with proper democracy in the Maldives we can play a very important role as a counter to the reformation, or rather the Jesuits have to come up quickly.” In the age of the internet it takes anybody a couple of minutes to find what “Counter Reformation” means and all the meanings for “Jesuits”. Nasheed was a reformist and there was no way his supporters can proclaim that he was talking about “countering reform”. Opposition and media did not challenge Nasheed’s loyalist to use whatever meaning they prefer for “proper democracy”, “Counter Reformation” and “Jesuits” but to make sense out of the statement and translate so that it does not mean he was calling on the Jesuits against Maldivians. Maldives’ religion sold to crusaders to gain support and finance.

Is President Yameen selling Maldives to Saudi Arabia? Opposition is running extensive social media campaigns claiming that. The real facts are that under the amendments to the constitution; for specific projects approved by the government of an investment that exceeds USD 1 Billion, 70 percent of land has to be reclaimed to be awarded freehold ownership rights, to a quantity of land that does not exceed 10 percent of total Maldivian land at any given time. Maldivian law and constitution will always apply. Even the amendment to the constitution was passed with opposition support. Does Saudi Arabia have any vested interest in Maldives? Unlike other countries Saudi Arabia is the only 100% Muslim nation in the world other than Maldives. Similar to Maldives, Saudi Arabia is a Sunni Muslim nation. Maldives is of no strategic importance to Saudi Arabia other than protecting its twin small Muslim brother. Why is the opposition especially President Nasheed so overly worried? Is it because that stronger ties with a Muslim nation will extinguish any hopes that Nasheed has created with his Christian partners and limit influence from his friends in foreign countries. Is it because his “friends” are helping him on the precondition that Christianity can be practiced in Maldives. So, the Saudi investments and stronger ties with Saudi Arabia, will create huge problems for Nasheed. The irony is that without knowingly and under the cover of politics Nasheed is using good Muslim citizens of Maldives to promote his agenda. The investment that President Yameen is going to bring is NOT just 1 Billion but a staggering TEN BILLION DOLLARS. Definitely, without doubt it would mean development to Maldives that exceeds all the development of the past century. A sure sign that incumbent President Yameen will win the 2018 presidential race.

Selling or developing Maldives?

For a full understanding of the issue please read our next article "F funn "FIHKAN"  #SaveFaafu

Selling or Developing Maldives?

Written by Mohamed Abdullah

The role of UK Conservative Party influence on Maldives politics and development efforts has to be recognized and appreciated.

Conservative Party activist David Hardingham is a British-based reform activist, missionary, aid organiser and entrepreneur who studied at Dauntsey's School in UK with President Nasheed. He was founder of the human rights activist organisation Friends of Maldives (FOM), also the co-founder of Minivan Radio and trustee of the UK registered charity Maldives Aid. He was appointed the Honorary Consul for the Maldives in Salisbury (UK) on 2 July 2009 by President Nasheed.

Hardingham was also the UK crossing coordinator and liaison during Guin Batten’s successful rowing across the Zero Degree Channel on 30 March 2010 between Huvadhoo Atoll and Foammulah Island.

One of the development goals of President Nasheed, that was fiercely opposed by the locals was Nasheed government’s drive and ambition to sell alcohol in inhabited islands of the country. The regulations needed for this were formulated and published in the government gazette. However due to local opposition Nasheed was temporarily forced to stop. During President Maumoon’s era Nasheed’s father-in-law’s Hotel Alia was stopped from selling Alcohol to foreigners, when Maumoon brought changes to the law regarding sale of Alcohol in inhabited islands. Sad memories of a determined relentless leader drove Nasheed's government to declare places or areas as uninhabited islands within inhabited islands, and thus paved the way to sell alcohol in these locations. Even this was not accepted and opposed by the majority of the local population.

As boasted by Hardingham the solution was provided by him - promote guesthouse tourism in the Maldives. According to professional FOM consultants this will provide a backdoor to achieve this goal. Consultants forecasted that within less than 25 years Maldivians will start to demand their government to allow them to sell alcohol in inhabited islands as a means to further promote guesthouse tourism.

