Author: Ahmed Nazeer

Authorities investigate death of baby during labour

Managing Director of Male’ Health Corporation Mohamed Zubair has confirmed that it is conducting an internal investigation after medical staff were forced to decapitate a baby during labour to save the mother.

IGMH said in an earlier statement said that the baby’s head had to be removed after its shoulders became stuck and it died during delivery, risking the life of the mother. Doctors were left with no other choice, the hospital said.

”It is the procedure at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) that when such incidents occur we always conduct an internal investigation,” said Zubair.

He declined to provide further information as the investigation was ongoing.

”The Health Ministry is the regulator at the hospital, so it is investigating the case as well,” he added.

Media Coordinator at IGMH Zeenath Ali told Minivan News that IGMH expects to conclude its investigation within two days.

”We will share the report with the media,” she said. ”We cannot reveal any information yet.”

She also said that the condition of the baby’s mother was improving.

The hospital came under pressure to investigate after a report in newspaper Haveeru raised public concern as to why the hospital had not performed an earlier cesarean section, given that it was previously understood the baby was large and the mother had been admitted to hospital for some time.

According to Haveeru, the mother was rushed to the operating theatre after the baby’s head became stuck in the birth canal.

The mother had reportedly been admitted to IGMH after doctors in Thaa Atoll and Laamu Atoll hospitals advised the mother to do so given the size of the baby and the mother’s high blood pressure.

Meanwhile, police and the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) have told local medias that they are also investigating the matter.

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President did not mention corruption and mismanagement in his speech: PA

The minority opposition People’s Alliance Party (PA) led by Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has said issued a statement responding to the presidential address of Mohamed Nasheed delivered on March 3 during the opening ceremony of parliament’s first session of this year. The PA boycotted the first session of parliament.

‘’Peoples Alliance recognises and appreciates the slight change of tone of the Presidential Speech of 2011, although he partly fulfilled the purpose of the speech, he had failed to address the real issues facing his administration and the country,’’ said PA in the statement.

The PA said that the president did not mention the issues of corruption and mismanagement in his administration, and claimed that the citizens were disappointed because Nasheed had made no plans to solve these issues.

‘’The public was hopeful that the President would address the significant issues of 2010 and inform the public of policy changes to facilitate an atmosphere of trust between the government and opposition parties,’’ the PA said. ‘’We believe that this is important because the President lacks the ability to sit down with opposition parties. We also believe that sitting down together is not enough, the President needs to have the ability to sit together and work sincerely with opposition parties.’’

The President’s speech was presented more as a philosophy than a specific proposal, the PA claimed. “For example, the President expressed his intension to strengthen regulations within the context of the existing laws and implement those regulations to increase the value of Maldivian currency, but failed to explain the specifics of what he meant and what policy changes the business community should expect.”

The party claimed Nasheed’s remarks on deficit reduction were “misleading.”

‘’The forecasted deficit of 2010 wasn’t reduced by efforts of cost reduction.  In reality, the Rf1.2 billion (US$78 million) received by privatisation of the airport was recorded as income and used for recurrent expenditure of the budget. Therefore the expected budget deficit of Rf3.8 billion was reduced to Rf3.1 billion using this income,’’ the party said. “The only measure to reduce deficit in 2010 was to cut down the salaries of civil service. The number of political appointees is increasing year by year.”

PA said Nasheed’s statement on external debt “does not clearly draw the picture.”

At US$607 million we are witnessing a significant increase in the official external debt of the past two years, said the PA.

“We believe that the actual figure will be even higher than this.” PA claimed. “Because since the IMF has restricted the direct borrowing of the Ministry of Finance, the government has started borrowing through government companies by giving comfort letters to companies such as the Works Corporation for politically motivated projects.’’

These projects, PA claimed, would not bring any income to those companies and that the government would have to pay for these debts itself. ” Therefore the overall debt will be even higher than US$607 million.’’

The President’s proposal to strengthen regulations and implement them to increase value of rufiyaa “could mean that he will implement tight controls and control foreign currency exchange, from an economic point of view,” said PA.

‘’We strongly believe that the value of rufiyaa cannot be appreciated through force and strict regulations,’’ said the PA. ‘’Instead we need fiscal responsibility and economic stability to appreciate the value of rufiyaa.’’

The party said that providing housing ‘’is yet another tool to manipulate voters.’’

‘’The government’s plan to offer 25,000 square feet of land of subsidy for 10 housing units worth US$35,000 has failed, and until today not even one housing unit has been delivered from the 10,000 units promised.”

The PA said the few housing units that the government could deliver to the people would be delivered in 2013, “for no reason but to influence the presidential election.”

