Why Male’s Gangs Won’t Speak To Police
30 Nov 1999, 11:55
Minivan News
State media are broadcasting images of six men wanted in connection to gang fighting which has plagued the capital for over a week. But while police have been unable to track down their suspects in an island less than 2.5 square kilometres in size, Minivan News journalist Susannah Peter, who arrived in the Maldives less than three months ago, was able to meet two of the wanted men for coffee last night.
Here, the two fugitives and other members of the Kuda Henveiru “family†tell her why the police can’t infiltrate their world. They describe police aggression towards gang members, and explain the family will protect them because none believe the authorities will investigate the fighting fairly.
Scapegoats?
Ahmed Alif Rauf, 21, and Ahhmed Simhan, 21, greet me cheerfully as I am ushered inside a brightly lit, cosy front room. One of their friends offers me a cup of coffee, while another “family” (they prefer not to use the word “gang”) member draws up a seat.
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