Child Abuse: Something the society must be well aware of

Child abuse has become a growing issue in our society in recent years. We have seen several cases of abuse in the last few years. Such cases include the abused video of a 14 year old girl tied up to a tree naked and a case where an Indian physiotherapist working in Hithadhoo Regional Hospital tried to molest a 15 year old girl and the Imam of Goidhoo island molesting five different girls of age around 11 to 19 years.

These are just some few hand picked cases that happened this year. There has been child abuse going on from a long time. The society has to be well aware that abusers are still living among us and must not give any chances to these people to come in the way of young girls and boys in this society. Since most children tend to keep these matters secret or hidden could mean that there maybe more unfiled cases that have not been heard either by family or by the children themselves. Child Abuse Watch Maldives blog further explains the reasons why these children tend to hide their nightmares on the post ‘How do you know if someone has been sexually abused in their childhood’. It says, “Sexually abused children keep their matters secret. Specially the fact that they were sexually abused. This secrecy hides them from being recognized as sexually abused. In addition, you would find that sexually abused children are silent and like to keep quiet.”

The children who are victims of child abuse have several mental and physiological consequences and these circumstances have a huge impact in their lives, even after they are grown up. As mentioned above these children are quiet and silent and they tend to keep their issues to themselves. Children suffering abuse develop a range of maladaptive, anti-social and self-destructive behaviors and thoughts by trying to cope with the abuse - by trying to understand the situation and why the abuse is happening. Other changes include academic difficulties, aggressive behavior, anxiety, attention problems and bad dreams or nightmares.

Here are some few articles which I came across while I searched the web for the child abuse cases in Maldives.

·

Assistant Island Chief of Shaviyani Maroshi arrested for Molesting 2 small boys. (Published on Jan 2008)

· Young girl sexually assaulted by Indian physiotherapist employing in Hithadhoo Regional Hospital. (Published on Nov 2007)

· Two arrested in Maduvvari for sexual assault on child. (Published on Oct 2007)

· Four Men Accused of raping a 12year old girl in LH. Kurendhoo (Published on July2007)

· Imaam accused of Molesting Children in Baa atoll Goidhoo (Published on May 2007)

With cases like these happening every now and then there are many challenges for the groups and organizations who work for the rights of the children and their security. The major challenge is the punishment that the convicts get are just few months in banishment in an island. Many believe that this is a far less punishment compared to the offense these ruthless people commit. Some even believe that banishment of these people to islands could also mean that they get more chances to repeat such crimes and it is more like an encouragement. The truth is that Child abuse is something the whole community must be well aware of in order to protect the lives of young girls and boys in our society.

Jaisham : Presidents Tale of Made up hero ??

The Day was January 8th. The place was the island of Hoarafushi, in Haa Alif atoll in the Islands of Maldives. A 20 year old young man attempted to assassinate the south asia's longest serving president Maumoon Abdul gayyoom but narrowly escaped when the 16 year old boy scout Jaisham's palm accidentally came in between. The story hit the headlines, and the whole world praised his act.

The talking point is what happened after that incident. President himself claimed that the boy was a 'National Hero'. In Maldives there has been people who did much brave and dangerous things yet their name has been hardly heard. Does someone make a 'national hero' when he accidentally puts his hand in between the knife and President ? Of course the boy's acts must be appreciated but i think its little bit of too much. The boy agreed that he never thought about it and it happened just out of thinking. Surely there are people who did much brave things than that in this country and people who deserves to be national heroes.
Some few years back, A man who was in a boat traveling with young women and children crashed into a reef and were about to sink when this man swam in the middle of night from his shipwreck area which was in nowhere to the nearest island completely far beyond sight with the help of two wooden boards from the wreck, In the end reaching the island and rescuing entire crew. What a wonderful heroism and bravery which has been forgotten in Maldivian history and that man deserved to be a national hero if Jaisham has to be a national hero.
Zaeema Ismail , Another Maldivian hero or else a heroine who won Asia's time magazine heroes award 2005 for her bravery and strength in coping with the physiological shock and helping her family get back to normal life after the disastrous Tsunami that took thousands of lives from Asia in the year 2004. She brought Maldives such a beautiful name and honor and i believe she too deserve government's and the presidents recognition.
I don't believe that Jaisham has to be in the line of Maldivian heroes such as Shaheedh hussain adam and Mohamed Thakurufaan. Shaheedh hussain adam, A brave soldier who gave up his life for the nation fighting against the terrorist attack on November 3rd 1988 or Mohamed thakurufaan, The man who wiped out the entire Portuguese garrison in Maldives and liberated this nation while Sultan Ali VI, Who gave up his Life fighting against Captain Andreas Andre, known as Andhiri Andhirin. These people dedicated themselves for the nation and some gave up their lives for it. How can Jaisham ever be called such a hero ?
Well let me give a more clearer idea. Suppose If I was the president and if I survived from assassination when bullet which was supposed to hit me, buy luck or what ever we say hits the bullet proof jacket i was wearing which blocked the way, What would you think of me if I make that bullet proof jacket as a national hero of the country just because it saved me, the President who was in ruling the country for 30 long years ? How stupid is that ? In this situation the only difference is that the bullet proof jacket was a human hand i wasn't the president. This is why i am saying that the boy scout doesn't deserve to be labeled as 'national hero' just because his hands came in the way. Of course he is a hero but i believe he cannot be called a 'national hero'.
It seems like president Maumoon is more like marketing himself from this incident and the boy scout labeling him as a national Hero on the government Media. Everyone knows that this year will see the nation's first ever multi-party elections where President Maumoon is set to compete with the opposition parties for the seventh term in a row. Will Jaisham be the Presidents tale of 'made up' hero for the upcoming elections just like Jessica Lynch became Pentagons tale of Fake war Hero ??

