I’m ashamed that once I was one of You
“Give them 1 inch they will stretch it to 12 inches” this is the way my principal used to describe Maldivians when I was in grade 10.At that time I thought he was hypocrite. Four years fast forward it seems he had just perfect words to describe Maldivians. Few days ago we hailed our press freedom day but many journalist celebrated day, as former journalist I thought it was time to Maldivian press to grow up. When Current Maldivian administration was considering about accepting the Guantanamo bay inmate’s, opposition wasted no time to attack Mr.Nashee’s government. And our media reported it without any research. So our media is free? I would not agree with them. They all seem to have their own political agenda. They all have forgotten the ethics of journalism. Personally if current administration decides to accept Guantanamo bay detainees I will hail Mr.Nasheed’s decision. Everyone knows what the suffering detainees go through in at that detention facility. For Mp’s who are opposing the idea can be labeled as hypocrites. Maldives recently joined the UN human right council and as a nation we are stepping up as human rights ambassador. None of them highlighted significance of such action in international politics. As nations we have to grow and I hail current administration efforts to enhance our reputation internationally. It’s not first time a country has accepted detainees from Guantanamo bay.
Since 2002, more than 590 detainees have departed Guantanamo Bay for other destinations, including Albania, Algeria, Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Belgium, Bermuda, Chad, Denmark, Egypt, Georgia, France, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Pakistan, Palau, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Somalia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom and Yemen. But most of them returned to their native nations. May 15, 2009: Lakhdar Boumediene, an Algerian national, is released to France. He had been held since 2002. Two of detainees were sent to Portugal and Bulgaria accepted few detainees. They have been labeled as war criminals under Geneva conventions under which they have answer only four questions and yet they are held there. Maldives step up to plate to help their Muslim brothers who held against internationally accepted human rights law and our oppositions have a problem with that. It’s a shame to be Maldivian if the move falls through. Think once about Uighurs (Chinese Muslims). For once think of them. The Uighurs were cleared for release in 2004 but the US says they may face persecution if returned to China. If were not willing to help our Muslim brothers we have no right call 100% Muslim nations. Many Muslim Uighurs from Xinjiang in western China want greater autonomy for the region and some want independence. Beijing has waged a campaign against what it calls their violent separatist activities.
We are not Myanmar to live in isolated world. We are Maldives, always stepped up for just cause. I was quite surprised by DRP’s MP Ali Waheed words. He said “Being a member of the parliament, Vice Chair of parliamentary National Security Committee and a Maldivian, I condemn the government’s actions regarding the matter, appeal the committee to investigate it as an urgent matter and prevent the government from proceeding with the process. As this may pose a threat to national security, I also ask the committee to investigate all the parties who neglected the issue, especially Foreign Minister Dr Ahmed Shaheed”
Mr. Ali Waheed this is not Stone Age we have up our game as nation when required. And for Maldivian Media to be free you have to fight evil with in you. None of news paper thought of mentioning the Westerner countries accepted the Gitmo detainees. How Uighurs treated Xinjiang.
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