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Showing posts from July, 2012

iWitness: Angry rider, Confrontation and Custody

Maldivians and their Constitution – a story from History

Historian T. W. Hockly writes about the historical events that took place on 2 nd October 1934, the necessitated dethronement of the Sultan by the people of Maldives in accordance with Article 51 of the Maldivian Constitution. “ It appears that the Minister of Home Affairs, Muhammad Farid Didi Effendi, who is also the Prime Minister of the Maldive Islands, was informed that certain persons were convening secret meetings which has as their object the destruction of the New Constitution inaugurated in December 1934. Warrants were issued for the arrest of four persons in this respect. It was learned from the arrested persons that there were others involved in the plot to destroy the Constitution. It was further alleged that among these others were four servants of Prince Hassan Izzudin, the son of the Sultan. Apparently the Prince had interested himself on behalf of certain individuals who had previously been deported. When officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs attemp

Awkward Male’ – 10Rf please… actually 20Rf

So it was a random evening, neither late into the night nor that early into the evening. I found myself in one of those many pharmacies right in front of ADK Hospital on Sosun Magu . As I approached the counter, I received the typical foreign pharmacist grin, the mustache wink (you know what I mean), I am not sure whether he is Indian or Bangladeshi, I asked him for a particular tablet, and then someone tapped me on the back. Turned around in a reflex, stood a young gentleman of average height, mid 20s wouldn’t say 30, bearded but not “Bearded” in you know what fashion. On sight one would observe two distinct features of this gentleman, 1- He seemed in a hurry as if he has to run a marathon, and 2- He was under the influence of some sort of intoxicate. “Sir, can you please give me 10Rf? I need to get a medicine” he said in a trembling voice. The foreign pharmacist gave me a serious look and then shook his head in a motion which I am to take as “don’t give”. “Sir please