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Maldives out of AFC Challenge Cup after loss to Palestine

The Maldives national team were yesterday knocked out of the Asian Football Confederation’s Challenge Cup after a 2-0 loss to Palestine.

The Maldives entered the game still capable of qualifying from their group but were forced to rely on the heroics of goalkeeper Imran Mohamed to keep out the Palestinian team in the first half.

The deadlock was broken on 58 minutes when Palestine’s Wadi headed his team into the lead.

With the Maldives pushing for an equaliser, Palestine broke against the run of play to make it two nil in the 88th minute, confirming the Maldives’ exit from the tournament.

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Iranian President congratulates Dr Waheed on “winning presidential elections”

Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sent congratulations to Maldives President Mohamed Waheed on Monday for winning presidential elections, reports Iran’s president’s office website.

Waheed, former VP, was sworn in on February 7, after President Mohamed Nasheed resigned in what he later alleged was a bloodless coup d’état.

President Ahmadinejad wished Waheed success, and expressed hope that Iran-Maldives would witness expansion of justice “based on ideality, end of unilateralism in the world and promotion of friendly relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Maldives.”

President Ahmadinejad wished progress to the people of Maldives.

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President Waheed appoints fisheries minister, eight state ministers

President Dr Mohamed Waheed appointed Ahmed Shafeeu as Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture. Shafeeu was formerly Director General at the Education Ministry.

The appointment of Shafeeu fills the last post in Dr Waheed’s cabinet.

Dr Waheed also appointed eight state ministers, including Hussain Maniku Dhon Maniku (Home Affairs), retired Deputy Commissioner of Police Mohamed Fayaz (Home Affairs), December 23 protest organiser and spokesperson Abdulla Mohamed (Home Affairs), Ali Shareef Mohamed (Health and Family), Dr Aishath Rameela (Health and Family), Hassan Saeed Hussain (Foreign Affairs), Abdulla Ziyad (Housing and Environment), and Abdul Matheen Mohamed (Housing and Environment).

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Government shuts down ‘Second Chance’ program for inmate rehabilitation

Home Minister Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed announced that the government intends to shut down the Second Chance Program, alleging that the former administration had used the program “to release unqualified criminals under political influence and without any clear procedure “.

Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, the Home Minister alleged the program was politically influenced and claimed that it was set up in violation of the parole system and the Maldivian laws.

He claimed that several inmates who did not qualify for social re-integration were released during the program based on a list approved by then-President Office.

The “uncontrolled release of criminals” over the recent years had threatened the public safety, Jameel further alleged.

“The [incarcerated] criminals have been released without any control in the past days to a level public safety has been threatened. Those criminals were released by sidelining the Maldivian laws,” Jameel claimed.

According to him, a total of 1879 criminals were incarcerated for various offenses during Nasheed’s term, but only 621 are currently remaining in prisons while 1258 have been released with no clear procedure.

Therefore, he said that the program will be shut down and all its responsibilities will be tasked to the Parole Board and Clemency Board, which will be re-formed in the coming week.

However, both boards have been criticised over the years for being “slow and ineffective”.

“All hope lost”

In an interview to Minivan News following the government’s announcement to shut down the program, former Manager of the Second Chance initiative, Aishath Rasheed said that the Parole and Clemency board “does not have the technical expertise to continue the program”.

“I was a member of the parole board. Both boards exist as mere names. Some members do go for the meetings but have to go back home because the meetings cannot be held due to lack of quorum,” Rasheed said. “Because of the lack of attendance, the efforts to reintegrate the  inmates back into the society were severely delayed”.

She highlighted that a majority of the prison population were young people incarcerated for small drug offences and that the “long jail terms were destroying their lives”.

Therefore she explained that the Second Chance Program was set up by the deposed President Mohamed Nasheed in September 2011 to expedite the re-integration of former inmates incarcerated for drug offences back into the society.