‘’The policy of duty exemption to the north and south regional ports is not a policy to increase trade in that area,’’ added the party. ‘’Rather it gives the opportunity to give tax exemption to a few businesses that are affiliated with the government.’’

The PA also said that although the President had stated that the capacity of the airport would be increased under its contract with GMR, ‘’the new development plan doesn’t include a new runway.’’

‘’That means only the same number of flights or a slight increase can be expected, since we are operating on a tight schedule even now,’’ the PA claimed. ‘’Additionally the privatisation of the airport does not help the dollar shortage. Dollar earnings for the airport and fuel will be repatriated outside the country while the payments by GMR to Maldivians and Maldivian parties will be paid in rufiyaa,” the PA alleged.

The PA accused Nasheed and his government of either “lacking basic knowledge” on the nation’s economy, or “lacking sincerity and commitment to solve the economic issues.”

‘’The contradicting statements of the President regarding the dollar shortage are a fact supporting that President Nasheed is having difficulties understanding the economy,’’ said PA.’’While he is so concerned with climate change and internal affairs of other countries to get fame, we suspect he is not even seriously thinking about the national security and the impact of his policies on our economy.’’

PA urged the President ‘’to drop out of campaign mode’’ and face reality.

“At the end of the day success will be measured by outcome. Vision does not create jobs, we need to see meaningful and sustainable real action.’’

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Gang stabs three men before fleeing

A group of men stabbed three others in Henveiru yesterday, leaving one of the victims in a critical condition with severe injuries to his head and chest.

The gang used sharp objects, shovels and metal pipes in the attack, which occurred late yesterday afternoon. Many children were present at the scene near the artificial beach, while one woman fainted after witnessing the attack, local media reported.

Police Sub-Inspector Ahmed Shiyam confirmed that all three victims were hospitalised following the incident yesterday.

”Some suspects have been arrested for investigation,” Shiyam added.

Following the gang attack, police strengthened security in Male’ and began patrolling public parks – other areas where gangs are thought to gather.

Minivan News understands that some of those arrested last night have now been released.

Local media has reported that the gang attacked the three men with sharp objects and shovels as well as other weapons.

Daily newspaper Haveeru reported police as saying that the gang also threatened a person in the area and robbed him of his motorbike after threatening him with a sharp weapon.

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Supreme Court ruling does not mean Kaafu and Shaviyani Atoll office can be relocated, says AG

Attorney General, Dr Ahmed Ali Sawad, has told Minivan News that a Supreme Court verdict overruling “contradicting” court orders issued by island courts over the relocation of some Atoll Council offices did not mean that the issue was as yet resolved.

”It [the Supreme Court decision] is a different ruling because two courts of the same level have issued two different court orders on the same issue,” said Dr Sawad. ”The real issue over the legality of the relocations still needs to be addressed within the Thulusdhoo Island Court and Shaviyani Funadhoo Island court.”

The Supreme Court of the Maldives has recently invalidated court warrants issued by the Kaafu Atoll Maafushi Island Court and Shaviyani Atoll Milandhoo Island Court that were deemed to have contradicted earlier rulings by local magistrates over the location of council offices.

This court actions occurred this week as the government come into conflict with members of Shaviyani Atoll and Kaafu Atoll councils over the decision to move their administrative offices to different locations. The government has claimed that the decisions were not within the legal powers of councilors.

The Atoll Councilors of Shaviyani Atoll moved from their Administrative Office in Milandhoo to a building in Funadhoo, which was formerly used as Atoll Office of Shaviyani Atoll. Kaafu Atoll Councilors moved from an assigned Atoll Office in Maafushi to a building in Thulusdhoo, which was also formerly used as the Atoll Office of Kaafu Atoll.

The government opposed these actions, sending police to the islands over concerns that the buildings were its own assets and needed protection.

The case was then brought in front of Funadhoo Magistrates Court, which ruled that the Administrative Office should be located in Funadhoo. This occurred two days before the Milandhoo Magistrate ruled that Administrative Office shall be in Milandhoo.

Likewise in Thulusdhoo, the island court of Thulusdhoo ruled that the Administrative Office shall be in Thulusdhoo, before the Maafushi Island Court ruled in favor of retaining the Administrative Office in Maafushi.

The Supreme Court said that after one court has ruled on a case, another legal institution of the same level had no authority to overturn that ruling. This made the later rulings invalid according to the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, the High Court also concluded that there was no capacity for an appeal requested by the Attorney General to rule that the court order of Thulusdhoo Court.

The High Court said that there was no reason to believe that the actions of Thulushoo Court were against the law or correct procedures.

