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Police arrest four including PPM council member for attacking ferry captain

Police have arrested four men including a Council Member of the Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM), Maaz Saleem, over the alleged assault of an airport ferry captain.

According to a police account of the incident in local media, Saleem allegedly instructed the group to attack the ferry captain after accusing him of stealing a bag containing an iPad.

“We have received information that Saleem accused the captain of stealing the bag. He then got off the ferry and returned with a group and assaulted the captain,” a police spokesperson told newspaper Haveeru.

Police eventually took Saleem and his three companions into custody, as well as the injured ferry captain.

PPM MP Ahmed Nihan said the reported arrest of Saleem was a personal matter and was not anything to do with the party.

He said that he had been informed of the arrest at about 12:25am by a party supporter that “something went wrong” outside at the jetty near the Nasandhura Palace Hotel involving a computer or tablet device, but had no further details at time of press.

Nihan added that Saleem had not been directly involved with PPM campaigning since the party’s primary election earlier this year, that saw MP Abdulla Yameen elected as its presidential candidate.

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HRCM investigating three cases of alleged torture in Male’ custodial

The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) has confirmed it is investigating three recent cases of detainees being tortured by Department of Penitentiary and Rehabilitation Services (DPRS) officers while in the Male’ jail.

The HRCM issued a recent press release stating they were “investigating complaints of brutality” towards detainees at the Custodial Reception and Diagnostic Centre (Male’ Jail).

Officials from the HRCM visited Male’ Jail June 2, 2013 after the family of a detainee informed the HRCM on May 31, 2013 that the victim had been beaten by DPRS officers.

“From the investigations that ensued, [the HRCM] found proof that there were two more detainees who sustained injuries while in custody,” read the statement.

“The HRCM is currently investigating the cases, therefore I’m sorry I cannot be more specific, but I cannot comment at the moment,” HRCM Vice President Ahmed Tholal told Minivan News today (July 13).

“The HRCM always considers allegations of human rights violations quite serious issues and is quick to react, [which is] crucial when human rights violations occur, because otherwise there is no point,” explained Tholal.

“In cases involving torture, fresh evidence is needed, additionally the torture could be ongoing and taking immediate action is needed to protect the victim,” he continued.

“There must be some sort of comfort and support to people when things fail,” he added.

In situations where there is the prospect that a large number of people have suffered human rights violations, it is part of the HRCM’s public relations strategy to announce that investigations are occurring, Tholal noted.

“This is both to demonstrate to the public that the commission is acting proactively, as well as to encourage other victims to submit their complaints to the HRCM,” said Tholal.

Tholal explained the basic assumption from which the HRCM functions is that ‘things are going ok’, but if the state fails to protect human rights – in cases of domestic violence, child abuse, health, migrant workers, for people with disabilities – even if the violations are not directly perpetrated by the Maldives’ government, the HRCM will still investigate.

“The HRCM is always accessible, if any sort of human rights violation occurs we urge people to report it,” he added.

Systemic and systematic torture

“It is very, very good, I’m pleased the HRCM has made the decision to go public with their investigations. HRCM needs support from us,” the Maldivian Democracy Network’s Executive Director Humaida ‘Humey’ Abdulghafoor told Minivan News today.

“It is quite worrying that we keep hearing about accounts of torture in custody,” said Humaida. “These recent accounts [the HRCM announced they are investigating] are an indication of the consistence and continuing abuse in custody.”

“There is systemic and systematic abuse of detainees [in the Maldives], therefore the practice of torture is unlikely to just disappear over a short period of time,” she emphasised.

Humaida highlighted the need to address the “complete lack of professional standards” within the DPRS and Maldives Police Service (MPS).

“What is the system of accountability within the MPS? Where are the professional standards and oversight?” she questioned.

“It is an indicator of the total unprofessional behavior by the MPS that there are ongoing allegations of torture. It is most despicable, no agent of the state should be involved in abusing its citizens,” she declared.