FOM was also in the forefront of boycotting Maldives Tsunami Aid and tourism, to pressure Maumoon, later when Dr. Waheed was sworn as president and still is, even during President Yameens’s term. Hardingham explains that only Maumoon was going to benefit from Tsunami Aid and they had only conducted selected boycotting of resorts supporting the governments and that this will not harm the economy.

Another human rights activist, writer and Conservative candidate, Benedict Rogers turned out to be a true friend of Presidents Nasheed. Ben is the East Asia Team's Leader at the international human rights organisation Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), where he oversees the organisation’s work in the region. Christian Solidarity Worldwide mission is working for religious freedom through advocacy and human rights, in the pursuit of justice. On 1 November 1999, CSW’s 19 missionaries were deported by Maumoon for alleged missionary work. Hardingham was also alleged to be deported during this time but unable to verify the claim. According to a CSW statement “After the arrests, President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom accused Christian missionaries of deception. He called on every citizen to maintain national stability by standing against "evil plans made to play with hearts and minds". Just before the arrests the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs called on all Maldivians not to listen to a new missionary program being broadcast by Feba radio from the Seychelles in the local language, Dhivehi”.

Feba Radio is a broadcasting network. It is driven by Christian values and was established in 1959 in the UK. Later in 1968 Feba Radio was incorporated as a charity in British Crown's colony, Seychelles. In June 1986, during an international conference in Netherlands, during the ICMC (International Christian Media Convention), with other major Christian broadcasters, Feba entered into the ambitious "World by 2000" commitment to enable everyone to hear about Christianity on the radio in a language that they could understand

Ben is also co-founder and Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission in the UK and during Maumoon's era visited Maldives on a fact-finding mission. Ben also released a report calling for the “immediate and unconditional” release of opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed. After the debatable resignation cum coup of Nasheed, when he was jailed, under the leadership of Ben mass prayers were organised by Christian Solidarity Worldwide to pray for Nasheed. Ben is now lobbying in the international community to pressure the Maldian government to allow Nasheed’s participation in the 2018 elections and the restoration of a full democratic order. Ben is an ardent and passionate writer and has written more articles supporting President Nasheed than any other topic in his life.

.

During the 17th SAARC Summit, held from 10 to 11 of November 2011 in Addu City, the services, consultation and advise provided by David Hardingham and Benedict Rogers to President Nasheed is highly applaudable.

Another loyal activist of UK Conservative Party and human rights defender based in Sri Lanka is Muheed Jeeran, an expert on international political lobbying and strategist. He also actively trains MDP social media activists. He is also a leading figure in developing strategies to defeat President Yameen and bring an alternative leader friendlier to their cause to power.

Even during President Nasheed’s term a senior delegation of Conservative Party (Tory) members flew to Maldives, to help prepare Nasheed, during the country's first-ever multi-party democratic parliamentary elections.

As described by Ben “President Nasheed’s own long political journey to the presidency began at Dauntsey's”.

President Nasheed is proudly listed as the number 1 saint in Dauntsey’s hall of fame.

To some in Maldives what President Nasheed did is selling Maldives religion and culture, while to some it is upgrading to a fully democratic modern way of life.

President Nasheed said "Dauntsey's old boy and girl network assisted me a lot. Its education has served me well and Britain's private school education has a deserved reputation for excellence".



Note: Please read next articel "Who sold Maldives?" for a better picture. #SaveFaafu

Which countries are interested in Maldives?

Written by: Ali Assad

Take a swim in the pages of recent history of Maldives and drift with time.

Historically, Maldives was a favourite stop-over on the busy marine trade routes & had strategic importance because of its location in the Indian Ocean. Maldivians traded with Arabia, China and India with coconut, coir rope, dried fish, ambergris and above all the precious cowry shell, used throughout Asia and parts of the East African coast as a currency.

