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The democratic revolution in Maldives continues, with the situation turning downward by the second. Following the arrest of opposition MDC chairperson Nasheed at a peaceful sit-in on the anniversary of Black Friday, and the subsequent protests and mass detentions, violence is escalating on both sides. Opposition supporters, including children, the elderly, and even a pregnant woman are being beaten and arrested. Some protestors are throwing molotov cocktails at riot police as they are hailed by rubber bullets. Portions of the police forces have turned on the government and are also being detained.

Yet Reuters has only carried two stories on this, the first at the initial arrest and the latest today. But the article touts the government line on what happened, and in the quest for lazy “fair and balanced” reporting, has done no original reporting of its own. And only a handful of papers have picked it up.

Even though the world may never hear about it, the people of Maldives are continuing to strive for elections and the freedom they desire so badly. Minivan News, a local independent production, continues to shine the light in this dark corner of the world.

MONDAY 15TH (to Maldives time)

11:45PM: Confirmed report: Kanduvai Hussain Rasheed was taken by police in handcuffs from his shop at about 8pm this evening.

11:30PM: Minivan Daily hits the streets in A4 format, despite the threats to the print shop.

11:00PM: Reports state: BG group members who participated in intimidating MDP MPs last evening were paid through Chica and Lebbe (former New Radiant footballer). Each participating member was reportedly paid a sum of Mrf 5000. Apparently an understanding was reached among the BG group members that all people actively involved in anti-government activities would be individually picked out and dealt with in a ???????fit manner??????? at a later date.

10:35PM: Many of the arrested have not been taken to Dhoonidhoo, but have reportedly been taken to Feydhoo Finolhu as well as Girifushi.

10:25PM: Reports state: The approximately 300 police officers, who mutinied last evening, are reportedly detained at Girifushi the army training camp (not Feydhoo Finolhu as previously reported).

10:15PM: Police are in pairs all over Male????????. No police in riot gear out on the street.

9:30PM: Reports confirm that MDP supporter Ahmed Zahir (Ahamma) was taken into custody today.

7:55PM: Family reports that Ahmed Zaki, an MDP – supporter – was arrested on the evening of the 12th August, in front of his grandchildren.

07:35PM: Mohamed Hamdhan Zaki has been brought home and placed under house arrest.

07:32PM: Hassan Zahir: police were reportedly searching for MDP supporter Hassan Zahir last night. Zahir therefore went to the police station this morning after breakfast. He has reportedly not yet returned.

6:58PM: More protests expected tonight in Male’, Addu and Gaaf Dhaal.

04:50PM: Reports state: 94 people were detained last night in Male’ and taken to Feydhoo Finolhu. Many of them reportedly have suffered head injuries from being hit by police wielding batons.

They even took their publication into circulation despite threats from the government, who are painting the protestors from the very beginning as mobs, criminals, drug abusers, and thieves. Now the riot police are no longer out, but they are walking around in plain clothes so as to spy on the entire population. More protests are expected, however, and the longer they hold up the further the strangehold the government has will be frayed. The Dhivehi Observer is reporting that President Gayoom is running scared and staying in a different place every night.

Male’ – Sources in NSS and Police have confirmed that Gayyoom is not staying in Male’ at night now fearing for his safety. Last night he went Aarah and tonight he is apparently in Dhonvehi Beach Resort. The resort is owned by Jabir and financed by Yameen according to local business analysts. It is not known whether Zakariyya Hameed is also in the island.

The Maldives is an island chain country of people yearning for freedom and democracy. As the The Maldives Freethink Blog put it, “The education that ” ah-Sheikh al-Akh al-Ustaaz President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom al-Azhari” received in the 50′ and 60’s from pyjama-clad mullahs in Cairo is not what we need for the Maldives if we want modernity and progress. We should move on.”

The world needs to notice if that’s going to happen.