Day: August 20, 2012

Defence minister confirms 50 Hulhumale’ flats to be awarded to officers

Defence Minister Mohamed Nazim has announced that 50 flats on the island of Hulhumale’ will be awarded to military officers alongside financial assistance to help them keep up with payments, local media has reported.

Citing a transcript published on the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) website, newspaper Haveeru reported that a committee headed by Brigadier General Abdulla Shamal will oversee the awarding of the properties to candidates from a “pre-set criteria”.

Officers from all ranks are expected to be included in the scheme, which is also expected to provide assistance to officers facing difficulties in meeting the required payments on schedule, according to the report.

Nazim reportedly added that the government had already arranged to cover down payments on the fifty properties in order to facilitate awarding of the housing.

He also claimed that a nine storey building within existing military quarters had also been constructed for officers.  A budget has also been agreed with the government for the further renovation of buildings already used for military purposes, Nazim claimed in the transcript.

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HRCM to publish February 7 report at “earliest” date following alleged leak

The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) will release its report on rights abuses leading up to February’s controversial transfer of power as soon as possible after parts of its findings were allegedly leaked by the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).

The HRCM claims that the report has not been shared with any political party as of yet, while raising fears sections of it may already have been used as a “political tool” after being disclosed to the media.

Speaking to Minivan News today, HRCM Vice President Ahmed Tholal said that the commission had only shared the report with stakeholders to whom its recommendations were relevant. According to Tholal, these stakeholders include the Maldives Police Service and other selected state institutions.

According to details of the report leaked by PPM Interim Deputy Leader Umar Naseer on Saturday (August 18), the HRCM concluded that former President Mohamed Nasheed gave “unlawful orders” to the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) and police officers at the Artificial Beach area on the evening of February 6.

According to Naseer,  the HRCM report stated that the MNDF and police officers at the Artificial Beach area were “unlawfully” ordered to leave the area, which led to a breakdown in command and control of the security forces.  Consequently, citizens were injured and huge damage was caused to the state, Naseer stated, citing the report.

While local media has reported that the document shared by PPM was the HRCM report with sections removed, Tholal confirmed that the full report had been sent to stakeholders.

Tholal said that in light of the reported leak, the HRCM now intended to share its published findings with the public at the earliest possible date.  He was unable to provide a specific date, but said the decision had to be made in a commission members’ meeting as required in their regulations.

Meanwhile, HRCM Commission Member Ahmed Abdul Kareem, speaking during a press conference on July 18, stated that the commission would not be looking into the events surrounding the transfer of power on February 7 as it did not fall within the body’s mandate.

When asked about the contradictions between this statement and the accounts given by Umar Naseer that were said to be have taken from the report, Tholal responded today by saying that he had not seen what details the PPM Deputy Leader had shared. He claimed that the HRCM had not conducted any investigation into the controversial transfer of power.

Tholal also expressed concern that the report was currently being used by some entities as a political tool ,“The reason why we haven’t put in a confidentiality clause is that our intention is to release it to the public when the time comes. It is not a confidential document as such. But the point is, when it is shared, we expect it to be used for the intended purposes and not as a political tool”.

In addition to the PPM, its coalition government partner the Jumhooree Party (JP) also held a press conference about the report this week.

Local newspaper Haveeru reported that Jumhooree Party (JP) Deputy President Ameen Ibrahim stated the leaked report would put an end to questions about the transfer of power in February.  According to Ameen, the two main questions around the events on February 7 had been answered through the report; firstly whether there was a coup, followed by whether or not President Waheed assumed his presidency through legal means.

While HRCM claims that they had not investigated the transfer of power through their report, JP Spokesperson Moosa Rameez contended the findings provided conclusive details on the event.

The JP representatives also stated they were very confident the upcoming Commission of National Inquiry (CNI) report would conclude the transfer of power had not been a “coup d’etat” as alleged by the now opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

Neither the PPM’s Umar Naseer or JP spokesperson Abbas Adil Riza were responding to calls at the time of press.

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Nasheed discusses CMAG team’s apparent dismissal of “coup” claims in leaked audio

Local television station DhiTV has leaked an audio clip appearing to involve former President Mohamed Nasheed discussing the opinions of several Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) members concerning February’s transfer of power.

In the recording, Nasheed is alleged to have said that three Commonwealth foreign ministers sent to investigate the controversial power transfer had determined that the events on February 7 did not amount to a coup.

Foreign Ministers from Bangladesh, Barbados and Australia visited the country in February concurrent with the body’s remit to investigate potential violations of the organisation’s political values.

In the clip, Nasheed appears to be recounting his discussions with the CMAG members.

“I asked them, if they decide that that’s what happened, what will I do next? The entire opposition of this country will go to prison,” Nasheed appears to claim in the clip, reported to be an excerpt from a thirty minute-long recording.

MDP spokesperson Hamid Abdul Ghafoor told Minivan News that he doubted the clip’s authenticity.

“It’s difficult to believe that Nasheed would talk about it publicly. I feel it is a fabrication,” said Ghafoor.

After sending its investigative team, CMAG announced that it had not been possible to determine the constitutionality of the transfer of power.

The group, therefore, recommended that an independent investigation, with international representation, be conducted.

The Maldives, which since 2009 was a member of CMAG – the Commonwealth’s eight nation watchdog group – was subsequently suspended from the body after being placed on its formal agenda.

