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Cabinet to discuss request to rename Thinadhoo next week

The cabinet will discuss a request by the council of Thinadhoo in Gaaf Dhaal Atoll to rename the island ‘Havaru Thinadhoo’ at its meeting next week, Press Secretary Mohamed Zuhair confirmed today.

Zuhair said that legal advice has been sought following the request and that the cabinet will make a decision at its next meeting on Tuesday, August 3.

Speaking to Minivan News today, Thinadhoo Council Chair Ahmed Naseer said that the council sent a letter requesting the name change to President Mohamed Nasheed because “a lot of citizens asked it of us.”

“For hundreds of years the island was called Havaru Thinadhoo,” he explained. “And when the name was changed by former President Maumoon [Abdul Gayoom] in 1979, no reason was given for that decision and it was not requested by the people of Thinadhoo, either.”

Contrary to popular belief, said Naseer, Thinadhoo did not earn the title ‘Havaru’ for its its part in the short-lived secession of three southern atolls and subsequent depopulation by Prime Minister Ibrahim Nasir on February 4, 1962.

The term ‘Havaru’ originally referred to the six divisions or companies of the public of Male’, which functioned as militia or army units. The word has since earned the connotation of ‘mob.’

In the late 16th century, Sultan Mohamed Thakurufaanu sent the six militias or the ‘Havaru’ to recapture Thinadhoo upon learning that the islanders had re-converted to Buddhism.

Following their victory, the island was endowed to the six companies, which continued to exact an annual tax from islanders until the practice was abolished by Ibrahim Nasir when he became Prime Minister.

Thinadhoo MP Mohamed Gasam of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) meanwhile suggested that the “best way to decide the name change” would be through a public referendum.

“Some people in Thinadhoo want the name to be changed but others want it to stay the same,” he said. “There is some disagreement about this. We should find out what the people want.”

Councillor Naseer said that he had “no problem” with a referendum, but suggested that an election would be a costly affair.

“I think that even if there is an election [the name change proposition] is very likely to get passed,” said Naseer, who is also a member of the ruling party.

In the local council elections in February, the MDP made a clean sweep of the seven-seat Thinadhoo council.

Ibrahim Nasir International Airport

Thinadhoo Council Chair Naseer however insisted that the council’s request had “no connection whatsoever” to the announcement last week that the Male’ International Airport would be renamed ‘Ibrahim Nasir International Airport’ on Independence Day (July 26) in honour of the former President.

“We had been thinking about sending the letter [requesting the name change] for some time now, long before that announcement” he said, adding that the timing of the council’s letter was a “coincidence.”

MP Gasam meanwhile suggested that the council might have made the request last week as Independence Day would be an auspicious date for the change.

Naseer stressed that the letter to President Nasheed only sought legal advice as well as his opinion: “We would have no problem if the cabinet decided that changing the name would not be the right thing to do,” he said.

Asked about the renaming of the airport due to take place tomorrow, Naseer speculated that “no one who is from Thinadhoo” would support the change as the former President had ordered the “brutal destruction of the island” in 1962.

Meanwhile as the country prepares to celebrate its 46th Independence Day tomorrow – secured by Nasir on July 26, 1965 – local media reports that the former President’s eldest son, Ahmed Nasir, filed a case at the Supreme Court yesterday, appealing a High Court ruling in 1986 to confiscate the property and estates of his father.

The High Court at the time found that Nasir had misappropriated state funds and decided that his property and estates could be sold by the state to recoup the allegedly stolen money.

After resigning in 1978, Nasir moved to Singapore, where he passed away on November 22, 2008, just weeks after his successor Maumoon Abdul Gayoom was ousted in the country’s first multi-party election.

Nasir’s lawyer, “Gnaviyani” Ali Shareef Ibrahim, told Sun Online yesterday that neither the judicial system under Gayoom nor the prevailing political environment 25 years ago made such an appeal possible.

