Sunday, September 21, 2008

The key to the weapons of 1978



"… at that time it may have been illegal; I have not become President yet; but I had weapons. And the 6 or so people I mentioned also had weapons…." –President Gayoom speaking to the People's Majlis on 6 May 1980.


Few issues have been so hotly debated as that of the 'weapons' Gayoom was alleged to have possessed on the eve of 11 November 1978, during his swearing ceremony. In 1980 President Gayoom made the above statement to the Majlis, according to a book published by National Center for Linguistic and Historical Research, 'Godhiraajage naakaamiyaabu baghaavaath".


Last week however, speaking on TVM's Siyaasath program, Gayoom said he never possessed any weapons and that in 1980 he was only referring to the key to the armory, rather than actual weapons.


Here is the translation of the relevant passage from Gayoom's 1980 speech to the Majlis:


"Whatever it is, since that conversation has taken place and since the head of the military was a different person and I was not aware of the arrangements in the military headquarters, God willing, I was very prepared. When I came here for swearing in, around 6 of my close associates had weapons. That is if anything happened we had intended to carry out then and that night what the people had decided…not to be intimidated by anyone's threats. Since the people have chosen me lawfully I wanted to be there, come what may. So, at that time it may have been illegal; I have not become President yet; but I had weapons. And the 6 or so people I mentioned also had weapons…."


And now here is the explanation Gayoom gave to Siyaasath program's Shakir:


Shakir: "Have you ever told a friend that you will have one [weapon] before you took the oath?"


Gayoom: "No. But there is something I said much later. In a speech at the parliament, I said when I took the presidency, weapons were under my supervision. That means – I will tell how it happened. I took the presidency on 10 November 1978 at midnight – at the beginning of 11 November. A day prior to this, a person at the ministry of public safety came and gave me the key to the weapons storage, saying the president ordered to give it to Maumoon. Since I had the key to the armory, I was in possession of the storage to use the weapons in a situation those had to be used. The key was handed to me. The minister of public safety is still alive today. If you question him he will tell you likewise. So that's what I said. In my hand, pocket, body, I never had weapons and have never used them."


In support of what Gayoom said on Siyaasath program, the President's Office has released two letters written by the former President's Office to the then Ministry of Public Safety in November 1978. Here are the translations:


Unofficial translation of President Office letter number 1-E/28/78/69 sent to Minister of Public Safety on 2 November 1978:


To the Minister,


After greetings I convey the following. The President has directed me to convey to you that starting from 10th November, you are to do everything relating to the Ministry of Public Safety and institutions under it in consultation with Hon. Uz. Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and under his directions.


Please accept my respects,


(Signed) Mohammed Zahir, Private Secretary


Unofficial translation of President Office letter number 1-E/28/78/70 sent to Minister of Public Safety on 7 November 1978:


After greetings I convey the following. Reference is given to this Office letter number 1-E/28/78/69. In that letter you were told that starting from 10th November, you are to do everything relating to the Ministry of Public Safety and institutions under it in consultation with Hon. Uz. Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and under his directions. In addition to this, the President has asked me to tell you to carry out his [Gayoom's] instructions.


Please accept my respects,


(Signed) Mohammed Zahir, Private Secretary

Update from Jazeera Daily (21 September):
“Abdul Hannan Haleem [Minister of Public Safety before Gayoom took over] who is currently in Mecca on Umra informed Jazeera today by telephone that the armory key was with him and that he handed over the key to Maumoon on the night of November 11 in a visit to Muleeaage after Maumoon had taken the oath of presidency and gone there. He also said he handed over the keys personally to Maumoon along with a pistol he had with him.”

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dr. Waheed.

Please update this article after reading jazeera...

New developments



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ހުވާކުރުމުގެ ކުރިން ހަތިޔާރު ގުދަނުގެ ތަޅުދަނޑި މައުމޫނު އަތްޕުޅުގައި ނޯންނާނެ ކަމަށް އޭރުގެ ޕަބްލިކް ސޭފްޓީ މިނިސްޓަރު ވިދާޅުވެއްޖެ | ހަންނާނު ވިދާޅުވީ ހުވާކުރެއްވިފަހުން ތަޅުދަނޑިފައްޗާއި ފިސްތޯލައެއް ސީދާ މައުމޫނާ ހަވާލުކުރެއްވި ކަމަށް


http://www.jazeera.com.mv/posts/view/15455

Anonymous said...

Oh Dear, Maumoon has forgotten everything he did before 7 august 2008. he is now re-borne please forgive him. he is innocent.

Anonymous said...

If Maumoon and his 6 friends had keys to the gun store, that means Maumoon must have gone to RKL to make duplicates as soon as he got the key. Hehehe.

Anonymous said...

everyone knows that Maumoon is a father of lair. like Dr. Hassans says this government has culture of not fulfilling promises.Coz Maumoon is head of government.

Anonymous said...

http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=25817439737

Please visit this group and post your comments.

Anonymous said...

its so simple ,as maumoon said his weapon of choice is a pen.....so maumoon and his friends had their "pens" ready to use if needed

-totally defies rationality but still support maumoon blindly-

Anonymous said...