Thankyou,

Maldivian Football: Improving or On Halt ?

Maldivians (blue) playing against Yemen in 2010 world cup Qualifying preliminary Round. Maldivians Won at home but Lost to aggregate of 2-3 Photo by maldivesoccer.com

I just keep wondering when the Maldives would win an international Football tournament. With football flowing in our blood, with such a high spot for football in our hearts, Why are we still with empty hands ?? The question goes on. Maldivians have the talent of this game. They have the pace and the skill and yet the situation is that we are yet to win a gold medal.
I have been keenly watching the footballing in Maldives since 1998 as far as i remember. I've seen China thrash Maldives by 10- 1 and Malaysia thrashing Maldives by 5 - 0, both occasions in the qualifying for the 2002 world cup in Korea & Japan. I even heard that Maldivians where thrashed by Mighty Asian powerhouse Iran with 17 goals to nil. The issue is totally different today. We've improved a lot since that. We produced some fine results such as holding the Mighty Koreans and beating good teams like Vietnam and Yemen. We even scared the Iranians in Olympic qualifications though we lost 3 goals to 1.
With such achievements doesn't mean that the Football of Maldives has reached to the top. I would frankly say the only Major success we gained lately is beating the Malaysians and Yamenese and two of our Stars playing in Malaysia super league and New Radiant SC reaching the Semifinals of AFC Cup 2005. We still haven't won a gold medal yet, either club wise or nation wise.
Is Maldivian Football improving or on halt ? The answer lies in the upcoming SAFF Championship, the first regional tournament which the 7 nations of SAARC and Afghanistan which is to be hosted in Maldives and co hosted by Sri-Lanka. Maldivians have been a leading power house in the region for the past few years lining in the 2 nd position right behind arch rivals India. Many Maldivian Football Experts and Fans agree that the upcoming SAFF Championship would answer the question, Maldivian Football is Improving or On Halt ?

Thankyou

Drugs; A Mess that Maldivian Government finds hard to clean

Some people may wonder why young men give up their lives for a pleasure of few minutes, The drugs. I too have the same question in my curiosity, not that i desire drugs or drugs use, but that i hate it. I have seen many cousins and relatives and several other family members fall into drugs. Its not only my family, but a huge fraction of the population of the Maldivian youth are infected with this plague in the recent times.

Questions arise at this point, why did such a lethal plague in this country so easily ? The answer maybe different, but all will agree that there still are drugs smuggled into the country in a way that the local authorities are unaware. Today, when we are in a politically 'hyper' situation, Many opposition political parties and several individuals point the finger to the government of Maldives. The cause my lie unknown but i firmly believe its time the authorities take required measures to stop this disease. So far from what i see, i completely agree that the issue is totally out of the hands of the government and this is a mess that Maldivian government finds hard to clean.

Thank you

Wellcome

Dear Readers,
Welcome to My Blog. I firmly believe that everybody has the right to express their view and opinions to what they witness from world. My intentions are the same. I set up this blog in the intention of expressing my views and opinons on matters that i came across and which i am yet to come across. With great respect to medium of expression i firmly believe that my course is good.

Thankyou,
Mohamed