125 million rufiya (US$10 million) Paid to President Golha Boa's Cronies

Blast from the Past(DO)

An Exclusive Report published on Adduvas magazine,27 December 2005, Translated by Maldives Culture editors, 8 January 2006, Photos and contact information added by Maldives Culture and Dhivehi Observer. Adduvas examines President Gayyoom's special assistance loan account (Maldives Monetary Authority Acc. No. 2060) and the soft loans granted from this source. It is difficult to understand why the public treasury of the government has become the private bank of a certain group of people. Have these the people faced exceptional circumstances that warrant the granting of a presidential special assistance loan? When we identified the people receiving these loans, it seems only highly-placed officials face special circumstances. more

MDP's 'Vote Parliamentary System' Campaign in Addu Atoll

MDP's 'Vote Parliamentary System' campaign is in full swing in Addu Atoll. A special meeting was held in Feydhoo on Thursday night attended by hundreds of party members and supporters. Similar events and programs are taking place across the Atoll, including Hithadhoo on Friday night. Special feasts were also prepared by party members to keep the momentum of the campaign. According to the sources, Addu is expecting to produce the largest majority for any Atoll in favour of the parliamentary system in the upcoming referendum due on August 18th. view photos

Dictator Gayyoom is the symbol of everything wrong in Maldives

HT Column
With repressions and intimidations MDP in its recent president's election marked a significant watershed in the Maldives history. Preparations for the elections were far cleaner and more efficient than any other elections held in the countries' history. On that date, across the 19 atolls of the country, Maldivians came out in unprecedented numbers to vote. The first time of the history in the whole South East Asians region a political party held such a free and fair election. People voted freely, overwhelmingly and independently for the candidate of their choice. more

Referendum to choose Government System on 18th August

Male' - After more than a year of passing to hold a referendum to choose the system of government by the Special Majlis, a date has finally been set yesterday. The referendum is to be held on 18th August, election commissioner KD Manik announced today. A total of 125,000 people will be eligible to vote in this referendum as the voting age has been lowered to 18 now. People will vote on whether to have a Presidential System or Parliamentary System. Dhivehi Rundinge Party (DRP), of which the Maldives Dictator is the self declared leader, is campaigning to promote the Presidential System whilst the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) is supporting Parliamentary System. According to reports, votes will be counted in the islands and the provisional results will be announced the same evening. Observers from SAARC, EU, Commonwealth and Maldives Human Rights Commission have been invited to observe the referendum, reports say.

MDP's "Vote Parliamentary System" campaign gaining momentum in Addu

Addu - A localised campaign has begun in the Atoll yesterday to educate people about the two system of governments and to promote MDP's "Vote Parliamentary System" campaign. Organised and coordinated by MDP members in Addu, the campaign is set to continue until the polling day and the group hopes to obtain 90% turn out and around 80% of the votes in favour of the Parliamentary System, organisers say. The group aims to visit every single household in the island to ensure that they achieve the desired result. A senior delegation from MDP head office led by party chairman visited the Atoll last week. Photos from Addu. Dictator Gayyoom wants to maintain a Presidential System of government, so he can continue to rule as a dictator. Dictator's own party (DRP) is campaigning for that. view photos

DO News Review

Golha Boa Gayyoom seeks record 7th term to ensure regime continuity

Asia's longest serving leader, President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom declared on 28 June 2007 that he would run for the Presidency in elections scheduled for 2008. Mr. Gayoom, long criticized widely both at home and abroad as a brutal dictator shocked international observers and Maldivian politicians including senior officials of the DRP, when his unilateral announcement invalidated the aspirations of Presidential hopefuls in his own Party. more

DO Reader's Review..

How to get rewarded by Maldives Dictator Golha Boa

Here are some extracts from a book by Copy Mohamed Rasheed, who received special prizes for this book from Gayyoom, for special reasons as can be seen. "The democratic reform agenda shared on 9th June surprised the whole world" "Gayyoom gave special importance to education which gave rise to dozens of educated individuals thereby placing the nation high up in the sky for the new generation" "He gave equal importance to, say whether it is a remote, small island or a sand bar, no one can tell the difference from Male'." "He reclaimed Hulhumale' and Thilafushi from out of nothing bringing joy and happiness to the hearts of citizens" more

DO....News Review

Maldives' Dictator Golha Boa declares himself a candidate for the 2008 Presidential Election without a mandate from his party

Dictator Gayyoom's declaration that he is the DRP candidate for the 2008 Presidential Election has reportedly and understandably angered several senior party officials. Of course, the declaration didn't come as a suspire to us but some senior members of his own Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) are reportedly angry over Dictator Gayyoom's announcement last Friday that he is the DRP's Presidential candidate for the 2008 elections. According to reliable sources within DRP, even some junior members are disappointed by the fact that the Dictator declared himself as party's candidate without any consultation or due process. more