“MATATO” misleads public by connecting travel advisories and Guantanamo bay detainees

In a pathetic effort to favour DQP’s bidding, self-proclaimed tour operators association of Maldives, “MATATO” has connected the travel advisories issued by some western countries with government’s efforts to shelter Guantanamo bay detainees. Miadhu Daily understands that Maleeh Jamaal, Secretary-General of MATAO, is the leader of youth wing of DQP, who also submitted his name for a deputy leadership post of the DQP. However, Maleeh withdrew his name to pave way for a clean-slate in the DP posts.

Originally the advisories were issued, because of the violent demonstrations opposition DRP held in Male after the impasse in the Parliament on the decentralization bill and dismissal of Auditor-General. The advisory was also associated with the increasing rate of crime in Male streets and there was no connection whatsoever between travel advisories and Guantanamo bay detainees.

In a press release issued by MATATO expressing its views on bringing detainees from the facility to Maldives it said “due to increased incidents of terrorism and crime some countries had issued travel advisories against their nationals visiting Maldives. The countries which has already issued travel advisories includes USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and UK” it said.

However, only Australia and New Zealand has issued travel advisories on Maldives which are in effect. Australia issued its advisory during April 2010, well ahead of Guantanamo bay detainees cisris. New Zealand, according to official website issued the advisory in October 2008. There are no active advisories from US, UK and Canada.

A disgruntled reader also commented that if travel advisories were issued because of detainees at Guantanamo bay facility, all countries should have issued travel advisories against United States or against Cuba.

According to Maleeh, BBC reported that “bringing detainees from the facility would change the tourist’s paradise to terrorist’s paradise”. In reality in its report BBC quoted Maleeh’s DQP saying “Because of President Nasheed's actions, the tourists' paradise would become a paradise for terrorists”.

Many believe that MATATO’s statement was a much politicized statement tailor-made to suit his party’s position on sheltering Guantanamo bay detainees to Maldives, which would cast a shadow for the future of the young organization.