Indian navy ship Gomati arrived in the Maldives yesterday, according to the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).
The INS Gomati would be taking part in a joint surveillance patrol of the Maldives’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) from March 11 to 16, MNDF said in a statement.
It added that MNDF coastguard vessels would also be involved in the patrol.
Indian naval vessels have routinely conducted joint surveillance and anti-piracy patrols with the MNDF coastguard.
Former President Mohamed Nasheed’s ongoing trial on terrorism charges is “not free or fair,” contends NGO Maldivian Democracy Network (MDN), highlighting several irregularities in the hearings at the Criminal Court.
“It is with great desperation that the Maldivian Democracy Network calls upon the higher courts of the Maldives, the Judicial Service Commission, the Human Rights Commission of Maldives, the parliament and the president of the Maldives to acknowledge and restore justice with regard to the trial of former President Mohamed Nasheed,” MDN said in a statement on March 10.
“Furthermore we also call upon the international community, United Nations Special Rapporteur for Judges and Lawyers Gabriela Knaul and United Nations Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Assembly to hold the Maldivian government to account for its continued breach of the constitution, laws and regulations.”
Nasheed is accused of ordering the military to detain Criminal Court Chief Judge Abdulla Mohamed in January 2012. Following international concern and opposition demands to release “political prisoners,” President Abdulla Yameen has said he could not interfere in criminal proceedings as the judiciary was an independent branch of the state under the new constitution.
Irregularities
Listing 11 issues of concern with the trial, the democracy and human rights NGO noted that presiding judges denied Nasheed legal counsel despite repeated requests during the hearing on March 9.
All four of Nasheed’s lawyers had quit in protest of the Criminal Court’s refusal to grant sufficient time to examine the prosecution’s evidence and prepare a defence against new terror charges pressed on February 22.
On February 15, Prosecutor General Muhthaz Muhsin withdrew charges raised against the opposition leader under article 81 of the penal code for illegally detaining a government employee who has not been convicted of a crime. The offence carries a jail term of up to three years.
However, the new charges of “enforced disappearance” filed under anti-terrorism laws carry a jail term or banishment of between 10 to 15 years.
MDN noted that Nasheed’s legal team was given three days for the initial preparation and one day for witness evaluation.
“All attempts by Nasheed’s legal counsel to appeal to the Criminal Court (one appeal) and the High Court (four appeals) have been rejected,” MDN stated.
“Nasheed’s legal counsel was not provided timely meetings with Nasheed in preparation for previous hearings.”
MDN also observed that Judges Abdulla Didi, Abdul Bari Yousuf and Shujau Usman have “engaged in several acts where their integrity has been compromised, such as elaborating and answering for the prosecution and state witnesses during cross examination and open demonstration of animosity towards Nasheed and his legal counsel during hearings.”
State prosecutors have also admitted in court to engaging with witnesses, which MDN argued could be “perceived as witness coaching.”
When Nasheed’s lawyers objected, MDN noted that the presiding judge asked whether it was a problem.
Moreover, the judges blocked and ignored Nasheed lawyers’ attempts to “negate state witnesses” under High Court precedents, MDN said.
The judges also refused to admit or hear defence witnesses, claiming they could not negate the prosecution’s evidence or witness testimony.
Referring to video footage submitted as evidence by the prosecution, MDN noted that two judges presiding over the case were at the scene when Judge Abdulla was taken into military custody.
However, the judges have denied Nasheed’s lawyers’ requests to either recuse themselves from the case or be named defence witnesses.
“The Criminal Court has refused to acknowledge international and local trial observers,” the MDN statement continued.
“The Criminal Court allows six members of the public and 10 media persons to enter the viewing gallery while the same courtroom previously allowed 40 seats for viewing.”
MDN also referred to an incident on Sunday night where Raajje TV journalists were forced to delete footage of PG Muhsin allegedly meeting Judge Bari in a café. The Criminal Court subsequently barred all journalists from the station from observing trials.
