Originally published on Minivan News on September 23, 2006

President Gayoom was greeted with opposition protests on Saturday morning, after returning home from the United Nations general assembly in New York.

Protestors from the non-violent resistance movement, Gaumataka, welcomed Gayoom by chanting slogans and holding aloft banners calling for the ageing autocrat to step down.

The protests overshadowed what was supposed to be a triumphant homecoming from Gayoom, who faces mounting political problems following the release of opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed (Anni) last Thursday.

The ruling Dhivehi Raiyyithunge Party organized a welcome party for the President by festooning the streets between the presidential jetty and Gayoom’s palace with national flags.

Flag-waving government officials and schoolchildren were also placed on the side of the roads.

The welcome was in honour of the president’s address to the United Nations, which he delivered in Dhivehi.

But when Gayoom arrived shortly after 9:30am, Gaumataka protesters held up their banners and chanted for the president’s resignation.

As Gayoom loyalists scuffled with the Gaumataka protestors, trying without success to remove the anti-government banners, security guards shuffled the president away from the scene.

Gayoom was escorted back to his palace along an alternative route, away from the demonstrators.

In a statement issued later on Saturday, Gaumataka said that “the most important issue at hand is the reform process, amending the constitution and establishing democracy in the country… Protection of the Dhivehi language should come after these major concerns.”

They added: “Welcoming a man who has tortured the country for the last 27 years with applause and praise is something the Gaumataka movement strongly condemns. Instead our message of welcome is Gayoom Resign!”

Last week, the Gaumataka movement commemorated Evan Naseem day by presenting flowers to the police, in memory of those who have been tortured and murdered at the hands of Gayoom’s security forces.

Gaumataka was established earlier this month, shortly after a visit by Serbian non-violence resistanace activists. It says it takes its inspiration from the practices of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King.

Further Reading:
http://www.dhivehiobserver.com/pressreleases/Gaumataka/sep23press_english.pdf
http://www.dhivehiobserver.com/pressreleases/Gaumataka/sep23press_divehi.pdf
Police Presented With Flowers On Anniversary Of Evan’s Death