Author: Minivan News

Maldives faces “significant” human rights challenges, despite “considerable progress”: Amnesty International

Amnesty International has announced that “significant human rights challenges” need to be addressed following a nine day visit to the Maldives, where it met with senior government figures and civil society organisations.

In a statement released Thursday (April 25), Amnesty International said that despite the country making “considerable progress” during the last few years in promoting and protecting civil rights, it retained concerns over issues like freedom of expression and wider accountability in the criminal justice system.

The findings were made as part of initial observations by Amnesty’s South Asia Director Polly Truscott and the NGO’s South Asia Researcher Abbas Faiz following a visit to the country between April 16 to April 24 this year.

Speaking to Minivan News at the conclusion of her visit this week, Truscott detailed some of the key human rights challenges facing the country.  Among her observations was the controversial flogging sentence handed to a 15 year-old girl over charges of ‘fornication’, which she believed to be just the “tip of the iceberg” in regards to wider issues over how sexual offence victims were treated in the country.

The current government has already appealed the flogging sentence, while also pledging to move ahead with wider legal reforms concerning the possibility of reviewing the use of flogging as a punishment.

“On a positive note, Amnesty International welcomes the efforts now made by Maldivian authorities, in particular the President of the Maldives, to strengthen measures to ensure that any child who has been sexually abused receives protection, not punishment,” the NGO’s statement read.

“These include a review of all cases of children who have been investigated for ‘fornication,’ that is, sex outside marriage. Under international human rights law no one who either engages in consensual sexual activity or who is a victim of sexual assault, should be criminalised or punished, regardless of their age.”

Amnesty said it also held concerns over a lack of “effective investigations” into several high-profile attacks on media personnel, as well as the murder of MP Dr Afrasheem Ali.

The NGO has called on the government of President Dr Mohamed Waheed to end an alleged culture of “impunity for the arbitrary and abusive use of force by security forces against demonstrators” following the controversial transfer of power on February 7, 2012.

Amnesty International said its calls regarding allegations of “excessive force” by police were in line with recommendations included in the Commonwealth-backed Commission of National Inquiry (CNI) released last year.

The full Amnesty International statement can be read here.

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JP Leader Gasim Ibrahim acquires Miadhu News

Resort tycoon, Jumhoree Party (JP) Leader and MP, Judicial Services Commission (JSC) member and owner of VTV Gasim Ibrahim has acquired the assets of Miadhu News, the Maldives’ second oldest newspaper.

Sun Online reported that Gasim bought the paper for MVR 500,000 (US$32,500), and that staff were transferred to the payroll of Gasim’s Villa media group.

Minivan News understands that newspaper Haveeru – the country’s most widely circulated newspaper – is also up for sale.

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Police search for lost 14 year-old girl

Police have commenced a search for a 14 year-old girl who was reported missing by her family on April 21.

The girl was identified as 14 year-old Mariyam Rishmee Ahmed from Hafolhu House in Villimale’.

According to police, the girl left her house at 7:00pm on 21 April and did not return.

No further information was provided in the case. Police asked that anyone with information on her whereabouts contact them or the island council.

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“The Island President” DVD released with Dhivehi subtitles

Former President Mohamed Nasheed launched “The Island President” DVD with Dhivehi subtitles at an event organised by Raajje TV at Nasandhuraa Palace on Monday night.

The grant-funded documentary by Oscar- and Emmy- winning American company Actual Films depicted President Nasheed’s first year in office culminating with his trip to the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit in 2009.

The DVD with Dhivehi subtitles is to be sold for MVR 150.

In September 2011, “The Island President” was awarded the Cadillac People’s Choice Award for Best Documentary at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), one of the world’s five most prestigious films festivals. It also won the “Pare Lorentz Award” from the International Documentary Association.

In an interview with Minivan News in November 2011, the film’s producer, Richard Berge, explained how the producers approached President Nasheed with the idea in early 2009.

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President Waheed meets Gayoom

President Dr Mohamed Waheed met former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on Monday evening, reports local media.