According to the UNDP report, “Prison Assessment and Proposed Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Offenders Report“, published last year, 66 percent of all prisoners in the Maldives at the time of report were in jail for drug use or possession, often small quantities, while the majority were males under 30 years of age with education below O-levels.

“With the inception of the program a second opportunity was given to the young inmates by providing employment assistance, counselling for substance abuse, mentoring and other services to help to reduce recidivism,” Rasheed said.

“But with the shutting down of the program that opportunity is lost now. Those inmates and their parents had high hopes. But all hope is lost now,” said Rasheed, who was also a member at the parole board.

She further noted that several parents of inmates have called her up since she was dismissed from the position.

“We had finished training 50 inmates and they were ready to be released when this happened. Their parents are now calling up to ask me what will happen to them. I don’t have an answer to that,” she said.

She requested the government continue the second chance program, insisting that the program was “politics free”.

“There was absolutely no politics. Nobody instructed us on whom to release,” added Rasheed.

All 439 inmates released were thoroughly evaluated and approved by the courts while any former inmate found to have violated the terms of the release were sent back to the prison to complete their jail term.

During the chaotic events of February 7, Rasheed said a group of rogue security personnel involved in the mutiny against Nasheed’s government stormed into the Second Chance office inside the Ghazee Building and gassed the office.

“Four policemen and two MNDF officers into the office that morning and shouted at us to go upstairs. One of our project managers, who sits in a wheel chair, asked them how she could go upstairs when there was no lift. The policemen left but came back later and ordered us to leave again. They shouted that ‘this office is a big nuisance’ and sprayed some sort of gas and left,” Rasheed recalled.

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Leaked footage from police HQ suggests opposition was prepared to use “military force” on Feb 7

Local television station Raaje TV aired a video clip on Sunday showing senior then-opposition figures inside police headquarters on February 7, prior to the resignation of former President Mohamed Nasheed.

In the video, Jumhooree Party (JP) leader Gasim Ibrahim makes a comment thanking Allah that former president Mohamed Nasheed resigned before the use of military force. Minivan News is currently seeking to obtain the unedited footage.

In the Raajje TV clip, Gasim first says, “that we are saved from this cruel regime…” Rajje TV then repeats the frame of Gasim saying, “that this ended without using the military, Allah [rest is unclear]”.

Raajje TV alleges the clip suggests Gasim was ready to resort to military force had Nasheed refused to resign. Minivan News was unable to reach Gasim at the time of press.

Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) leader Ahmed Thasmeen Ali, shown standing directly in front of Gasim at the time, told Minivan News that he does not recollect Gasim’s statement. “It was very loud,” Thasmeen said.

The video clip depicts former opposition leaders at the time celebrating inside the police head quarters, exchanging hugs, and shouting “Allah Akbar” and “Thank Allah” shortly before Nasheed’s public television resignation of February 7.

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) spokesperson Hamid Abdul Gafoor said he believed the video is proof of “Gasim’s blatant complicity in the coup d’état.” He also raised questions over the presence of opposition leaders inside the police HQ on February 7, while Nasheed remained held-up inside the military barracks.

Raajje TV introduces the video showing former opposition leaders in the crowd gathered at the Republic Square. Ahmed Nihan, Progressive Party of the Maldives’ (PPM) parliament member, then calls upon all political party leaders present to come to the Police HQ entrance.

According to Raaje Tv’s timeline of the video, inside the Police HQ, current Police Commissioner, Abdulla Riyaz tells the gathered group — which includes Thasmeen, Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP) leader and current presidential advisor Dr Hassan Saeed, current Home Minister Dr Mohamed Jameel, the Islamic Ministry’s State Minister Mohamed Didi, new Deputy Commissioner of Police Hussein Waheed, current Foreign Minister Dr Abdul Samad, current Minister of State for Tourism, Arts and Culture Ahmed Shameem, Fonadhoo MP Ali Saleem, and the Adhaalath Party’s Asadullah Shafee — that he has now shared the mutinying police’s demands with the opposition leaders and asks them to give the police a response.