Continued pressure for inter-party dialogue and early elections from the Commonwealth led to strong criticism of the organisation from local politicians earlier this year, before resulting in the eventual reconstitution of the Commission of National Inquiry (CNI).

The CNI is scheduled to publicly publish its findings on August 30.

Nasheed’s Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has suggested that he and his ministers be reinstated should the investigation find evidence that a “coup” had taken place.

The party also promised its acquiescence in the event that the CNI find no evidence of illegal activity whatsoever, a likelihood Nasheed does not anticipate.

Meanwhile, the government, which has steadfastly denied it came to power in a “coup d’etat”, has officially refused to speculate on the possible fallout from the CNI report.

Leaders from the minority leadership party in the Majlis, the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), have said that they would challenge any results which disputed the legitimacy of the President Waheed’s unity government.

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International community “aligned” on plans to address Maldives’ instability: MDP

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) representatives have claimed the international community favours pursuing a settlement with the Maldives government to resolve ongoing political instability before next week’s publication of the Commission of National Inquiry’s (CNI’s) findings.

Observing ongoing dialogue between the international community and local political figures, MDP MP and spokesperson Hamid Abdul Ghafoor claimed that the opinions of foreign governments on how to resolve the country’s political deadlock were “now aligned” largely with the stance currently held by the Commonwealth.

He claimed additionally that key regional players such as India appeared committed to “negotiating a settlement” on resolving political disputes that have resulted in the breakdown of political talks and the temporary suspension of the country’s parliament over the last month.

While currently travelling, President’s Office Media Secretary Masood Imad told Minivan News by SMS today that there had been no discussions on any settlement with foreign governments regarding potential commitments it would take following the outcome of the CNI.

The CNI was initially established by President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan to investigate the details of February’s controversial transfer of power.

The Maldivian government said earlier this month that in the interests of not interfering with the work of the CNI, it would not hold any dialogue on the commission’s findings until its report was published.

Former President Mohamed Nasheed this week told local media that talks had been held with “prominent officials” in the respective government’s of Sri Lanka and India about the MDP’s strategy on how to proceed regarding its calls for early elections following the release of the CNI’s findings.

MDP spokesperson Ghafoor said he was unable to add any further details to Nasheed’s comments, claiming the “bigger picture” of ongoing international discussions reflected a mutual commitment to resolve political deadlock through dialogue and commitments to early elections.

He added that through ongoing dialogue with government representatives, its coalition partners, and the country’s political opposition, international opinion now generally favoured the stance taken by the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG).

“CMAG has reached a binding decision that has called for early elections, an independent investigation into the transfer of power and dialogue between national stakeholders” he said. “This is position we are seeing shared between a number of international partners. “

With just over a week until the CNI releases its findings, Ghafoor alleged that parliamentary representatives within President Waheed’s coalition government had not forwarded any potential resolutions to resolve the stalled political process.

“[The president] must remember that there are ten days to try to come to a resolution and their biggest demand so far is to cease protests, a commitment that we have carried out,” he claimed.

Despite the MDP’s claims of ceasing street protests, President’s Office Spokesperson Abbas Adil Riza claimed on Saturday (August 18) that the “harassment” of state officials by opposition party members was continuing.

Abbas told Minivan New that President Waheed was committed to taking part in roadmap talks between government-aligned parties and the MDP to try and overcome the country’s political deadlock, but only when he was confident the opposition had stopped its alleged harassment.

President Waheed also reiterated to local media over the weekend that the government would not discuss any outcome of the CNI until the body concluded its work later this month.

The CNI is scheduled to publish its report by August 29 on the events leading to Dr Waheed assuming the presidency . The report will first be made available to the authorities and to the Prosecutor General (PG). The public will be given access to the findings on August 30.

Abbas stressed that the government was committed to not “intervene” in the inquiry’s work, as it had been set up, and later amended under international pressure, to operate without state interference.

“The outcome will be respected by the country’s various institutions such as the Prosecutor General’s Office, the Human Rights Commission and the Police Integrity Commission,” he said.

Senior representatives from several government-aligned parties were not available for comment when contacted today about their plans following the publication of the CNI report.

Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) leader Ahmed Thasmeen Ali and Deputy Leader Ibrahim Shareef both had their phones switched off at the time of press.

Jumhoree Party (JP) MP Abdulla Jabir said he was presently travelling and would contact Minivan News once he returned.

Meanwhile, Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) Interim Deputy Leader Umar Naseer and MP Ahmed Mahlouf were not answering calls at the time of the press.

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STO puts resort development plans on hold

The State Trading Organisation (STO) has put plans to purchase a resort property on hold, citing “current economic conditions” as a barrier to any potential deal, local media has reported.

Back in June, STO announced its intentions to venture into the Maldives tourism industry, with the company targeting the purchase of “at least three resorts and one hotel” as part of attempts to increase its access to foreign currency.

However, the Sun Online news service yesterday quoted STO Managing Director Shahid Ali in announcing a temporary halt to the company’s resort purchase ambitions.

According to the report, the company remains committed to the ongoing construction of a 5-star hotel on  Hulhumale’ under a contract with USA-based multinational travel company, Carlson Group.

The STO is the Maldives’ state-owned importer, and is the primary supplier of general goods, fuel and pharmaceuticals to the Maldives. It also supplies aviation fuel to Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (INIA).

STO had formerly operated a resort property in the country, before selling it to a private group in 2007. Shahid had told Sun Online this week that the group had been focused on developing the island of Muthaafushi.

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