The following article appeared on hatharudhan, a news site which is apparently operated out of President Gayoom's office. It was reprinted in the newsletter of the ruling DRP. According to Friends of the Maldives, the author is possibly the President's son. I was especially enchanted by the invitation to "meet.. in a dark lane". Internet trivia fans may like to know that "Michu Bichu" is a googlewhack, appearing once on a forum devoted to Reggaeton lyrics, as a Spanish language pun insulting the mother of a Peruvian participant in a flame-war. Either Hatharudhan needs copyediting, or there is some Maldivian reference here which I'm not getting. If the latter, I'd be interested in finding out more.

Wednesday October 26, 2005

Where hath the PEN gone wrong?
By Hatharudhan Exclusive
An article which supposedly appeared in the "The Observer" newspaper , a novelist Hari Kunzru has written under the heading Trouble in Paradise numerous reasons why he personally would not visit the Maldives. The pity is since he became a member of the Executive Council of English PEN- writers' organization that campaign for freedom of expression, in 2004, the quality of the pieces he produces has dropped considerably for the simple reason that does not research his subject thoroughly.
PEN is an organization that has lost all credibility for entertaining losers and jobless writers who laments over their own woe tales. In particular, they have carried tales of torture in the Maldives unsubstantiated by evidence and have been actively engaged in the anti-campaign begun initially by Michael O'Shea in the Maldives Culture site and subsequently in other similar sites.
The truth of the matter is that Maldivians have voted President in for the sixth-term of office whether the east or west Londoners like it or not. If Kunzru or his cronies find it difficult to understand the per capita of the Maldives, he ought to then check with either the World Bank or some other reputable organization who has been closely working with the Maldives for the last three decades or more.
Tourists who feel they want to do their part for the tsunamis affected islands have contributed knowing full well in exactly which way they are aiding the victims get back to normal . There is no point even trying to tarnish their views unless, of course, you like many others before Kunzru have been offered a bribe out of covert funds that the opposition so freely distribute, to aid in a tourism boycott which have so far failed. It is hilarious that Kunzru believes that a big chunk of the revenue from tourism is spent on PR sending journalists on free trips which he believes is the reason for such a "well-guarded secret" is not reported.
Mohamed Nasheed, had he remained in an opposition party without disrupting the public and contravening our laws on terrorism would have done just fine. Sadly, this has not been the case since he has been in out of trouble with the law since his juvenile days. He is currently arrest and his trial will begin tomorrow. Any concern over his safety while in custody one holds is baseless. It is in the opposition party's political agenda to conduct a series of public disturbances and illegal activities in their desperate attempt to gain power and destroy the prevailing peace in the country
Maldivians are fed up with their ploys and constant lies over the mass media to connive the public into believing there is much wrong with the system of government but it is the very public they are trying to fool who enjoy the benefits of development they have seen through the current regime and for which they remain grateful. They do not need a foreigner from the east of London to tell them what Maldives is all about nor do the rest of the tourists who come here to holiday because even they do their homework before they reach their destination.
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So, Kunzru if you need to chill out , I suggest you go to Michu Bichu. How do you sign up for this destination? Meet me in a dark lane and I will tell you how.

[maldives]