MDN stressed that the Maldives was a signatory to the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights, which obliges the state to afford all citizens a fair trial.
“We call upon the state to make all necessary lawful interventions into these unconstitutional acts and restore law and order in the country,” MDN said.
The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) has brought five siblings under state care.
The five siblings, all minors from Gaaf Dhaal Atoll Nadella Island, were taken in to state custody after their mother failed to provide necessary care and protection, local media have reported.
“The Gender Ministry is also preparing to provide the much needed and necessary healthcare and counseling to the mother of the five children,” HRCM’s statement read.
Newspaper Haveeru said the children were aged between four and 14 years of age, and had been abused by their mother. They were only enrolled in school this year, the paper added.
Prior to his dismissal from the cabinet in January, former Defence Minister Mohamed Nazim served as the acting health minister. Fisheries and Agriculture Minister Dr Mohamed Shainy has been the acting minister since Nazim’s sacking.
Abbas Adil Riza meanwhile took the oath of office at an appointment ceremony at the President’s Office this morning. He previously served as former President Dr Mohamed Waheed’s spokesperson.
Parliament today accepted for consideration amendments to the Family Act submitted on behalf of the government by Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) MP Abdul Latheef Mohamed for regulating division of assets after divorce.
The bill was accepted with 41 votes in favour, four against, and sent to the Social Affairs Committee for further review.
Preliminary debate and voting on the bill took place amidst protests by the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MPs, who have been protesting at every sitting of the People’s Majlis since the arrest and prosecution of former President Mohamed Nasheed on terrorism charges.
Continuing the protests into the seventh consecutive sitting today, MDP MPs blew on whistles and used a megaphone to call for President Abdulla Yameen’s resignation.
Parliament has ceased providing live feed to television stations since the protests began.
The amendments (Dhivehi) meanwhile state that a court would decide upon the equitable distribution of marital property in divorce cases.
The court should consider the extent of both the work done as well as expenses made individually by the husband and wife for earning the couple’s money or assets.
Moreover, the court should take into account any debts incurred during the marriage as well as the needs of any children under 18 years of age.
The revisions also state that the court could order the ex-husband to pay child support and provide financial support to his ex-wife.
In his presidential address at the opening of parliament earlier this month, President Yameen said the legislation would protect women’s rights in divorce cases as pledged during the presidential campaign.
The PPM pledged in its manifesto to ensure that women get their fair share of common property after divorce.
Meanwhile, during Monday’s sitting, parliament accepted for consideration government-sponsored legislation on establishing the ‘Maldives Islamic University.’
The bill was accepted unanimously with 55 votes in favour following a preliminary debate, during which nine MPs spoke.
The draft legislation was forwarded to the National Development Committee for further review. The committee’s chairman, Ibrahim Shujau, told the press after the sitting that the legislation would be reviewed and sent back to the floor for a vote within a week.
The PPM MP for Baarah said the bill would be passed into law by the end of the month, noting that establishing an Islamic University was an important pledge of President Abdulla Yameen.
Once ratified, the existing Islamic College or Kulliyah would be renamed the Islamic University of Maldives.
Police arrested seven people from an opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) protest at sea yesterday on allegations that demonstrators attempted to illegally disembark on Dhoonidhoo Island.
Former President Mohamed Nasheed is being held at the Dhoonidhoo detention centre pending the outcome of a trial of charges of terrorism for the military’s detention of Criminal Court Chief Judge Abdulla Mohamed.
According to local media, police officers intercepted and boarded the vessel – which was decked in yellow flags and megaphones – near Dhoonidhoo around 5:00pm and conducted safety inspections. Police reportedly claimed mandatory medicine was missing from the boat’s first aid kit and that the pressure gauge of the fire extinguishers were too low.
All seven have now been released today.
Meanwhile former MDP MP Ibrahim Rasheed ‘Bondaa’ and MDP Women’s Wing Vice President Shaneez ‘Thanie’ Saeed were arrested from protests near Seagull café last night.