Minivan News spoke with a Maldives Police Service Media Official, Sergeant Hussain Siraz, however he was not aware of the current HRCM investigation and was unable provide an official comment to Minivan News.

Meanwhile, Police Spokesperson Chief Inspector Hassan Haneef was not responding to calls at time of press.

Correction: The previous version of this article said Maldives Police Service officers were accused of torturing detainees, however this should have referred to Department of Penitentiary and Rehabilitation Services officers. Minivan News regrets the error.

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Presidential candidate Gasim Ibrahim urges public vigilance over vote buying

Business tycoon and presidential candidate of the government-aligned Jumhoree Party (JP) MP Gasim Ibrahim yesterday (July 12) warned the public to be vigilant against the practice of vote buying during the upcoming election.

Gasim told told supporters at a JP rally on Veymandoo in Thaa Atoll that voters would be selling out not only their country, but also their religion, by taking money to vote for a candidate, according to local media.

“Would we want to sell our country and religion just for a few wads of bills?  Would we want to remain under servitude? Would we want to destroy our development and prosperity? No one has the right to sell our nation,” he was quoted as saying by newspaper Haveeru.

The comments were welcomed today by the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), which said it was encouraging that a leading local business and political figure such as Gasim – who the party accuses of having previously bought votes – was speaking out against the practice.

The opposition party – which continues to allege that its time in government was prematurely ended in a “coup d’etat” on February 7, 2012 – expressed hope that Gasim was being sincere in his criticism of vote buying and would actively oppose such practices.

JP Spokesperson Moosa Ramiz was not responding to calls from Minivan News at time of press, while party President Dr Ibrahim Didi had his phone switched off.

Patronage system

The issue of vote buying has been recognised in NGO Transparency Maldives’ pre-election assessment for September’s scheduled election as a key target for voter education ahead of the polls.

“A crisis of confidence in candidates’ sincerity to deliver on their electoral promises could be one of the main reasons why many people take offers. Almost all the participants in the discussions thought the candidates would not bother about them or their community post-elections, or after winning the elections. ‘They would not even answer their phones’ was a common retort,” Transparency noted in its report.

“There are particularly vulnerable groups of people who are targets of vote buying. Youth groups who are victims of drug addiction, for example, could be offered drugs, money to buy drugs, or drugs at discounted rates, in exchange of their votes. Similarly, the less disadvantaged people, people in need of medical treatment, or the more elderly, seem to be particularly vulnerable to vote buying,” the NGO added.

Transparency Maldives announced earlier this month that it had begun training 42 long-term elections observers to be posted throughout every atoll nationwide to monitor the campaign landscape and misuse of public resources, and ensure elections are fair and credible.

Minivan News has itself previously observed practices of vote buying by affiliates of both opposition and government-aligned parties during a parliamentary by-election held on the island of Kaashidhoo last April between candidates representing the MDP and JP.

“During our two-day visit to Kaashidhoo, we gathered testimonies from islanders which revealed a culture of extensive vote-buying. Instead of winning votes on the strength of their legislative agendas, islanders told us both candidates handed out cash, often in the form of investment in local businesses and financial assistance for medical expenses,” Minivan News reporter Zaheena Rasheed observed at the time.

Opposition concern

MDP spokesperson and MP Hamid Abdul Ghafoor today said that vote buying was a very serious concern in the build up to this year’s presidential election, though he refuted any suggestions that the party would itself have had involvement in the practice – partly citing limited funding.

“The MDP were the first party to come out and say [vote buying] was a major issue and that vote rigging was also going on,” he said. “It is a huge problem for a transitional democracy such as ours.”

Ghafoor added that JP Presidential Candidate Gasim’s criticisms of vote buying – although welcome – were “very bizarre”.

“I hope he is not doing this in a tongue and cheek way while his party continue to buy votes,” he said.

Ghafoor said the MDP had in the past openly accused Gasim of being one of several political figures having involvement in buying votes ahead of democratic polls across the country.

