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MPs planning no-confidence motion against finance minister

A group of MPs have announced they intend to put a no-confidence motion against Finance Minister Ali Hashim before parliament.

Independent MP Mohamed Nasheed claimed Hashim’s conduct in his role as minister had on several occasions been “against the law.”

”It’s not only the issue of civil servants salary, he has done many things against the law,” he claimed.

Nasheed has previously said he would pursue a no-confidence motion against Hashim after the finance minister failed to appear before a parliamentary committee investigating the ministry’s treatment of the independent commissions.

“He left the country,” noted Nasheed at the time, adding when the committee requested State Finance Minister Ahmed Assad appear in Hashim’s stead, the ministry sent two junior officers.

“If he doesn’t appear, we’ll make a report to parliament questioning his confidence,” Nasheed warned. “He’s being irresponsible and it’s so unnecessary and uncalled for.”

Today, Nasheed said that the group of MPs had almost finished the necessary documentation “and I will be the first to sign the petition.”

He said he did not yet want to reveal the details of what the petition contains.

Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party DRP MP Ahmed Ilham said he supported the no-confidence motion against the finance minister.

”He bought shares in the Maldives Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC) [without the knowledge of parliament], he is paying salaries to province councillor when they have yet to be approved – these things are against the law,” Ilham claimed.

Former president of Islamic Democratic Party (IDP) Umar Naseer and candidate for the vice-presidency of the DRP said motion was overdue, and accused Hashim “of being unable to read and write.”

MDP MP Moosa ‘Reeko’ Manik said he preferred not comment on the issue before the petition was presented to the parliament.

MDP Spokesman Ahmed Haleem said parliament had failed the last time it tried to press a no-confidence vote (against Foreign Minister Dr Ahmed Shaheed), “and I do not think they can do it this time either.”

He accused Nasheed of trying to make the no-confidence vote to gain support from DRP.

”At first we hoped Nasheed would be a very beneficial man for the country and would do a lot of good, but now I see he does so many things against democracy,” Haleem said.

Minivan News sought response from the finance ministry on several occasions but received no response at time of press.

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Man burnt in gas explosion

A elderly man suffered burns to 90 per cent of his body after a gas leak ignited in Raa Maduvvari.

The incident occurred yesterday at 2:30pm when he was about to cook. He was taken to the intensive care unit Raa Ungoofaar regional hospital.

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Government pledges to investigate attack on 3 November 1988

The President’s Office has pledged to investigate the attack on 3 November 1988 and “find the real organisers” behind the attempted coup.

It is now believed that the two men convicted, Abdulla Luthfee and Ahmed Nasir, were not key figures in the attack, reports Miadhu.

The two men were placed under house arrest last year, but there have been recent reports of Nasir being seen in Malé.

President’s office Press Secretary Mohamed Zuhair told Haveeru that the men are to put be under house arrest and the Ministry of Home Affairs has been notified.

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Ferry and speedboat collide near Funadhoo

A speedboat travelling to Hulhulé from Rannaalhi Resort collided with a Hulumalé ferry yesterday around noon.

ADK Hospital reported nine injuries, including three children. Five passengers were injured seriously, Miadhu reports.

An eye witness saw the speedboat being kept afloat near Funadhoo by emergency inflation devices.

The ferry was taken back to Malé ferry terminal. “There was a shattered window and the railing was broken,” said the witness.

Water regulations prohibit speedboats travelling at full speed near Malé. It is likely that these precautions were not taken into account. The regulations make it highly improbable for a serious accident like this to occur.

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Maldivian detainees repatriated from Pakistan

Four Maldivian nationals imprisoned by the Pakistani government for alleged militant activities have been repatriated to the Maldives and released to their families.

They join another five who were returned to the Maldives last week and also released. The government confirmed that one of the men had stood trial in the Maldives after being accused of involvement in the Sultan Park bombing, but noted that the case had been dropped.

The president’s press secretary Mohamed Zuhair said the Pakistani government had returned the men, who were picked up during a military raid on several armed groups, with no information on charges against them or conditions on their imprisonment, making them innocent under Maldivian law.

“Our information suggests there were originally 12 [Maldivians] but three died while they were being transported between facilities,” Zuhair said, adding that reports the men had been carrying firearms at the time of their arrest were conflicting.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Shaheed said the nine men had not been formally charged, and stressed that “the types of activities they are alleged to have been involved in, while illegal, do not necessarily fall under terrorism.”

Shaheed said the Maldives Police Service had determined that “the best thing to do was to release them to their families and put them under surveillance”, while their activities abroad were investigated. “There are a lot of stories about the nature of what they were doing. If we release anybody, it is because our laws require them to be released,” he said.

The home minister had travelled to Pakistan to investigate the matter, he said, emphasising that the role of foreign ministry was to “repatriate Maldivians when it is in the national interest to do so” and not “to mix that up with judgements of character”.

Shaheed noted that the Maldives does have an arrangement with Pakistan regarding prisoner exchange, particularly regarding the repatriation of Pakistani nationals currently serving time in the Maldives, but stressed that this arrangement “is unrelated to this case [of the nine Maldivians].”

He took exception to stories published today that the government was “releasing jihadists”, acknowledging that such allegations “will hurt the national brand upon which our economy depends.”

“People should not use the term jiahdist lightly,” he said. “To some it means people who mean harm, to others it means someone pious on the path to Heaven. People need to be careful what they are saying.”

Shaheed also expressed concern that the Maldives was last week described as a “safe haven” by Taliban-linked resistance fighters, who recently visited the Maldives to meet with members of the Afghan government.

“We are a soverign country and if we hear of a government [coming to the Maldives] to be involved in talks we expect them to tell us,” he said, suggesting that the country’s safety and reputation could be undermined by such “political gaming.”

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Indian MP Rahul Gandhi arrives in Malé today

Indian MP Rahul Gandhi arrived in Malé International Airport this afternoon. He was met by President Nasheed, Vice President Dr Mohamed Waheed and other members of government.

After his arrival, the President received him in his office were they discussed the developmental cooperation between the two countries, and what areas of trade and cooperation could be improved. Rahul assured India’s investment in the Maldives will continue.

Both President Nasheed and MP Rahul agreed that continued cooperation and friendship between the countries was essential to both nations. The President also mentioned that Rahul’s visit to the Maldives would boost relations between the neighbouring countries.

Rahul’s visit follows the recent agreement between the Maldives and India to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) regarding counter-terrorism. The MoU is to be signed in April 2010.

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Fire in Vilu Reef Resort’s diving school

A fire was reported at Vilu Reef Resort yesterday at 3:00pm.

The fire started in the resort’s diving school and spread to the restaurant, damaging both areas.

A fire-fighting team from the nearby Angsana Velavaru resort assisted in controlling the fire.

Police added that no one was injured in the incident.

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New ambassador of Myanmar meets with President Nasheed

The new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Union of Myanmar to the Maldives, U Ohn Thwin, met with President Nasheed yesterday.

Thwin, former ambassador to Sri Lanka, was appointed to the Republic of the Maldives in late 2009.

President Nasheed and Ambassador Thwin discussed strengthening trade, as well as other areas of cooperation, between the two countries.

President Nasheed also mentioned his hope that Aung San Suu Kyi—a Burmese political activist who has been imprisoned for over a decade for her attempts to bring down the military regime in her country—would be released soon.

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