For the opportunistic colonial powers, Maldives was an opportunity too good to let go. And during 16th century after many failed attempts Portuguese finally succeeded invading Maldives by defeating the heroic Sultan Ali VI (Ali Rasgefaanu). The brutal reign of the Portuguese continued for 15 years and ultimately decreed that all Maldivians must convert to Christianity or face the same fate as their previously martyred Sultan. This was timely intervened by Maldivian hero Mohammed Thakurufaanu, who started a series of guerrilla raids, culminating in an attack on Male’, in which the Portuguese were defeated and their alcoholic leader Andhiri Andhirin was killed.

Later, in 1752, Malabari pirates from the nearby south Indian Coast yet again seized the Maldivian throne. However, within four short months Maldives regained control under the leadership of the locally renowned Dhon Bandaarain.

In 1857, a settler community of Borah merchants, who were British subjects, arrived in Maldives. They slowly, but firmly gained a foothold in the Maldivian economy – eventually monopolising the smaller and bigger trade interactions. It took more than a century to ban Bora merchants from continuing any trade interactions in the Maldives.

When colonial powers took over much of the trade in the Indian Ocean, first the Portuguese, and then the Dutch, and the French occasionally meddled with the internal politics. Nevertheless, these interferences halted when Maldives became a British Protectorate in the 19th century.

The British colonial ambitions in the Indian Ocean effected Maldives profusely. The prospect of Maldives being under any other colonial power was utterly unacceptable to them.

In an 1887 agreement, the British pledged to protect the Maldives from any foreign aggression while the Maldives in turn agreed not to collaborate with any other foreign power without their consent. Also, the British were also not to interfere with the internal affairs of the Maldives. During the Second World War, the British built a military base in Gan of Addu Atoll and Kelaa of Thiladhunmathi Atoll. The bases were evacuated after the war.

During the British era, which lasted until 1965, Maldives continued to be ruled under a succession of sultans. Britain encouraged the development into a constitutional monarchy, resulting in the first Maldivian Constitution being proclaimed in 1932. Alas, the new arrangements favoured neither the Sultan nor the Chief Minister, but rather a young crop of British-educated reformists. As a result, most locals got fed up with the Constitution and eventually it was publicly torn up.

British interests in the Maldives revived again during the late 1950s. The British were successful, to conclude an unofficial agreement for the lease of Gan in Addu for 100 years at a yearly rent of measly 2000 pounds, which not so surprisingly, considered by many to be a bribed deal. This agreement signed in 1956 provided Gan as an airfield and allowed British to resettle the population to other nearby Islands. It also included the provision of 440,000 square metres on Hithaddoo for a radio installations communication centre for the British.

When Ibrahim Nasir was elected Prime Minister in 1957, he immediately called for a review of the agreement, for the benefit of his people, demanding that the lease be shortened and the annual payment increased.

This was followed by a very timely revolt against the Maldivian government by the inhabitants of the southern atolls of Addu and Huvadhoo, believed to be propagated by the British. As a consequence, a separate government was formed and an independent state declared in the name of 'United Suvadheeb Republic'.

Due to the cunning, strict, and unfaltering diplomacy from Nasir, the Maldivian government got a substantially better deal from the British. That is a 30-year lease period at a rate of 100,000 pounds a year plus 750,000 pounds to finance specific development projects.

To handle the resurrection, Nasir sent gunboats from Male’ and crushed the rebellion in the southern atolls. The leader of the separatist rebellion, Abdullah Afeef, under the protection of the British fled to Seychelles aboard the British warship "HMS Loch Lomond", then a British colony.

Maldives ultimately became completely sovereign and an independent state on 26 July 1965.

The fiercely independent, hardworking and friendly small population of about a hundred thousand Maldivians were able to alter their fate from Diego Garcia, British Palestine which was later turned into Israel or other divisions like India Pakistan.

Note: Please read the next article "Selling or developing Maldives?" for a better understanding of the topic. #SaveFaafu