Recently Shaviyani Atoll Council’s Vice President Mohamed Arif has said the best way to solve the issue was by handing over the case to a higher court of law, ”as it is a legal issue.”

The Home Minister also told media this week that the government would let the country’s higher-level courts decide the matter.

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DRP and MDP clashes leave 10 police officers injured

Protests held last night by the main opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) and ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) erupted into violent confrontations around the capital of Male’, leaving four police officers badly injured and six others with minor injuries.

Police Sub-Inspector Ahmed Shiyam believed that police had generally managed to keep protesters – thought to represent both the MDP and DRP – apart during violent confrontations, without resorting to measures such as using tear gas to disperse crowds.

However, he confirmed that the police had suffered both serious and minor casualties in trying to subdue violence among sections of the protesters alleged to represent both parties.

The evening’s protests had began peacefully with a DRP rally being held outside the party’s head office near the artificial beach in Henveiru.

Earlier in the day, the DRP’s former Deputy Leader Umar Naseer had told the media that he expected police would begin using tear gas to try and suppress a planned march around Male’.

Following the rally, some of the protesters present were then thought to have moved towards the national flag in ‘Jumhoory Maidhan’.

However, riot police obstructed the route used by the DRP supporters as they neared the residence of President Mohamed Nasheed at Muleeage, according to the Maldives Police Service.

Eye witnesses who spoke to Minivan News claimed that DRP supporters had tried to break through police lines in an attempt to enter the restricted areas to protest.

MDP activists around that time were also reported to have gathered in front of the residence of Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. The MDP protesters were reported to have called for Gayoom’s arrest, as well as accusing the DRP of attempting to gather at an area restricted for political gatherings.

Afterwards, local press reports said that DRP supporters had travelled towards former president Gayoom’s home where MDP activists were also gathered.

Police said that activists of both parties clashed and threw stones that resulted in injuries to both police and supporters.

The Protests were said to have officially ended when MDP supporters left the area around 2:00 am in the morning.

Local media have reported that while supporters from both parties were believed to have been involved in the violence, some windows of the former president’s residence were broken.

However, Sub-Inspector Shiyam said that the police had not received any reports of vandalism to the property.

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Police investigate allegations that politicians physically attacked and threatened officers

The Maldives Police Service yesterday issued a press statement saying it was now investigating allegations that politicians had physically attacked and threatened its officers.

Police have claimed that “some” politicians were seeking to mislead the public over recent conflicts in Kaafu Atoll Thulusdhoo and Shaviyani Atoll Funadhoo.

”The conflicts occurred when the Atoll Councilors entered the former Atoll Offices in these islands which are under charge of the Finance Ministry. The President has already allocated an administrative office for the council under Decentralisation Act article number 127,” said Police in the statement.

“When the Atoll Councilors started to use the state assets like this, the Home Ministry requested police to protect the state assets and to take necessary actions.”

The investigation follows a war of words between the government and some recently elected local councils over their right to move to offices other than those assigned to them

Atoll councilors had been told repeatedly that if they wish to use state assets, they should be used in line with proper procedure, police claimed.

”But rather than solving the issue peacefully, they [Atoll Councilors] have vandalized and used some state assets, while the police were taking necessary measures,” the statement read.

Police therefore said they were calling on politicians not to use the elected councilors as a tool to create splits and civil strife in society.

”Although some politicians told police to act in a way that would politically benefit them, the responsibility of police to uphold the constitution will be carried out within the laws and for the best interest of the society, whilst preserving peace and harmony,” the statement added.

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Umar Naseer expects upcoming DRP protest to end with tear gas

Umar Naseer, former deputy leader of the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP), has said the opposition party will hold a protest in Male’ tonight from 9:00pm in order to demonstrate against the perceived unlawful actions and “torture” practiced by the current government.

”The government has been constantly violating the laws, religion and has been trying to over power the local councils,” Naseer claimed. ”After the protest, we have scheduled a march around the streets.”

The claims come as political parties have this week become embroiled in disputes over the legitimacy of some local councils opting to move the location of their offices without government approval.

Naseer said that all the country’s political parties were officially invited to join its protest over the issue and also called on as many citizens as possible to join in.

The former deputy leader who was dismissed from the party in December claimed he expected the protest would likely end with authorities using tear gas.

”We call on police not to follow any unlawful orders, we know that the government have been punishing police for not obeying their unlawful orders,” said Naseer. ”We are very pleased to know that Deputy Police Commissioner Rishwan was suspended for rejecting an unlawful order, it was a good example.”

He also criticized the government for not taking ” action against any senior government officials who are alleged to have been found posing naked in pictures and video files, but taking action on journalists who reported it.”

DRP MP Ahmed Mahlouf said the intention of the protest was to defend the laws and to ”make things go right.”

