Where does Police stand when it comes to controlling gang wars?
| DATE: 2007-12-08 | PRINT | SHARE
MALE, December 8, 2007 (Haveeru News Service) -- Over the past two years escalating street fights have resulted in injury to people, damage to property and sometimes resulted in loss of life.
Most recently on December 2, a young man named Ali Ishar (pic) was brutally murdered. The incident cannot be said to have been the result of a spontaneous quarrel but was clearly premeditated because family members claim that he had been receiving death threats for sometime, presumably resulting from serial street gang fights and rivalries rampant in Male with its huge population of bored, despaired and restless youth.
It is tragic that even during the assault with box cutters on 21-year-old Ishar, Police could act only as onlookers as the assailants laid their vehicle to waste. In a press conference, Home Minister Abdulla Kamaldin hinted that at times Police were not armed and that if people happened to carry weapons, unarmed Police officers obviously would not get involved; but he promised to get around the problem.
It has also been revealed that some big shots have a hand behind the street violence. Street gangs have revealed, without naming specific persons or parties, that they have been paid and encouraged to sow discord. And when violence occurs these big shots quietly leave the country and only return when the media limelight shifts to other harmless problems. Hence, there is reason to believe that the current street violence, sponsored by some politicians and business persons, have a hidden personal agenda, whatever that agenda may be.
It is also questionable why Police still has not officially commented on rumours that they have a hand behind the gang violence.
When Ishar was murdered it was rumoured that those behind his killing had already fled the country. But it is surprising once again when Police fail to comment on such rumours.
It is notable that Police reveal identities of suspects only in certain types of cases. Kamaldin claimed tat Police may have to withhold such information depending on the nature of the case and if they are of the view that some people could take advantage of a criminal nature if identities of street violence suspects are revealed; Police has reportedly rounded up tens of suspects with regard to the recent spate of gang violence.
It is as clear as day that the leaders of the gangs roam free around Male with full impunity and sometimes prove themselves to be above the law and more powerful than Police officers themselves. These gang leaders lead lavish lifestyles, roaming around the capital in stylish cars and motorcycles that can be afforded only by the super rich.
Hence, there clearly is a case to state that gang violence may be clearly politically motivated. Otherwise why are traffic wardens reluctant to give parking tickets to the owners of these vehicles? Why do these gang leaders suddenly “disappear” from the scene whenever there is a case of violence, only to reappear on the streets of Male showing off their wealth and pride after all the hype about the violence dies down?
I find it difficult to believe that in such a small place as Male where everyone knows what everyone else is up to, Police do not have a clue as to what is really taking place here. Otherwise what’s the use of intelligence service? If violence continues to escalate, my personal opinion is that Police do know what’s going on but some very influential people are preventing them from preventing street violence. Who are these traitors to the country, I wonder.
Police are paid taxpayers’ money to protect and serve the people. But if present circumstances speak for themselves, they are doing a sorry job.
Pretty soon it will be us innocent bystanders who will have to lock ourselves in our homes with security grills, a scene that is reminiscent in lawless neighbours such as India and Sri Lanka.
A cashier at a cafe where I recently went to have breakfast commented to me: “Eat well for you may need to be prepared to fight for your survival.” When a country descends into chaos, I guess everybody will be forced to take up arms and take the law into their own hands -- a doomsday scenario for our centuries-old tranquil paradise.
| DATE: 2007-12-08 | PRINT | SHARE
MALE, December 8, 2007 (Haveeru News Service) -- Over the past two years escalating street fights have resulted in injury to people, damage to property and sometimes resulted in loss of life.
Most recently on December 2, a young man named Ali Ishar (pic) was brutally murdered. The incident cannot be said to have been the result of a spontaneous quarrel but was clearly premeditated because family members claim that he had been receiving death threats for sometime, presumably resulting from serial street gang fights and rivalries rampant in Male with its huge population of bored, despaired and restless youth.
It is tragic that even during the assault with box cutters on 21-year-old Ishar, Police could act only as onlookers as the assailants laid their vehicle to waste. In a press conference, Home Minister Abdulla Kamaldin hinted that at times Police were not armed and that if people happened to carry weapons, unarmed Police officers obviously would not get involved; but he promised to get around the problem.
It has also been revealed that some big shots have a hand behind the street violence. Street gangs have revealed, without naming specific persons or parties, that they have been paid and encouraged to sow discord. And when violence occurs these big shots quietly leave the country and only return when the media limelight shifts to other harmless problems. Hence, there is reason to believe that the current street violence, sponsored by some politicians and business persons, have a hidden personal agenda, whatever that agenda may be.
It is also questionable why Police still has not officially commented on rumours that they have a hand behind the gang violence.
When Ishar was murdered it was rumoured that those behind his killing had already fled the country. But it is surprising once again when Police fail to comment on such rumours.
It is notable that Police reveal identities of suspects only in certain types of cases. Kamaldin claimed tat Police may have to withhold such information depending on the nature of the case and if they are of the view that some people could take advantage of a criminal nature if identities of street violence suspects are revealed; Police has reportedly rounded up tens of suspects with regard to the recent spate of gang violence.
It is as clear as day that the leaders of the gangs roam free around Male with full impunity and sometimes prove themselves to be above the law and more powerful than Police officers themselves. These gang leaders lead lavish lifestyles, roaming around the capital in stylish cars and motorcycles that can be afforded only by the super rich.
Hence, there clearly is a case to state that gang violence may be clearly politically motivated. Otherwise why are traffic wardens reluctant to give parking tickets to the owners of these vehicles? Why do these gang leaders suddenly “disappear” from the scene whenever there is a case of violence, only to reappear on the streets of Male showing off their wealth and pride after all the hype about the violence dies down?
I find it difficult to believe that in such a small place as Male where everyone knows what everyone else is up to, Police do not have a clue as to what is really taking place here. Otherwise what’s the use of intelligence service? If violence continues to escalate, my personal opinion is that Police do know what’s going on but some very influential people are preventing them from preventing street violence. Who are these traitors to the country, I wonder.
Police are paid taxpayers’ money to protect and serve the people. But if present circumstances speak for themselves, they are doing a sorry job.
Pretty soon it will be us innocent bystanders who will have to lock ourselves in our homes with security grills, a scene that is reminiscent in lawless neighbours such as India and Sri Lanka.
A cashier at a cafe where I recently went to have breakfast commented to me: “Eat well for you may need to be prepared to fight for your survival.” When a country descends into chaos, I guess everybody will be forced to take up arms and take the law into their own hands -- a doomsday scenario for our centuries-old tranquil paradise.
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