DONT WORRY WE ALL SHOULD KNOW MAUMOON IS BETTER AND CLEVER PERSON THAN HIS FATHER! HAHAA

Anonymous said...

I remember Gayyoom saying this statement when addressing to the parliament. Either he lied to the parliament in 1980 or he lied in Riyaasath program on TVM. Either way he lied to Maldivians as he was still the president. I wonder if there is any clause in our constitution regarding this. Please someone comment on this.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Abdul Hanan Haleem should have never given him the key instead perhaps shot him. At least we would be safer and living with dignity .

Anonymous said...

Maumoon ah vote nudheyn vee 30 Sababu.

30 aharah 30 sababu.

1-Gaanoonaa khilaafah badi hifaigen huvaa kurun

2-Kurreege raees Nasir bolugai dhogu ilzaam alhuvai aburu nagaalun

3-Gaabil meehun ekkibaa koh thimaagemeehunah magaam thah bahaa aailee verikameh hingun

4-Sarukaaruge is muazzafun korupt kurun

5-Rayyithunge medhugai oiy hama hama kan nagaalaa vaki bayakah "khaassa inaayaiy" libey nizaameh gaaimu kurun

6- islam dheen hathiyaarakah hadha dheen olhuvaalaa dheenee bai bai vun ufedhdhun

7-Gaanoonu asaasee islaahu kuraanamey kiyaa ekan nukoh 17 aharah dhigu dhammaa emme fahun kuriyah vuren ves khudhu mukhuthaaru gaanoonu asaasee eh hedhun

8-Rajjey gai beyvvunu hurihaa inthikhaabeh gai makaru hadhaa rayyithunge haggu feyrigathun

9-dheenee ilmu verin nah goanaa koh jalah laa aniyaa kurun

10-Jalugai badi jahaabayaku maruvegen dhiyairuves rayyithunnah olhuvaalumattakaa javvah fazaayah vaige theryah badi jehi kamah hadhan masakkaiy kurun

11-Media control koh e ee verikan dhemehettumuge hathiyaarakah hedhun.

12-Verikan dhemehettumah takai kusheh neiy ethah bayaku bandhu koh aniyaa kurun

13-Furihama baaru oiy haa dhuvahu gaabilu meehaku uththama fandiyaarakah ves justice minister akah ves nulai adhulu insaafge dhaaira halaaku koh lun

14-Shareeathuge emme mathee maruhalaa akee thimaa meehaa kamah hedhi hure high court ge hukum thah badhalu koh meehun ge haggu thah feiyri gathun

15-Sharuee dhaairaa korupt koh aadhaige meehunah aiy nufoaraa hisaabah adhulu iinsaafu ge agu dhuvvaalun

16-Naa gaabilu meehun sihhee vazeerun nah hadhai edhaairaa halaaku koh raajje in ekasheegen vaa faruvaa eh nulibey gothah hedhun

17-aailaa aai ratteheen nah singapoorun vaki adhadheh nethi beys kurevey iru aadhaige meehun beys kurumah salaan jahaa gothah hama jessun

18-School thakuge fenvaru dhah koh e than thanun nukun na kudhinge 95% akee "fail" vefai vaa kudhin nah hedhun

19-Dhoadhiyaa thauleemee siyaasathuge sababun dharin nah tharubiyyathun

20-Raajjey gai drug ge vabaa aammu kurun

21-Raajje akee aabaadhee ge nisbathun mulhi dhuniyey gai ves kuh kuraa meehun emme gina eh gaumah hedhun

22-Fageerun naai mussadheenge thafaathu bodu koh dhiri ulhumuge kharadhu aiy nufoaraafashah gendhiyun

23-Rajjeyge khazaanaa hus koh laa dhiveheen ethah jeelakah dharuvaalun

24-Rajjey ge gudhurathee vaseelaiy kamah vaa falhu raththah nuagu gai vikkaa hus kohlun

25- Atholhu thereyge rah rah tharaggee nukoh Male' ah emmen hijura kuran majubooru kurun

26-Rayyithun nah boahiyaavahikan hoadhaa budhevun

27-Rah girumaai fen tha'yyaruvun fadha massala thakah halleh hoadhumuge badhalugai ithurah goas kurun

28-Sarukaaruge hingumuge nizaamu halaaku koh e ee kameh nukurevey muassasaa yakah hedhun

29-Islaahee masaiykathah huras alhaa faaisaa aa nufoozu beynun kohgen kuriyah oiy inthikhaabu gai aiy gadha kurumah masaiykah kurun

30-Rayyithun bika haalugai ulhey iru bodu ganduvareh gai dhuvaalaku 4 (hatharu) lakka rufiyaa kharadhu kohlla kohlaa inun.

These reasons are from Fiyes 03 Sep 2008

Anonymous said...

These guys got the weapons from the Libyan Embassy that was in Male' then. The Embassy brought the cache in its diplomatic mail bag on the request of Maumoon.

Anonymous said...

GAYOOM SHOULD BE IMPEACHED