US embassy cable - 04COLOMBO1832

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001832 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, MV, Human Rights, Maldives 
SUBJECT: MALDIVES:  REMAINING PRISON DETAINEES STAGE HUNGER 
STRIKE 
 
REF: COLOMBO 1737 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: James F. Entwistle, Deputy Chief of Mission.  1.4(b,d) 
 
1. (C) Summary:  Eighteen of the 20-odd Maldivian detainees 
still in prison since the events of August 12-13 have 
reportedly gone on a hunger strike.  The likely cause is the 
almost three month continuing detention, without charges, 
while most of the other detainees have been released or 
transferred to house arrest.  Only nine people have been 
charged to date in connection with the August unrest and none 
of the charged are the expected "serious offenses." 
Maldivian government election officials have set December 31 
as the date of the parliamentary elections and have indicated 
that anyone arrested or charged as a result of the August 
events will be allowed to campaign for a seat.  If officials 
effectively address the complaints of those reportedly on 
hunger strike or under house arrest, as well as clarify 
whether these detainees can stand for elections, the 
government may be able to convince Maldivians of its 
commitment to reform and political openness.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (C) HUNGER STRIKE:  According to a statement released by 
the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), detainees 
arrested after the August 12-13 protests have gone a hunger 
strike over their continued detention without charges. 
Mohamed Nasheed, a Colombo-based official with the MDP, 
estimated November 8 that 18 detainees, including at least 
one MP, are allegedly on the hunger strike, which began on 
November 4.  At present, approximately 25 detainees remain 
incarcerated in connection with the August 12-13 civil 
unrest.  (Note:  As almost all Maldivians are Muslim and 
participate in the month-long Ramadan observance, the 
detainees were most probably following the traditional 
dawn-to-dusk fast of food and water before declaring their 
hunger strike.)  The MDP official further added that the 
European Union was considering the possibility of issuing a 
public statement regarding the detainees' hunger strike. 
 
3.  (C) Ahmed Mujuthaba, Chair of the Human Rights 
Commission, told poloff November 8 that he had heard reports 
of detainees on a hunger strike, but could not confirm the 
information.  His information had come from detainees' family 
members who had complained to the commission.  Mujuthaba 
added that he hoped to visit the prison in the coming days to 
verify the stories.  He surmised, however, that any hunger 
strike was likely in protest to their continued detention -- 
almost three months -- when most of the other detainees had 
been released or transferred to house or island (can't leave 
the island) arrest. 
 
4.  (C) FEW CHARGES FILED:  As of November 7, Maldivian news 
reported that nine people, including one MP in the Special 
Majlis, had been charged in connection with the August 12-13 
events.  All the charges filed to date have related to civil 
disobedience-type crimes:  unlawful assembly or disturbance 
of the peace.  All interlocutors, including government 
officials, anticipate that more serious charges will be filed 
against some of those detainees released or under house 
arrest, but none have been able to give a time frame for the 
leveling of those more serious offenses. 
 
5. (C) HOPE FOR UPCOMING ELECTIONS?:  Government of the 
Republic of Maldives (GORM) election officials have set 
December 31 as the date for Majlis (parliamentary) elections. 
 The candidates will have approximately one month to 
campaign.  While the government has stated that MPs or others 
detained or charged since the unrest in August will be 
allowed to contest Majlis seats, there has not been any 
assurance from the government that those under house or 
island arrest will be allowed to campaign in their actual 
district.  (The Maldivian constitution is clear, however, 
that convicted persons are not eligible to hold elected 
office.)  The MDP's Nasheed stated that his "party" would 
field candidates for all 42 seats -- at present, 8 seats in 
the 50-person body are appointed by the President.  He felt 
that the August 12-13 events had increased sympathy for the 
MDP, but admitted that Maldivians might be more afraid now to 
show that support in public.  Also according to Nasheed, the 
Commonwealth Secretariat will send an official to Maldives in 
the coming weeks to evaluate the type and nature of any 
election monitoring mission for the December 31 vote. 
 
6.  (C) COMMENT:  While life and the political process have 
continued since the events in August, the government stands 
to lose any popular support for its prosecution of those 
involved the longer it plays with the rules of justice. 
Public opinion has already demonstrated that many are wary of 
the GORM's true commitment to reform, especially as officials 
have prohibited the Special Majlis MPs under house arrest 
from attending the meetings of the reform body.  If 
contentions of a hunger strike at the prison are true, the 
GORM will have to act quickly to ward off any further protest 
from families and concerned citizens.  Dealing with all the 
detainees in a timely manner, as well as publicly clarifying 
whether August detainees can stand in the December elections, 
might begin to convince Maldivians of the government's 
commitment to a more open, democratic environment.  END 
COMMENT. 
LUNSTEAD