”All the good things we brought to the country has been turned upside down today,” Mahlouf said. ”Tonight, we are coming out to make them right again, to uphold the religion and democracy.”

Mahlouf referred to the conflict in the islands and said it was an ”additional circle to the chain of the current government’s torture.”

”If we have to, we will not hesitate to go near Muleeage or near the Home Minister’s house,” said Mahlouf.

Mahlouf said that many police officers were encouraged not to follow “unlawful orders” after the alleged suspension of the Deputy Police Commissioner. Police have yet to officially confirm whether Deputy Commissioner Rishwan had been suspended.

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PA to boycott Presidential address to parliament

MPs from the People’s Alliance (PA) party have said they will boycott the speech to be given by President Mohamed Nasheed at the first parliamentary session of 2011.

”PA believes that the Presidential address Nasheed gave during the first sitting of the first session of 2010 was not given as stated in article 84 of the constitution,” said the PA in a statement.

Article 84 of the constitution says that at the beginning of the first parliament session of each year, the President shall address the Majlis on the state of the country, as well as present proposals for trying to improve the nation.

The PA stated that rather than giving Nasheed’s presidential address as a speech based on the state of the nation and proposals to improve the state, his last opening address was based on threatening opposition figures.

”The presidential address was a hopeless speech, thus a speech that threatened the citizens,” said the party in the statement.

PA alleged that the president had attempted to smear the respect and sanctity of parliament and also attempted to make the pubic lose confidence in their the MPs.

The party recalled the arrest of Jumhoory Party leader and MP Gasim Ibrahim, as well as PA Leader and MP Abdulla Yamin, claiming the president misused the power of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) to detain them.

Criminal charges against the opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) MPs Ali Waheed and Mahlouf were said to be politically motivated, the party alleged.

”Moreover, he [the president] made false accusations about MPs, made the entire cabinet resign, called MPs ‘wild animals’, attempted to run the government with a cabinet that does not have the consent of the parliament and made the parliament face obstacles in conducting its work fully,” claimed the PA. ”[Nasheed] gave warnings about all this during his presidential address [in 2010].”

The PA also claimed that the current government has always violated the constitution and laws.

Press Secretary for the President Mohamed Zuhair told Minivan News that the decision of the opposition parties were against the national spirit.

”It is the constitutional duty of the president, not something that is initiated by the government,” said Zuhair. He added that the President will give his presidential speech regardless of whether members of the opposition boycotted it.

Zuhair said ”that means the opposition started to use National Ceremonies as political tools.”

”If they boycott the presidential address, they are betraying the citizens,” he said. ”They are the symbols of the citizens.”

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IFJ condemns police questioning of Haveeru journalists

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned Maldives police for summoning two journalists from the Haveeru newspaper for questioning after they wrote an article about an alleged Facebook blackmail ring thought to involve a number of high profile politicians.

Police have since denied allegations from some press and media organisations that the questioning was politically motivated, claiming they had sought to request assistance with the ongoing investigation into the reported crime.

However, the IFJ has said it was critical of the manner that police sought to question two journalists over their story.

”Ahmed Hamdhoon and Ismail Naseer, who researched and wrote the story in the Dhivehi-language edition of Haveeru, were summoned by police in the capital Male’ and asked about the sources they had used to detail the content of the allegedly pornographic videos,” said the IFJ in a statement. ”The story published on 22 February had reported that the pornographic material was being circulated in a blackmail operation that had entrapped several well-known figures.”

“We are encouraged to learn that the two journalists turned down the police demand to name sources,” the IFJ website quoted is Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park as saying. ”The Republic of the Maldives sent out a strong positive signal by including the protection of media sources in its basic law and it is important to see that this significant legal provision is strengthened, not weakened, in practice.”

“Anonymity of sources is a necessary protection for journalists seeking to bring evidence of wrongdoing into the public domain. It is well understood that anonymity cannot be used as a cover for putting out wrong or malicious information, or for the protection of anybody involved in any felony,” added Park.

On 22 February, Police announced that they had arrested 14 persons including a minor for alleged involvement in blackmailing people after acquiring nude pictures and videos of them through Facebook.

Police Sub-Inspector Ahmed Shiyam told Minivan News this week that in light of the ongoing serious cyber crimes investigation into the Facebook case, attempts were made to to obtain further information from the sources used in Haveeru’s article.

“For that we needed more cooperation from Haveeru so we sought a court order to go ahead with this,” he said.

The conduct of police in requesting information about the sources used in the Haveeru article has been criticised by both the paper’s own editor and the Maldives Journalist Association (MJA) – an affiliate of the IFJ.

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