February 27, 2007
The editor of the Dhivehi Observer website, Ahmed Moosa (Sappe'), has been declared an 'emerging world leader' and listed among Asia's most influential people by the Who's Who set of publications.
The controversial journalist was mentioned in the 2007 editions of both Who's Who in Asia and Who's Who of Emerging Leaders.
Who's Who, based in the United States, have published directories of prominent people for over 100 years. The organization's prestigious volumes list "achievers from around the world… from every significant field of endeavor."
"Corporate executives, journalists, personnel recruiters, librarians, researchers, students, and many others consult our information databases for in-depth information they can use with confidence," Who's Who state on their website.Who's Who in Asia features 30 000 "pre-eminent individuals from the Asian continent, from the sciences, finance and commerce, government and politics, sports and entertainment."
Who's Who of Emerging Leaders contains 25 000 of "the most successful men and women, [who are] exceptionally innovative, forward thinking and dedicated to their field."
Speaking to Minivan News from exile in Glasgow, Scotland on Tuesday, Sappe' said he was "privileged to receive this great honour."
"I will continue to do as much as I can for the betterment of my country," he added.
President Gayoom, however, is unlikely to share in Sappe' glory.
The Dhivehi Observer, universally known in the Maldives as 'D-O', is a persistent source of irritation to the Gayoom government, portraying members of the cabinet as torturing, licentious thieves.
The president's family has fared little better. The hard-hitting publication has subjected Gayoom's wife, Nasreena, to particular venom.
While many people - across the political spectrum - dismiss D-O as a slanderous propaganda site, few dispute its influence.
One of the website's greatest scalps was arguably that of Abdulla Hameed, the former Atolls Minister and Gayoom's older brother.
In 2004, D-O unleashed a brutal and systematic campaign against Hameed, portraying him, in excruciating detail, as a predatory homosexual.
As D-O's vitriolic attack reached its climax, Hameed, who had been at the forefront of Maldivian politics for 27 years, was quietly relieved of his government duties. His reputation never recovered.
Sappe', who is labeled a "modern day folk hero" in the Lonely Planet's latest guide to the Maldives, does not shed any tears for his victims: "These people have murdered, tortured and stolen from our people for nearly three decades. Why shouldn't their crimes be exposed for all to see?"
"I bring true news to the Maldives. I bring the news that people in the Maldives want. I want my people to be informed and make informed decisions. I don't want them to be kept in the dark like they were before," he added.
Never one to hold back from mocking the current administration, Sappe' pointed out that the 'reformist' members of Gayoom's cabinet - Foreign Minister Shaheed, Information Minister Nasheed, Justice Minister Jameel and Attorney-General Saeed – who are similar in age to Sappe', go unmentioned in Who's Who.
"There are no other Maldivians other than me in the book, not even Gayoom himself," Sappe' said, laughing.