No details of the hour long meeting were disclosed to media but a senior Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) official told newspaper Haveeru that the pair discussed the possibility of President Waheed working with PPM in the upcoming presidential election.

“Just one such meeting cannot lead to an understanding. However we expect a favorable outcome by strengthening relations,” the official was quoted as saying.

PPM MP Ahmed Nihan told Minivan News this week that the party was engaged in talks over the possibility of forming a power sharing agreement with other parties in the government of President Waheed.

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General regulations extended by one year

Parliament on Wednesday (April 23) approved an extension of one year for general regulations without a statutory basis.

Presenting a committee report recommending the extension, MP Ahmed Mohamed expressed hope that parent legislation for most of the regulations could be passed this year as the relevant bills were currently at committee stage.

Prior to the ratification of the new constitution on August 7, 2008, parliament passed a General Regulations Act as parent legislation for over 80 regulations without a statutory basis, or were not formulated under an Act of parliament.

These include regulations for criminal justice procedures, companies and finance leasing transactions, insurance, jails and parole, freedom of information and building codes.

Article 271 of the constitution states, “Regulations derive their authority from laws passed by the People’s Majlis pursuant to which they are enacted, and are enforceable pursuant to such lawful authority. Any regulations requiring compliance by citizens must only be enacted pursuant to authority granted by a law enacted by the People’s Majlis.”

The parent act prolonged the lifespan of the regulations – deemed necessary for administrative functions and service provision – for a one year period until new legislation, such as a Criminal Procedures Act, Evidence Act, Freedom of Information Act and Political Parties Act could be enacted.

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MPs Rozaina, Ali Azim elected DRP deputy leaders at fourth congress

MPs Rozaina Adam and Ali Azim were elected deputy leaders of the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) today at the ongoing fourth national congress of the party.

Out of the five contenders for the three vacant posts, Rozaina came first with 382 votes followed by Azim with 258 votes.

A runoff is due to take place tomorrow (April 26) after MP Ahmed Ramiz and Economic Development Minister Ahmed Mohamed each garnered 243 votes for the third deputy leader post.

The fifth and last placed candidate was Fisheries State Minister Ali Solih.

Six members were also elected to the party’s council from 11 candidates. They were Education Minister Dr Ahmed Asim, Dr Hamid Rasheed, Ahmed Shareef, Mohamed Saleem, Assad Shareef and Ahmed ‘Kelaa’ Nizam.

At yesterday’s session of the DRP congress, delegates voted to abolish the post of ‘Zaeem’ or ‘Honorary Leader’ previously reserved for the party’s founder, former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.

An amendment was also approved to the party’s charter to offer the party’s ticket to sitting MPs and councillors without contesting in a primary.

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Man charged with “sexual misdemeanour” for alleged rape of Thai woman

A man accused of raping a Thai beauty salon staff member at knife point has been charged with a ‘sexual misdemeanour’, reports local media.

Mohamed Shamaan Ibrahim Khalid was charged with causing bodily harm to an individual, sexual misdemeanour, and mugging.

Khalid allegedly raped a Thai employee from Asparagus Beauty Care after threatening her at knifepoint in June 2012.

A man present at the salon was also allegedly threatened at knifepoint and ordered to surrender his phone and wallet.

Khalid then stabbed the victim in the leg when he refused to obey, according to local media.

Khalid is also accused of taking two cell phones, a laptop, MVR 5000 (US$324.25) and US$200.

Criminal Court Media Official Ahmed Mohamed Manik told local media that Khalid has denied all charges and the court granted his request for a lawyer to be appointed.

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Police conclude special operation to seize sorcery books on Maarandhoo Island

Police have conducted a special operation named ‘Operation Maaridhu’ on the island of Maarandhoo in Haa Alifu Atoll to seize books related to sorcery.

In a statement police said the operation was conducted on April 21 from 2:00pm to 4:30pm following intelligence reports that the practice of black magic was increasing on the island of Maarandhoo.

Police said officers obtained a court warrant and searched two houses on the island where they discovered a number of books related to black magic.

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