“From our understanding, vote buying works at different levels. On small island for instance, we have heard cases where one individual will be given a budget of MVR 250,000 (US$16,500) to distribute among the public to secure votes for a candidate,” he said.

Ghafoor claimed that since the MDP came to power in 2008, up until the end of former President’s Nasheed’s time in office in 2012, various social protection measures introduced – such as universal healthcare – had made vote buying more expensive and difficult for political figures.

From the party’s own perspective, the MDP said it had conceived a voter protection model where it requested its “grass roots” support to nominate an individual to manage concerns and complaints over any alleged vote buying.

Aside from external monitoring being conducted by NGOs, Ghafoor said that all parties would need similar methods of vigilance to publicise any cases of vote buying should it occur when voting begins for the Maldives’ next president.

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Maldives, India and Sri Lanka agree to increased maritime security collaboration

The second Trilateral Cooperation on Maritime Security meeting between India, the Maldives and Sri Lanka concluded this week with an agreement for greater collaboration and information sharing among their respective naval forces in the Indian Ocean.

The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has said that an agreement had been reached during the meeting for Indian and Sri Lankan naval forces to assist the Maldives with search and rescue efforts, as well as dealing with issues such as marine oil pollution.

The meeting, which concluded Tuesday (July 9) was attended by Maldives Defence Minister Mohamed Nazim, Sri Lanka’s Minister of Defence and Urban Development Gotabaya Rajapaksa and India’s National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon.

The first Trilateral Cooperation on Maritime Security meeting was held in the Maldives in 2011, although the MNDF has said that technical meetings have since been held in all three countries.

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Jumhoree Party holds second national conference

Bussiness tycoon and resort owner Gasim Ibrahim’s Jumhoree Party (JP) is holding its second national conference on Wednesday evening at the Dharubaaruge convention centre in Male. According to the party, the national conference will see to the amendments proposed to the charter as well as appoint the party’s leadership.

The Jumhoree Party is currently a part of President Mohamed Waheed Hassan’s government, however the party is currently fielding its own candidate, leader and resort tycoon Gasim Ibrahim, in the upcoming presidential elections.

According to local media outlet Sun Online, the party’s national conference will be attended by 399 delegates from 35 party branches.

Speaking at the inauguration ahead of the conference, chairperson former Transport Minister Dr Ahmed Shamheed said the party was unable to register newly joined party members at the elections commission, so therefore delegates from an additional 250 branches were unable to attend the conference.

The conference will conclude with the election of the party’s leader and three deputy leaders. Incumbent Party Leader Gasim Ibrahim is the sole contender for the party leadership, while six candidates are contesting for the three deputy leader slots.

The candidates include Party Preisdent Dr Ibrahim Didi, current deputy leaders Dr Hussain Rasheed Hassan and Transport Minister Ameen Ibrahim, MP Ilham Ahmed, Party’s Youth Wing leader Moosa Anwar and Abdulla Amaan.

Local media also reported that three others were also initially in the race, however had withdrawn their names. Those who withdrew included current Party Spokesperson Moosa Rameez, and council members Fuad Gasim and Ali Hameed.

Addressing the delegates, JP leader Gasim Ibrahim said the current constitution, the country’s largest political party – the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) – and the country’s first free and fair presidential election were all the result of his hard work towards reforming the country.

Gasim claimed that it was his support and backing that led to the beginning of the first reform movement in 1980. He further said that he had worked with several notable individuals in the country to bring the needed democratic reform to the country, some of whom were now in the MDP’s leadership.

“The fruit that bore from the journey for reform that I began with these individuals is the current constitution. The green constitution that built a proper democratic political culture in this country. The second fruit that bore was the country’s largest political party MDP. The third, is the first multi party presidential election and its result,” Gasim said.

The resort owner said that despite his efforts, the people could neither bring the development or the democracy they really wanted in the country.

