Author: Minivan News

MDP proposes parliament dismiss Dr Afrasheem and MMA Governor

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has proposed dismissing main opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) MP Dr Afrasheem Ali from the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and Fazeel Najeeb from his post as the Governor of Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA), reports SunFM.

MDP Parliamentary Group Leader “Reeko” Moosa Manik claimed that the pair had failed to carry out their held responsibilities.

The station quoted Moosa as saying that judges have been obstructed from conducting their work because of Dr Afrasheem, a day after the opposition-majority parliament declined the approval of Attorney General Dr Ahmed Ali Sawad.

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Laamu Hithadhoo ‘Responsible Officer’ arrested on suspicion of arson

Responsible Officer Abdul Raheem Idris, the highest-ranking civil servant at the Laamu Hithadhoo island council, has been arrested on suspicion of arson following a recent spate of fires in the island, reports Haveeru.

According to Island Councillor Mohamed Hussein, police took Idrees into custody last Saturday after a number of palm trees were set on fire.

The Councillor explained that police evidently had reason to believe that Idrees was behind the acts of arson.

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Adhaalath urges Maldivians to provide assistance for Japan

The Adhaalath Party has called on all the Maldivians to provide assistance to Japan quake victims.

The Party said on its website that it was fully participating in the mourning for the Japanese dead, now thought to be over 18,000.

Many different community programs to raise funds for the quake victims in Japan were held in Male’ last weekend.

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Maldives ease to victory against Cambodia 4-0

The Maldives national football team kicked off its AFC Challenge Cup qualifying campaign with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Cambodia in Male’ last night.

Cheered on by enthusiastic home support, a goal in the first minute by Muhthar Naseer and a hat-trick by Captain Ali Ashfag sealed the victory, which takes Maldives top of Group C on goal difference.

In the other game in the group, 2006 Champions Tajikistan beat Central Asian neighbour Kyrgyzstan 1-0 courtesy of a late own goal.

The Maldives was chosen by the AFC to host Group C games last month. The next matches will take place on March 23 and 25 at the National Stadium in Male’.

The two teams placed top in the group will qualify for the AFC Challenge Cup in 2012.

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DRP statement condemns opposition conduct on cabinet vote

A press statement reportedly sent from from the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) has criticised fellow opposition politicians for voting in favour of the government at the Majlis yesterday over cabinet appointees.

Miadhu reported that the party, currently gripped by internal struggles between supporters of current leader Ahmed Thasmeen Ali and his predecessor and former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, released a statement saying it was unhappy that four ministerial nominees were endorsed by the Majlis yesterday.

According to the statement, the endorsements came despite Thasmeen having decided to reject three of the ministerial appointments.

“We are disheartened that some of those who voted in favour of the government were those individuals who spoke from the first rows of the different podiums, different TV Channels, taking the government to account,” the DRP were reported as saying.

The statement also raised concerns that DRP politicians Ilham Ahmed and Ali Mohamed did not participate in the votes that, in certain cases, narrowly approved the new cabinet ministers.

Home Minister Hassan Afeef and Transport Minister Adhil Saleem were narrowly approved in spite of the DRP declaring that it would impose a three-line whip to reject the two nominees.

Afeef and Saleem were approved after a few independent MPs along with Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP) MP Riyaz Rasheed and Republican Party MP Gasim Ibrahim sided with the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) – Saleem was approved with 39 votes in favour while Afeef received 37 votes from the 73 MPs present and voting.

However, MPs rejected the reappointment of Attorney General Dr Ahmed Ali Sawad for a second time. Dr Sawad received 36 votes in favour and 37 against from the 73 MPs in attendance.

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“Tolerance and passive acceptance of others is not enough”: UK High Commissioner Rankin

British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, John Rankin, has said that yesterday’s International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination marked an “opportunity for all of us to re-commit to defending and promoting fundamental equality.”

“We live in an age of diversity, where societies grow ever more complex each day. Diversity is not a choice – it is a reality that we live; a reality that makes it imperative that the prejudice and injustice of racial discrimination is purged from society,” Rankin said.

“Tolerance and passive acceptance of others is not enough. Racial discrimination is a breeding ground for tension and mistrust that can lead to conflict – a phenomenon we have witnessed, time and again, in history. Overcoming racism will lead to the evolution of a strong, dynamic and healthy society – the foundation for sustainable peace and development in the twenty-first century.”

He added that the first article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination reminds us of our collective responsibility for promoting and protecting this ideal.”

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Gasim and PA conspired to send two DRP MPs abroad, alleges MP Ali Azim

Ali Azim, Mid-Henveiru MP for the main opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP), has alleged that business tycoon and Maamigili MP Gasim Ibrahim along with DRP’s coalition partner People’s Alliance (PA) conspired to send two DRP MPs abroad ahead of today’s vote on ministerial appointees.

Azim told newspaper Haveeru that the two additional votes would have sufficed to reject Home Minister Hassan Afeef and Transport Minister Adhil Saleem.

The two MPs in question are Ilham Ahmed of the DRP’s Gayoom faction and Velidhoo MP Ali Mohamed.

Azim claimed that DRP’s efforts to bring back the two MPs in time for the vote were unsuccessful.

“Ilham is definitely a member of Zaeem [Maumoon’s] faction,” he said. “It is regrettable that Ilham was not present for a vote on a person that has directly targeted the Zaeem on many occasions. We hope the Zaeem will condemn this.”

In 2009, Home Minister Hassan Afeef, former parliamentary group leader of the now-ruling Maldivian Democratic Party, was found guilty of defaming the former President by claiming that Gayoom had embezzled US$80 million from tsunami relief aid.

PA Deputy Leader Ahmed Nazim denied the DRP’s accusations, claiming that it was DRP Leader Ahmed Thasmeen Ali that sent away the Velidhoo MP as agreed upon in an alleged secret meeting with President Mohamed Nasheed over the weekend.

DRP Deputy Leader Ilham meanwhile explained that he was in Sri Lanka accompanying his seriously ill six-year old who remains in critical condition at the ICU, adding that he was counselled by former President Gayoom as well as Gasim Ibahim to remain with his family.

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Villigili ballot box recount reveals 49 votes invalidated erroneously

A recount by the Elections Commission (EC) of one ballot box in Gaaf Alif Villigili as ordered by the High Court last week has revealed that 49 votes were erroneously invalidated, reports SunFM.

The case was filed at the High Court by island council candidate Anbaree Anwar Moosa, who was placed eighth with two votes short. Seven councillors were elected to the Villigili island council.

However, Anwar Moosa did not receive any votes from the validated 49 votes.

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Singapore High Commissioner visits Nasheed

High Commissioner of Singapore to the Maldives Dr Chua Yong Hai has visited President Mohamed Nasheed and discussed further cooperation between the two countries.

President Nasheed said that Singapore was an important development partner to the Maldives, and that Maldivians “see Singapore as an exemplary state in all aspects.”

The pair discussed the 20 Singaporean students visiting the Maldives under a student exchange programme run by Singapore.

In a statement, the President’s Office noted that these visits “serve to further strengthen the bond between the peoples of both countries and broaden the worldview of students.”

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