Under the old constitution, which did not feature separation of powers or independent institutions, the President was both head of state and supreme authority on justice, with the power to overrule verdicts and dismiss judges.

The Supreme Court of the Maldives was established in September 2008 following ratification of the new constitution on August 7, 2008.

Shareef explained that Nasir was sentenced in absentia while angry mobs, including school children, were protesting on the streets.

The Nasir family lawyer also alleged in comments made to newspaper Haveeru today that the new administration of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom began selling Nasir’s property before the High Court verdict on January 30, 1986.

“[Proceeds of the sales] were deposited at Nasir’s SBI [State Bank of India] account, which was frozen by the government,” he said. “When the verdict was delivered, they took all the money out.”

Shareef revealed that the appeal was lodged at the Supreme Court in May as regulations gave the highest court of appeal the discretion to hear such cases in spite of the length of time between the original verdict and the appeal.

The elderly lawyer claimed that the previous administration vilified Nasir by “spreading lies to make him out to be an enemy of the country, a mercenary, a corrupt person.”

“The state media was constantly mocking President Nasir and showing all sorts of cartoons of him,” he said. “[Nasir] did not return at the time because he feared for his life.”

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Maldives to celebrate Independence Day

The Maldives celebrates the 46th anniversary of the country’s independence from Britain tomorrow, July 26.

At 6:30am a special flag hoisting ceremony at the Republic Square is scheduled to start the events of the day.

At 10:00am a special ceremony is to be held Dharubaaruge where the President will award National Exemplary Service Medals and National Service Medals in recognition of recipients who made important contributions to the state and the people of the Maldives.

The President has decided to award the National Exemplary Service Medal to eight individuals and the National Service Medal to six people, according to the President’s Office.

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Taxing property is “haram” in Islam, claims Salaf NGO

Religious NGO Jamiyyathul Salaf has claimed that imposing taxes on a Muslim’s property without his or her consent is haram (forbidden) in Islam.

“Without doubt, using a person’s property or profiting from the property without the consent of the owner is haram in Islam,” the NGO said today in a press release. “Only the compulsory Zakat (alms for the poor) portion can be taxed from a Muslim’s property.”

Salaf cited Surah 2:188: “And do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly or send it [in bribery] to the rulers in order that [they might aid] you [to] consume a portion of the wealth of the people in sin, while you know [it is unlawful].’’

In addition, the Salaf press statement referred to Prophet Mohamed’s (pbuh) final sermon, in which he said, “O People, just as you regard this month, this day, this city as Sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust.  Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners.”

Salaf noted that Islam protected personal property “to an extent that is not found in any other religion.”

The religious NGO contended that “formulating a law and taking people’s property whatever name it is done under is for a certainty haram.”

“Jamiyyathul Salaf would remind the Speaker of Parliament and all MPs that those who formulate such laws and those who assist them will without a doubt have to bear responsibility before Almighty Allah,” the Salaf statement warned.

It adds that there is consensus in the Islamic ummah (community) that “stealing property by compulsion with laws on taxes, duties and pension imposed on a Muslim’s property is definitely haram.”

Salaf warned that those who claimed personal property “for entertainment or as a sport” would face their old age with “no one to care for them.”

If the state believed that there was no other way to manage its finances but to “take taxes and duties from the halal income of Muslim citizens,” Salaf said that it implied “corruption and a failed economic policy” and was the sign of “a philosophy of enslavement.”

Press Secretary for the President Mohamed Zuhair observed that there were many civilised Muslim nations that had introduced direct taxation as well as import duties.

“Salaf should refer to the parliament on this issue, because the parliament cannot make any law against the tenets of Islam,” Zuhair suggested. “I believe that parliamentarians will keep to the tenets of Islam in drafting any law.”

Zuhair added that as Islam was the most modern of the three monotheistic religions, he did not believe taxation could be haram.