Former MDP President Dr Ibrahim Didi was released from police custody yesterday on the condition that he not participate in protests for 30 days. Didi was arrested on the night of February 27 during opposition protests in front of the city council.
Amin Construction Pvt Ltd has officially launched a project for the construction of a residential apartment complex in Hulhumalé, reports local media.
Tourism Minister Ahmed Adeeb inaugurated the project at a ceremony last night. Housing Minister Dr Mohamed Muiz and other senior governments were also in attendance.
The ‘Amin Avenue’ complex would comprise of three 14-storey towers with a total of 261 apartments, explained Amin Construction Manager Ibrahim Nihad, with units falling into basic, luxury and penthouse categories.
The housing project – Amin Construction’s first real estate venture – would be the largest undertaken in Hulhumalé by a private company so far.
The price of a two-bedroom apartment – with an additional maids room – in the basic category would be MVR2.1 million, Nihad said, whilst the price of a four-bedroom luxury apartment would be MVR3.7 million.
The price of the four-bedroom penthouse apartments would be MVR6.5 million. An arrangement has been made with the Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) to issue loans for potential buyers, Nihad said.
Speaking at the ceremony, Tourism Minister Ahmed Adeeb reportedly said the government plans to establish a real estate department at the housing ministry.
Adeeb – also co-chair of the cabinet’s economic council – pledged that the department would ensure that new homeowners would receive title deeds within 48 hours of purchase.
The Criminal Court’s decision to bar opposition-aligned Raajje TV from observing trials is “unacceptable,” the Maldives Media Council (MMC) has said.
The court had accused the station of “spreading lies about judges, meddling in judges personal affairs and engaging in actions that may harm judges” after a Raajje TV journalist and cameraman videotaped an alleged meeting between Judge Abdul Bari Yousuf and Prosecutor General Muhthaz Muhsin at Café Layaali in Malé on Sunday night.
At a press conference today, MMC President Mohamed Asif ‘Mondhu’ said the court could have barred the journalist involved in the incident instead of barring all journalists from the station.
Mondhu also noted that the cameraman was forced to delete the footage.
A Raajje TV staff told Minivan News that a group of young men led by Progressive Party of the Maldives MP Ahmed Assad forced the cameramen to delete it.
While taking video footage inside a public restaurant was not illegal, Mondhu said Café Layaali’s owner would have been within his rights to either obstruct filming or ask them to leave if patrons complained.
“However, if the footage is not connected to the owner, [they] can’t order it to be deleted,” he said.
Mondhu also criticised police for not stopping the group from forcing the Raajje TV cameramen to delete the footage, characterising the incident as police’s failure to provide security to media personnel.
MMC member Ahmed Hamdhoon meanwhile said the council would investigate the case to identify the culprits.
Judge Bari is currently presiding over the trials of both former President Mohamed Nasheed and former Defence Minister Mohamed Nazim.
PG Muhsin told Minivan News that the judge was already at the café when he went there for a meal with family members.
“The crew were right next to me. But I don’t even think they recognised me. Because they didn’t videotape me, they were taping Bari who was sitting at another table. I don’t know why they would accuse me of such a thing. Anyone there would clearly see that I was sitting with a separate group of people and Judge Bari was sitting at another table,” he said.
However, Raajje TV insists the pair were sitting at the same table smoking shisha and that Muhsin walked away when the journalist started asking questions.
MP Assad and the group arrived shortly thereafter and forced the cameramen to delete the footage, after which Specialist Operations (SO) officers escorted the Raajje TV staff to the police station.
The police conducted body searches and took statements from the crew. They were released afterwards.
A police spokesperson said Raajje TV crew members had not been arrested, but detained briefly for videotaping in Café Layaali without the owner’s permission.
Foreigners will not be allowed to meddle in domestic affairs of the Maldives, President Abdulla Yameen has declared, slamming opposition politicians for seeking foreign interference.