“Therefore, continuing my work for reform which I began for the sake of my children, is a religious and a national responsibility on my shoulders,” said the resort tycoon.

He further added predicted that the Jumhoree Party would win the presidential elections and said during his presidency he would steer the country towards prosperity and development.

According to the Jumhoree Party’s website, 36 out of 37 amendments proposed to the party charter were unanimously passed during the conference. The amendments included changes brought to party’s official acronym and changes to party positions.

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JSC investigating more videos of Supreme Court judge

A committee appointed by the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) to investigate a leaked sex video of Supreme Court Judge Ali Hameed are reviewing two additional videos, local media has reported.

In addition to a video in which an individual believed to be judge Hameed has sex with a unidentified foreign woman, the JSC is reportedly investigating videos of Hameed discussing political corruption of the judiciary with a local businessman, and a meeting with former immigration controller Ilyas Hussain Ibrahim. Both have been circulating on social media.

The home of the businessman in the second video, owner of Golden Lane Mohamed Saeed, was recently searched by police.

Police also last week summoned Hameed for questioning over his alleged appearance in the sex tape. The judge is continuing to hear cases, unlike High Court Judge Ahmed Shareef who was recently suspended by the JSC as a “precautionary measure” following non-specific complaints filed by other judges. Shareef was one of the judges hearing a high-profile case concerning former President Mohamed Nasheed.

The motion to suspend Shareef was proposed by then Attorney General Bisham, who subsequently failed to receive parliamentary consent for her appointment.

According to Maldivian law, the crime of fornication is subject to 100 lashes and banishment or house arrest for a period of eight months.

The courts regularly issue this sentence, overwhelmingly to women found guilty of extramarital sex, such as a 15 year-old victim of rape who was sentenced in February after reportedly confessing to an instance of consensual sex.

Sentences are carried out in front of the justice building, next door to the Supreme Court and President Mohamed Waheed’s residence.

Police are also investigating senior Council Member of President Waheed’s Gaumee Ihthihaad Party (GIP) and former Project Advisor at the Housing Ministry, Ahmed Faiz, in connection with leaked sex tape. He has since been sacked from both posts.

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President Waheed holds talks with Saudia Arabian Crown Prince

President Dr Mohamed Waheed met with Saudia Arabia’s Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on Thursday (July 11) as part of an official visit to the country.

The visit will also  coincide with the president performing an Umra pilgrimage.

During his meeting with the crown prince, which was also attended by Saudi Arabian Minister of Finance Dr Ibrahim Abdul Aziz Al-Assaf, President Waheed discussed strengthening bilateral ties between the two nations.

Dr Waheed also provided an update on the current economic and political situation within the Maldives, according to the President’s Office website.

President Waheed’s visit to Saudi Arabia follows reports that his predecessor, former President Mohamed Nasheed, had this week had his own request to perform Umra rejected by Saudi authorities.

Local media in the Maldives reported that Nasheed was denied a visa by the Saudi Arabian government, however former Foreign Minister Ahmed Naseem, who  was with the former president at the time, refuted the claims as inaccurate.

“I’ve been in constant touch with Saudi [Arabian government] Royal Protocol officials and Nasheed’s visa has not been rejected. They have not said anything like that,” the former Foreign Minister told Minivan News Wednesday (July 10).

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MNDF assists with relocation of Maafilaafushi island residents

The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has today continued with efforts to relocate families on the island of Maafilaafushi in Lhaviyani Atoll, local media has reported.

MNDF officers began assisting with the transfer of families to the island of Naifaru yesterday (July 10) at the request of Lhaviyani Atoll Council.

MNDF officials have told Sun Online that the ongoing transfer of the estimated 80 people living on Maafilaafushi was expected to continue on Saturday (July 13).  The military also thanked islanders for their cooperation.

Local media has reported that the decision to transfer residents to nearby islands in Lhaviyani Atoll had been taken after the government declared Maafilaafushi an inhabited island.