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Alidhoo Resort sacks 12 staff members following strike over unpaid salaries

The Tourism Employees Association of Maldives (TEAM) has condemned a decision made by Alidhoo Resort to sack 12 staff members following a strike over unpaid salaries held last week.

On Thursday July 21 Maldivian staff working at the resort in Haa Alifu Atoll declared themselves on strike claiming that the management of the resort had not paid them salary for the previous month.

“It is almost the end of this month and Ramadan is coming up – we have to send money to our families back on the islands and we are really broke,” a staff member working in the resort told Minivan News at the time.

He claimed allowances of the staffs working in the resort had not been paid for the last three months, including service charge and overtime. He further claimed that expatriates working on the island had not received their salaries for three months, but feared for their jobs if they joined the strike action.

The management first told staff that the payments were delayed because the chairman of the company was not in the Maldives, he claimed.

“When he came back, they said the banks were not giving money to the resorts – how can we believe them now?” the staff member said.

The resort’s management dismissed 12 employees following the strike.

Alidhoo’s Human Resources Manager Ali Naseer told Minivan News that he did not have any information that a strike was conducted on the island.

“Many staffs have been dismissed over different issues, issues perhaps concerning their performance,” he said.

Vice President of TEAM, Mauroof Zakir, said the worker’s organisation condemned the management’s decision.

“On many occasions in many tourist resorts, staff have been dismissed after they strike for their rights,” Mauroof said.

He said he had information that police arrived on Alidhoo resort at midnight on the day of the strike, and escorted the dismissed members of staff off the island.

“We will hold a meeting very soon following this incident,” Mauroof said.

Alidhoo Resort is operated by the Maldivian company Yachttours, owned by local businessman Abdulla Jabir who is currently running as a candidate for Chairperson of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

Minivan News contacted Jabir for comment but was told “don’t ever call me about this again.”

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Civil Court rules banning private vehicles for uncertified roadworthiness is illegal

The Civil Court ruled last week that only vehicles used at construction sites and for public transport could be banned from use by the Maldives Transport Authority for expired or uncertified roadworthiness.

The judgment was delivered in a case filed by lawyer Idhuham Muiz contesting the legality of the Maldives Transport Authority – under the remit of the Transport Ministry – banning privately-owned vehicles for not being certified for roadworthiness within a set period after registration or expiration.

Muiz argued that the transport authority’s actions violated the Land Vehicles Act of 2009, which specified that banning vehicles for failing to meet driving safety standards applied only to those used at construction sites and for public transport.

“As these purposes are expressed in the law, use of registered or newly registered vehicles with roadworthiness either expired or uncertified within the period set by the [transport authority] could only be banned for these two purposes,” the Civil Court judgment reads.

Judge Mariyam Nihiyath ruled that owners of vehicles banned by the authority should be compensated.

Former Attorney General Husnu Suood meanwhile told Sun Online that police could no longer fine owners for driving vehicles with uncertified roadworthiness.

Moreover, individuals on whom the now-illegal fines were imposed could sue for compensation.

Owners found to be driving vehicles with either expired or no roadworthiness certificates are fined and have their licenses withheld by police.

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Z-DRP launch blood donation drive

The opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party’s (DRP) Zaeem-faction launched a blood donation drive dubbed “DRP’s blue blood for the nation” yesterday as part of celebratory activities to mark the party’s sixth anniversary.

The Z-faction’s spokesperson Mohamed “Mundhu” Hussein Shareef told newspaper Haveeru that a large number of people, including politicians and MPs, have participated in the programme.

The programme was undertaken by the party’s Youth Wing, led by Gassan Maumoon, in collaboration with the Maldives Blood Transfusion Service (MBTS) and is taking place at the NGO’s office building.

Mundhu added that over 200 people had registered to participate so far.

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Police release resort staff arrested for premarital sex

Police have released a 36 year-old Maldivian man and 33 year-old Thai woman from custody, after they were arrested last week on charges of premarital sex.