Addressing youth supporters Sunday night at a private function in Citron Restaurant – reportedly organised by First Lady Fathmath Ibrahim – President Yameen said foreigners could not come to the country to “settle our affairs” as the Maldives was a member of the UN family with the same rights and independence as any other nation.
“We wouldn’t want foreigners from different countries coming here to criticise what we do and telling us what to do. So that is not something we will give any room for,” Yameen is heard saying in a recording obtained by Minivan News.
“So in the work we’re doing in the Maldives we will try to do things in accordance with our laws and Islamic principles. And if the consequence of that is people from distant nations finding it unacceptable, that is their problem. That is their problem. But we are not going to give up an inch of our country’s sovereignty to foreign parties.”
Photo from social media
Yameen’s remarks come amidst a political crisis and anti-government demonstrations sparked by the arrest and prosecution of both former President Mohamed Nasheed and former Defence Minister Mohamed Nazim on terrorism charges.
Last month, Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon hit back at statements issued by the UN, EU, India, Canada, and the Commonwealth expressing concern with the arrest and trial of the opposition leader.
“The Government of President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom will not take instructions from a foreign government on any issue in governing the country,” she said in a statement.
Yameen meanwhile said protesting on the streets was not a right reserved to the opposition and warned them not to consider the government’s “compassion and patience” as weakness.
“Do not believe at all that it is our weakness when we don’t act or take up problems seriously. It is because we love the Maldivian people. We were patient to prioritise [national] interest, peace and security here. But when it reaches the point where our patience is challenged, then we will say that we will also welcome taking things down the determined path,” he said.
While his administration welcomes protests and free expression within legal bounds, Yameen said opposition politicians inviting foreign governments to take action against the Maldives was unacceptable.
He argued that causing harm to society and imperilling national security could not be justified in the “context of individual liberty.”
Yameen asked youth to consider if it was acceptable to call for tourism boycotts and invite other countries to “meddle in the Maldives’ sovereignty and independence.”
People who cause damage to the country should be given just punishment, Yameen insisted.
Referring to the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party-Jumhooree Party (MDP-JP) alliance’s demands to release “political prisoners,” Yameen said the new constitution separated the three powers of state and the president could not interfere in judicial proceedings.
He also accused the opposition of not attempting to save youth incarcerated for arson and other offences during anti-government protests after allegedly encouraging the crimes.
“But when they feel something is about to happen to a politician over a crime he committed, it is as if the Maldivian sky is falling on our heads,” he said.
“So this is the double standard among us.”
While ordinary Maldivians faced harsh sentences on a daily basis, Yameen said the opposition politicians and lawyers briefing foreign diplomats about the “inadequate system” were unconcerned.
“But when just one case of a politician is filed at court, the entire justice system of the Maldives becomes a corrupt system,” he said.
The Maldives’ judiciary deserves the respect of foreign nations, he said.
He went on to say that former allies the JP and Adhaalath Party who protested against Nashed’s administration now calling for his release was “a riddle.”
All citizens were equal before the law, he continued, and all citizens have a constitutional right to defend themselves in a court of law.
Opposition protests against Nasheed’s administration in 2012 were prompted by the government “destroying the justice system” and arresting Criminal Court Chief Judge Abdulla Mohamed, Yameen said.
The public “came out in defence of the constitution” when Nasheed defied the Supreme Court’s orders to release the chief judge, he said, adding that the protests were about “a substantial and serious problem” whilst the current protests were “without any substance or basis.”
On the opposition alliance’s demands to release Nasheed, Yameen insisted that the government has not “arrested any politicians” and argued that enforcing the law without bias was in the best interest of the nation.
“Those facing punishment for their crimes happening to be politicians does not mean [we are] taking action against politicians,” he said.
If the president interfered and sought to settle such cases out of court, Yameen asked both the youth and opposition parties to consider if the president should overrule the judiciary once a death penalty verdict has been passed.
“Should President Yameen enforce the judgment differently for different people based on their colour, their faces, and their social standing?” he asked.
“If President Yameen acts differently in the present cases, why wouldn’t he act so in [death penalty cases]?”
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