The office of Lhaviyani Atoll Council and MNDF Media Officer Captain Abdulla Ali were not responding to calls from Minivan News at time of press.

In 2011, the former government began discussions on transferring the population of Maafilaafushi – then estimated at around 100 residents – to other islands.

Local Newspaper Haveeru reported at the time that residents on Maafilaafushi, which was used by the MNDF for training, had demanded to be relocated due to military exercises conducted on the island.

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Civil Court halts judicial watchdog from taking further action against High Court Chief Judge

Civil Court on Thursday issued an injunction ordering the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) not to take any action against the suspended Chief Judge of High Court Ahmed Shareef, until it decides on the legality of his suspension.

The injunction comes the same day the Civil Court cancelled a hearing of the lawsuit filed against the JSC by the suspended chief judge, after the JSC claimed it could not “print a statement” that was to be presented to court due to an “IT failure”.

The Chief Judge of the High Court was “indefinitely suspended” by the JSC shortly after the High Court cancelled a hearing of the appeal case filed by former President Mohamed Nasheed.

The hearing of Nasheed’s case was scheduled to decide on procedural issues raised by the JSC contending that the High Court did not have the jurisdiction to hear the case, which involved the legitimacy of a panel of judges appointed by the commission to preside over the former president’s trial at the Hulhumale’ Magistrate Court.

The JSC however, in a press conference denied any connection with the case but claimed that Shareef’s suspension was regarding a complaint filed against the judge over a year ago.

The Chair of the JSC, Supreme Court Justice Adam Mohamed, was quick to give his reasoning of the suspension, contending that it was a “precautionary” measure while investigation of the complaint was proceeding.

Following the decision, Judge Shareef subsequently challenged the JSC’ decision in Civil Court claiming that the decision contrasted the existing laws and had undermined the independence that a Judge require in executing his legal duties. He had also, through the lawsuit, requested the Court to issue an injunction halting his suspension.

Shareef is represented by veteran lawyer and former Attorney General Husnu al Suood and his law firm Suood Anwar & Co.

The Civil Court Judge Hathif Hilmy dismissed the case after Shareef and his legal team failed to appear before the court on time. However, Shareef’s lawyers again re-filed the case on the same day.

Had it not been cancelled, the JSC was expected to respond to the lawsuit on Thursday’s hearings, but lawyers representing the JSC told the court that commission’s intranet network crashed and therefore they were not able to print the statements which they planned to present to the court.

When the presiding judge proposed to delay the hearings for a later time in the evening, the lawyers claimed the problem could not be fixed within the day.

Responding to the claim, Shareef’s lawyer Suood argued at the court that JSC could have easily printed the statement from another printing shop using a flash drive.

However the JSC lawyers told the court that it would not be able to present the statements the same day even if the printing was done externally.

Following the claim, the presiding judge cancelled the hearing without scheduling a future hearing.

Despite the JSC’s suspension of Judge Shareef following the High Court case regarding Nasheed, the commission is yet to take a similar “precautionary action” against Supreme Court Justice Ali Hameed – who appeared in a leaked video indulging in adultery with a with foreign women that is now circulation on social media networks.

Hameed’s sex tape came into media limelight after the arrest of Ahmed Faiz on charges of blackmail – a senior Council Member of President Waheed’s Gaumee Ihthihaad Party (GIP) and former Project Advisor at the Housing Ministry.

A police investigation is already proceeding and Hameed was also summoned for questioning. In the meantime, the JSC itself formed a five member committee to look into the matter which includes JSC Vice Chair Abdulla Didi, commission members Latheefa Gasim, Ahmed Rasheed and two outside lawyers.

Senior figures of the state including President Mohamed Waheed have expressed “sadness” over the incident with the president noting that should the video be authentic, it raises “serious questions”.

However, JSC is yet to take any action against the Supreme Court Justice, who continues to preside over Supreme Court cases even for a precautionary measure.

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