Police Sub-Inspector Ahmed Shiyam said the two resort staff were released because police had concluded their investigation and there was no reason to hold them in detention.

‘’We discussed the matter with the Prosecutor General and we were advised to release them from detention as the investigation was concluded,’’ Shiyam said. ‘’There were no other charges to place against them.’’

Both individuals were staff members working at Herethera Resort in Addu Atoll.

”They were not arrested while they were on Herethera Resort, but while they were on an island in Addu Atoll,’’ police said.

Local media reported that an islander alerted police that the couple were having premarital sex, and when police officers attended the scene they were found to be involved in sexual activity and were arrested.

An islander told newspaper Haveeru that the individuals were involved in a relationship and used to frequently visit the house they were arrested inside.

Under the 1968 Penal Code the penalty for premarital sex is 100 lashes. An updated Penal Code was sent to parliamentary committee May 18, 2010, where it remains.

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ACC highlights irregularities in finances of Maldives Entertainment Company

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has released findings of an investigation into the finances of the Maldives Entertainment Company Ltd (MECL), highlighting discrepancies and irregularities in the company’s financial records.

According to a press statement by the ACC on Thursday, the investigation of the 100 percent state-owned corporation was prompted by numerous complaints regarding its expenses, inventory and high salaries of board members.

“Even though records of expenditure were kept, the figures in the records and the actual amount withdrawn from the [corporation’s] bank account differs,” the ACC findings noted.

“While company records show that Rf676,262.95 (US$43,800) was spent, the bank account showed that Rf807,703.95 (US$52,300) was withdrawn for expenses. Therefore, Rf134,470 was withdrawn from the bank without any record [of how the money was spent].”

Discrepancies in income statements meanwhile revealed that Rf524,121 (US$33,900) worth of income was not entered into QuickBooks (accounting software) records.

Moreover, as a result of the corporation’s spending exceeding its revenue, MECL currently has outstanding debts amounting to Rf122,178.98 (US$7,900), owed to various parties for purchases and services.

“As a result of incomplete documentation and failure to properly maintain records of the company’s expenses and revenue, the legitimacy of the details of expenditure and revenue cannot be guaranteed,” the ACC findings noted.

Moreover, there was no record of the income generated or expenses incurred for a Boney M concert last year.

In addition, a list of assets transferred to the corporation upon its formation were not registered in its inventory.

The ACC findings noted that board members were paid salaries “disproportionate to the income [the corporation] generates through its limited resources.”

“While Rf1 million (US$64,850) was provided by the Finance Ministry in four installments as MECL’s capital and Rf250,000 was received for each installment, instead of spending the money for the company’s other expenses, the bulk of it was spent on salaries for board members,” the ACC found.

However the ACC discovered that among the board members only the Managing Director of the board was being paid a monthly salary at present, “[but] the company’s staff are being paid monthly salaries with no records of attendance.”

The ACC has informed the Finance Ministry as well as the corporation’s board to take remedial measures in connection with the findings.

The press statement however added that the ACC was continuing its inquiries as it had “noted matters that have to be further investigated.”

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Shahum and Shimaz appear in court, deny murdering Ahusan

Ibrahim Shahum Adam and Hassan Shimaz Mohamed Suad have denied in court charges that they murdered 21 year-old Ahusan Basheer in March, reports Haveeru.

The prosecution alleged that pair stabbed Ahusan near the junction of Majeedhee Magu and Alikileygefaanu Magu on March 17 at 3:20am. He later died during treatment at Indira Gandhi Memorail Hospital (IGMH).

Shahum and Shimaz were given 10 days by the judge to appoint the services of a lawyer, on their request. The judge said the court would consider the prosecution’s request to keep the men in custody until a verdict was reached.

Haveeru alleged that on conclusion of proceedings Shahum threatened a journalist, and warned the reporter not to publish a story.

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