Author: Minivan News

Further deaths reported as Syrian military accused of seizing Deraa mosque

Syrian security authorities stand accused of storming a mosque in the city of Deraa yesterday as part of attempts to quell ongoing unrest in the country, resulting in several reported fatalities.

The BBC reported that 66 civilians caught up in ongoing anti-government protests were believed to have been killed by security officials on Saturday (April 30) as soldiers allegedly established a presence on the roof of Deraa’s Omari mosque after storming the building.

State officials have said that official fatality figures were a lot lower than those reported in international media and included the death of four soldiers. Local television also reported that “armed terrorists” had attacked security forces in the cities of Deraa and Homs.

Foreign journalists are reportedly banned from entering the country, making official clarification of events in the country difficult.

According to the Al Jazeera news agency, the son of an imam at the Omari mosque was amongst the dead after allegedly being shot by security forces as Deraa reportedly came under “heavy shelling and gunfire”. The alleged attacks were reported to have taken place while civilians tried to bury bodies left over from protests taking place on Friday.

Al Jazeera journalist Rula Amin, based in the national capital of Damascus, stated that Deraa was thought to have witnessed some of the most severe clashes between security forces and anti-government protesters.

Amin added that within this backdrop, state television broadcasts featured people “confessing” to being members of terrorist groups that are sponsored by individuals based in Deraa, including the imam of the Omari mosque.

“We are told by residents that the imam was always asking for calm, for dialogue, and when I went to Deraa and I met him myself he did not say that people should carry guns or should fire at security forces,” she wrote. “He was adamant that people have the right to protest, that things need to change in Syria.”

International news organisation Reuters said that security forces had yesterday also arrested two “veteran” opposition figures and 11 female protesters taking part in a silent march around Damascus as part of their crack downs on anti-government sentiment in the country.

Reuters added that local human rights group Sawasiah currently estimates that 560 civilians had been killed by security forces since protests kicked off about six weeks ago.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Hithadhoo fisherman dies of heart attack at sea

A 51 year-old man from Hithadhoo in Seenu Atoll died of a heart attack while on a fishing trip with 15 others last night.

Ibrahim Mohamed ‘Ibrahim Kalo’ was fishing from the boat ‘Shaan’ within a one nautical mile of Hithadhoo when he died, reports Haveeru.

“He looked fine when we set out. We were just off the island of Hulhudhoo catching bait when he fell down and was completely still. There was no pulse and he wasn’t breathing. We immediately set off for Hithadhoo,” another man on the vessel told Haveeru.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Bill on bank cheques passed

Parliament today passed a bill prohibiting the issuance of bank cheques without sufficient funds, replacing the existing penalty for the offence of a jail sentence with a large fine.

The legislation submitted by minority opposition People’s Alliance (PA) MP Abdul Azeez Jamal Abubakr was voted through with eight amendments proposed on the floor.

Several MPs however argued that levying a fine on a person who issued a bounced check was not sensible.  Opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) Abdulla Abdul Raheem pointed out that in many cases the fine would exceed the amount of the bounced check.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Over 50 sex crimes reported in April

Police revealed today that 58 cases of sexual violence have been reported so far this month, including 40 cases in the atolls and 18 in Male’.

MNBC One reports that while police declined to reveal either the identities or number of the suspects taken into custody, the cases reportedly involve child sexual abuse, sexual violence against the elderly and sexual assault inside vehicles.

On Saturday, the Health Ministry in collaboration with local NGOs held a protest march in Male’ urging the authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice and pursue a zero tolerance policy for child abuse.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

President greeted with protests in Maavah

President Mohamed Nasheed was greeted with protests when he arrived in Laamu Maavah late afternoon yesterday.

Haveeru reports that clashes occurred between supporters of the president’s Maldivian Democratic party (MDP) and opposition groups gathered at the jetty, with police using tear gas to disperse the crowd.

An islander recounted that protesters marched behind the President’s entourage as it visited various island institutions, protesting at unfulfilled pledges by the President to build 50 housing units and a fish processing factory in the island.

“They protested outside everywhere the President went,” he said, adding that an opposition supporter had to undergo treatment for minor injuries sustained during the scuffle with government supporters in the island.

In the parliamentary elections of May 2009, all five constituencies of Laamu Atoll were won by the minority opposition People’s Alliance (PA) party.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Deputy Speaker denies dodging court summons

Deputy Speaker Ahmed Nazim denied allegations made at parliament this week by coalition partner Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) MPs that the minority opposition People’s Alliance (PA) MP had dodged Criminal Court summons eight times to date.

The Dhiggaru MP in March 2010 pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to defraud the former Ministry of Atolls Development.

Appearing on Villa TV last night, Nazim explained that summons might have been cancelled on occasion when he went out of the county, but insisted that he had informed the court before overseas trips.

Nazim claimed that he had been advised by ruling party MPs as well as former Home Minister Mohamed Shihab to stay out of the country, adding that he was not hesitant to face the charges at court.

“I will face [the trial],” he said. “I will face it and prove to the public that I am innocent.”

The Deputy Speaker also claimed that while four hearings have taken place in his case, MP Ahmed “Redwave” Saleem, who faces similar charges of corruption during his time as director of finance at the Atolls Ministry, has yet to be summoned to court.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Low number of submissions means “high chance” of scholarships for Maldivian students, says UK High Commission

The British High Commission to Sri Lanka and the Maldives has announced that applications for the Chevening Scholarship Scheme for 2011-2012 will close this Saturday April 30.

The High Commission expressed surprise at the fewer number of applications submitted this year from the Maldives compared with last year.

“Although disappointing for us, this is great news for prospective Maldivian students – those who apply in the next few days stand a higher chance than normal of being granted a fully-funded scholarship,” the High Commission said in a statement.

The Chevening Scholarship Scheme – which is the UK’s most prestigious scholarship scheme for foreign students – is opened to graduates in the early- to mid-stages of their professional or academic career in the government/private sector or at a non-governmental organisation. The emphasis is on study at the postgraduate level.

Applicants could be considering study in any field relevant to one or more of the UK government’s strategic international priorities, which can be accessed at www.fco.gov.uk. However, particular priority will be given to applicants who will work to promote good governance or benefit socio-economic or environmental development in Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

Candidates should have some work or academic experience relating to their field of study as well as an offer from a UK higher education institution for the academic year 2011/2012. Preference will be given to those who have attained, or have demonstrated, the potential to attain, a position of responsibility and influence within their field in Sri Lanka or the Maldives.

The applications, available only online, can be accessed at http://www.britishcouncil.lk/chevening

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

ACFJ offering scholarships in multimedia journalism

The Asia Center for Journalism (ACFJ) in the Philippines is offering a one-year program and 10 scholarships for journalists to undertake cross platform multimedia journalistic projects.

The work combines both theoretical and practical approaches with lectures and discussions as well as hands-on exercises and projects, the ACFJ said in a statement.

Admission is limited to 15 students. Scholarship grants are available to Asian journalists on a competitive basis.

Prospective students must have at least one full year of work experience as a photojournalist, photo-editor, photographer or journalist.

Application forms and scholarship details can be downloaded from the resources section of http://acfj.ateneo.edu/

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Customs sets new import export duty rate of Rf14.10 to the dollar

The Maldives Customs Service has increased the import export duty rate to Rf14.10 to the dollar, starting from May.

Principal Collector of Customs, Mohamed Aswan, said the rate was in fluctuation and would be revised every month, in collaboration with the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA).

The government recently floated the rufiya within a 20 percent band of the pegged rate of Rf 12.85.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)