Raajje TV reporter notes that the deputy police commissioner Hussein Waheed had previously said he was not present at the Republican Square at the time of the mutiny. Abdulla Riyaz had said Waheed had been awarded the position after an interview process.

The reporter says that Gasim then praised the police for mutinying. However, this was not clear to Minivan News from the video.

The video then cuts to the former opposition leaders celebrating on receiving the news that Nasheed would resign. The group starts shouting “Allah Akbar.” Hassan Saeed then asks, “Are you sure? Confirmed?” to which an unknown voice replies, “Yeah.”

A second leaked video clip presents a clearer picture of Nasheed’s frenzied efforts to mobilise the military to stop the police mutiny. Nasheed, his foreign minister Ahmed Naseem, and his defense minister Tholhath Ibrahim Kaleyfaanu order the soldiers to leave the barracks and put down the police mutiny.

“The entire nation is being destroyed, and you are doing nothing, citing command and what not…” Nasheed angrily tells the soldiers.

Raajje TV’s footage of inside police headquarters on February 7:

New footage of Nasheed’s last moments as President inside the MNDF base:

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“People should be free to determine their own destiny”: Foreign Minister

People should be free to determine their own destiny, new Foreign Minister Dr Abdul Samad Abdulla said in a statement to mark Commonwealth Day.

“2012 marks the Maldives’ 30th year as a member of the Commonwealth, a landmark that represents our continued desire to share our own unique culture, and to work with the Commonwealth to promote its values: democracy, freedom, peace, the rule of law and opportunity for all,” Dr Samad said.

“By recognising that culture is important, we place a value on freedom. That is, people should be free to determine their own destiny. While culture is valuable in itself, the meeting of cultures
is equally important. Connecting cultures fosters education and respect for difference, while at the same time encouraging recognition of the bonds and similarities that exist between our
nations.”

Dr Samad said that despite its geographic isolation, “the Maldives continues to accelerate its engagement with the Commonwealth and the international community. Last year it successfully hosted the SAARC summit and continues to punch above its weight in the international arena.”

“Connecting cultures embodies all that the Commonwealth holds important. Politically, the Maldives is evolving and striving to achieve the values and principles of the Commonwealth,” he added.

The Commonwealth recently suspended the Maldives from its human rights and democracy arm, the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), calling for both an independent, internationally-assisted inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the change of government on February 7, and a commitment to early elections before the end of the year.

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“Negligence” to blame for deaths of four children in three weeks: HRCM

While attention in the Maldives focuses on a political crisis which shows no sign of abating, the people are faced with another issue of urgent attention: an increase in the number of child deaths.

Four children under the age of 10 have been reported dead in isolated incidents in just the last few weeks.

The first case was reported on February 19 after a one year-old baby fell from the second-floor balcony of a house in Male’.

A week later, a 10 year old boy was reported dead on the island of Miladhoo in Noonu atoll on February 27. According to local news outlet Sun, the boy had consumed paint thinner (a toxic solvent) while playing around with friends and was subsequently poisoned.

In the first week of March, a two year-old girl was found dead in a fish pond inside a house on Maaamigili in Alifu Dhaalu Atoll, while a six year-old boy was fatally injured after he was hit by a speeding motorbike in a road accident on Gan in Laamu Atoll. The boy went into a coma and died on Thursday night.

Following the death of the boy, the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) released a statement saying that the children deaths had increased recently due to “negligence in providing the necessary protection required by the children”.

Expressing concern over the deaths, the commission had urged the government to identify potential threats to the children in the community and formulate the legal framework to protect the children from harm, and educate parents to minimise such incidents.

Speaking to Minivan News, Police Sub-Inspector Ahmed Shiyam observed that “it is difficult to believe that any mother or father would deliberately neglect the child or cause any harm”.

