Move to resettle Gitmo prisoners in Maldives sparks controversy

A Government decision to re-settle three Chinese Muslim inmates from the infamous Guantanamo Bay prison has sparked a controversy in the Maldives.

Perhaps, giving a hint of what in store, President Mohamed Nasheed told a radio address on 11 December 2009, to have an “open mind” about Guantanamo prisoners, who are rejected by their home countries, when the US government shuts the prison.

“I wish to tell all the people that the Maldives would assist all those Muslims released from prisons without a conviction, if they do not have a place to say. We do not want anyone to experience torture,” President Nasheed then said.

But the matter took a turn for the worse, when Opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) MP Ali Waheed filed a motion without notice in the Parliamentary National Security Committee to investigate the government decision to resettle Gitmo prisoners.

After filing the motion, Waheed told press on Wednesday that the move could pose a security threat to the Maldives.

The news hit the headlines of all Maldives’ media midst a public outrage, posted online, over the decision.

“They [prisoners] are to be released among Maldivians and kept under watch in whatever way,” Waheed was quoted as saying in Minivan News.

“So while we don’t even have a proper jail and the society is drowning in gang violence and crime, the Maldivian government has reached the point where they are forming agreements with another country and creating a legal framework to bring in people from the jail that has the world’s dangerous terrorists and citizens aren’t aware of what’s happening. The People’s Majlis elected by the Maldivian people aren’t aware of it,” Waheed added.

The controversial prison in Cuba housing terror suspects is slated to be closed in the year end by the US.

Despite the Maldives’ Parliament being on recess, Waheed asked the committee to “look into this and take action against those culpable in this matter.”

However, in the same news report, Foreign Minister Dr. Ahmed Shaheed has dismissed Waheed’s fears of security threat.

Dr. Shaheed told Minivan News “ it was important to remember that not everyone incarcerated in Guantanamo Bay prison was a terrorist or a criminal.”

“There was once a Maldivian taken there,” he explained. “He is living here and nobody has attacked us.”

“Shaheed claimed that DRP’s motion was driven by personal animosity towards him.”

But former Deputy Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon told the Asian Tribune she is “appalled at this compromise of our national security.”

“Our prisons are already full and crime rates are high,” Dunya added.
Meanwhile, Attorney General Husnu Suood told local daily Haveeru that “he had given legal advice on the matter in May, on Foreign Ministry’s request.”

Yet, the AG refused to disclose his opinion saying it would be “unethical” to reveal it without notifying the Foreign Ministry.

Independent Parliamentarian and Former Legal Reform Minister Mohamed Nasheed has claimed on his blog that the US Embassy in Colombo/Sri Lanka sent a three-page diplomatic note to the Foreign Minister in February, Haveeru said.

“Once the government confirms that both the governments have agreed on the elements of the note, it can be considered that some inmates of Guantanamo Bay would resettle in Maldives,” Nasheed wrote in the blog.

Press Secretary for the President’s Office Mohamed Zuhair was quoted in Haveeru saying that the matter of prisoners is no secret.

“We do not believe that considering a Guantanamo Bay transfer is a secret. The President had signalled that in his radio address and in his speech during the visit to Maarandhoo. So this is not happening underhanded.”

On comments posted online, the public outcry over the move was obvious.
“I am wondering if we are short of criminals and need import more. Why dont our government think something useful to bring in rather than garbage,” an angry reader said in a comment posted on Minivan news.

Another reader downplayed the threat of an attack but opined the move would not augur well for the country’s tourism.

“…I’m just saying that it won’t open us to attacks by terrorist groups; as much as it would just give the impression to the average tourist (once this makes headlines) that this is just where they hang out now.”

But yet another screamed: “Just because British sent all their criminals to Botany Bay in Australia we are not letting Maldives to become America’s Botany Bay.”