Pro-democracy protests rock Maldives

REUTERS , COLOMBO
Sunday, Aug 15, 2004,Page 5

The Maldives was calm yesterday, a day after police broke up an unprecedented protest rally, but activists said hopes President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom would make good on promises of democratic reforms had faded.

A state of emergency was declared indefinitely on Friday after paramilitary forces moved in on thousands of protesters who had gathered for hours in the capital, demanding change to the autocratic rule in the tiny Indian Ocean archipelago.

"In the immediate future, I don't think anything is possible. When the Maldives government cracks down, they crack down. I think any more demonstration is highly unlikely," said one resident who was involved in the protest and did not want to be named.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2004/08/15/2003198829

Terrorist! Kill them all!