However, he noted that the way of life has changed drastically over the past years including children’s behavior and playing habits. “Therefore it is necessary to be more attentive to what the children are doing all the time,” Shiyam said.

He noted that police are investigating the reported deaths of children to determine if there was any negligence involved, and will forward the cases to the Prosecutor General’s Office (PG).

“The PG will decided whether to prosecute the cases,” he said.

The deaths come amid the political unrest in the Maldives, which continues to attract almost all of the public’s attention. Cross party peace talks backed by international support have failed to resolve the political stalemate.

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Police use pepper spray to disperse MDP protesters gathered near Hiriya School

Maldives police used tear gas to disperse the MDP protesters that gathered near Hiriya School this morning to protest against President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan, who visited the school to inaugurate the “Clean Energy for Male” project.

The President officiated over the opening of the school’s solar panel system and chatted with members of staff.

Japanese Ambassador to the Maldives Nobuhito Hobo signed the scheme over to the school, and the system was connected to the grid. The project is the first phase of a US$11 million project to set a precedent for the use of solar panels on rooftops in Male’. Panels have been installed on the President’s Office, the youth centre, Hiriya school and Thaajuddheen school.

Protesters gathered near the school at about 11:00am and surrounded the police barricades, which had been set up blocking all routes to the school entrance.

Women were at the front of the protest while there were men behind them. Some of the women sat on the street during the protesters.

The protest exploded with shouting as President Waheed arrived and was escorted into the premises with the help of the police, who forced back the protesters to allow for Dr Waheed’s arrival.

It was reported that some of the protesters went past the police barricades before the being forced back to the original line of protesters.

Tear gas was used to disperse the crowd after they started spraying water at police.

A witness who was present at the protests told Minivan News that the police had also used tear gas on the women who had sat down in the street.

“At first they [police] came towards the women sitting down and told them to leave the premises and to go behind the barricades but the women refused. Then they tried by force to send them away and after the women started refusing, they sprayed pepper spray,” the witness said.

The witness added that the pepper spray had been used at close proximity.

In spite of this, there were no serious injuries to the protesters although both the police and the protesters received minor wounds.

Police spokesperson Sub-Inspector Ahmed Shiyam said that the protesters had thrown water and other objects towards the police, and said that a female police officer was hit by an object thrown by the protesters.

“The protesters threw stones and other objects towards police and one of our female officers got hit in the head. The protesters used abusive language towards the police and some of the even spat on the officers.” Shiyam said.

Shiyam said that the police used tear gas when the protesters began throwing things at them. “We used tear gas only to control the crowd when they began throwing things at us,” he claimed.

Shiyam also said that the police did not arrest any of the protesters despite them breaking through the police barricades.

President Waheed left the premises at about 12:15pm after waving at the crowd. MDP spokesman Hamid Abdul Ghafoor alleged the wave was “a clenched fist”, signifying Waheed’s growing impatience with such incidents.

A teacher from the school disputed this version of events, remembering the President “waving nicely” as he left.

Ghafoor compared this event with the disruption of the Japanese embassy’s tsunami anniversary event at the Nasandhura Palace Hotel last night.

“It doesn’t matter what time of day [it is], people just assemble. They are not necessarily coming from the [MDP] rally point. It is because they just dislike him. It is very grassroots, not just MDP,” said Ghafoor.

“As time goes by, the opinion of the coup leaders is that people will settle. But I feel they are getting more unsettled and anger is being expressed. Disillusionment is turning to anger.”

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Police motorbikes vandalised

Police have said that last night two police motorbikes belonging to two officers working at Specialist Operations Department were vandalised.

Ten other motorbikes were also vandalised last night, according to police.

Police said officers have been receiving threats, while vandalism of property belonging to police officers has increased.

Elements of the police sided with opposition supporters in the ousting of former President Mohamed Nasheed on February 7.

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