Author: Minivan News

President appoints new Attorney General and Foreign Minister

President Mohamed Nasheed has moments ago appointed State Minister Ahmed Naseem, H. Hikifinifenmaage, as Foreign Minister, and Solicitor General Abdulla Muizz, Ma. Dawn Shine, as Attorney General.

The appointments come hours after parliament approved four out of five ministerial appointees, leaving the post of Attorney General vacant.

Housing Minister Mohamed Aslam had been acting Foreign Minister after parliament rejected the reappointment of former Foreign Minister Dr Ahmed Shaheed in November.

The pair were sworn in by High Court Judge Yousuf Hussein. After presenting letters of appointment, President Nasheed expressed confidence that the newest additions to the cabinet would receive parliamentary consent.

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EC slates Kelaa re-vote for April 9

The Elections Commission (EC) has announced that a local council by-election in Haa Alif Kelaa will take place on April 9 after the High Court declared the previous results invalid and ordered a re-vote.

The High Court ruled that the ballots were counted in a nearby island in violation of the Elections Act following disturbances in Kelaa on February 5.

The polling station in Kelaa was closed 15 minutes from time by EC officials who declared that people who left the queue would not be allowed to vote, angering many islanders and sparking confrontations.

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More than 50 arrested in connection with recent murder case

The police have told a local radio station that more than 50 persons have been arrested to curb the gang violence in Male’, following the murder of 21 year old Ahusan Basheer in a gang stabbing.

Basheer was murdered while he was on the street last Thursday early morning at 3:30 am.

Police said that minors were among the 50 individuals arrested, according to SunFM.

The station reported that some were now released.

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Police discover Muli Post Office’s missing safe

Police have discovered the stolen safe of the Meemu Atoll Muli Post Office.

The safe was buried inside a house in the island, police said. The safe appeared to be damaged by attempts to break it open.

One minor and a 28 year old man were arrested in connection with the case.

According to police, everything inside the safe when stolen was in it when police discovered it.

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President offers condolences to families of Orchid fire victims

President Mohamed Nasheed has offered his condolences to the families of two women who died yesterday in a house fire in Heniveru, next door to the Sala Thai restaurant.

The President’s Office confirmed the identities of the deceased women as Haaji Edhuruge Dhon Siththi, the mother of Deputy Minister of Health and Family Fathimath Afiya and Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the United Nations Offices in Geneva Iruthisham Adamand Iuthisham Adam, and Iuthisham Adam, their sister.

President Mohamed Nasheed met with the family and expressed his deep sympathy and sent sincere condolences to the bereaved family.

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UK High Commission announces Chevening Scholarship Scheme for 2011/2012

The British High Commission and the British Council in Colombo have announced the launch of the Chevening Scholarship Scheme for 2011/2012 in Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

The scheme is opened to graduates in the early- to mid-stages of their professional oracademic career in the government/private sector or at a non-governmental organisation. The emphasis is on study at the postgraduate level. The High Commission stated that cpplicants 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.

Particular priority, the High Commission said, would 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.

The High Commission added that preference would 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 and to those whose study in Britain is likely to enhance their potential for influence in their respective countries.

The Chevening Scholarship Scheme is the UK’s most prestigious scholarship scheme for foreign students. Its aim is to enable current and future leaders, decision makers and opinion
formers to study in the UK and make a positive contribution to their own countries upon their return, the High Commission said.

“Many former Chevening scholars have gone on to be leaders in their fields, and indeed, even leaders of their countries.”

The applications will be open from Sunday, 20 March to Saturday, 30 April, 2011 and will be available only online: www.britishcouncil.lk/chevening

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Murder suspect at large

The Maldives Police Service has appealed for public assistance as it searches for fugitive Ibrahim Shahum, 20, of Galholhu Cozy, the principal suspect in the gang-related murder of 21-year old Ahusan Basheer last week.

Shahum was arrested in August last year in connection with the murder of 17-year old Mohamed Hussein on July 30, 2010, which occured near the Maaziya playground in Male’.  The suspect had later turned himself in after three weeks of police searches.

However, he was released six months later on 17 February by Criminal Court Chief Judge Abdulla Mohamed after police claimed that the Health Ministry had not complied with requests for the medico-legal report from Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGHM), where the victim died while undergoing treatment.

According to Haveeru, Chief Judge Abdulla Mohamed observed that six months was “a bit too much” to respond to a police request, ordering the release of the suspect “to hold [Health Minister] Aminath Jameel responsible.”

A statement issued by police on Thursday notes that upon request the Prosecutor General’s Office appealed the Criminal Court ruling three days later.

“Police are extremely concerned about such incidents. The Maldives Police Service will be taking special measures to curb the rising crime in society,” read the statement that also appealed for the cooperation of the authorities and the public to aid police efforts.

Meanwhile, the authorities continue to shift blame after the Criminal Court last week issued a statement defending the court from public criticism over the release of dangerous suspects.  The Criminal Court stressed that persons brought before it had constitutional rights and should be considered innocent until proven guilty.

The statement claims that court records show a number of defendants brought before the court had previously been sentenced to jail and “none of the relevant authorities of the state could prove that any of these people had been released to society on a Criminal Court order.”

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“Maldives for Japan” telethon raises Rf7 million in 37 hours

Over Rf7 million (US$544,747) worth of aid has been raised during the 37-hour “Maldives for Japan” telethon that was held over the weekend in an attempt to support the people of Japan following a devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck the Maldives’ largest bilateral donor on 11 March.

A total of Rf5,319,162.69 (US$413,900) along with 119,507 cans of tuna were donated by the people of Maldives.

The fundraising telethon was organised by Male’ City Council and broadcast live in what is thought to be an unprecedented collaborative effort by all of the country’s TV and radio stations.

Musicians and actors teamed up to organise entertainment shows at the tsunami memorial area where more than 30 bands performed over two nights.

A steady stream of Maldivians, often accompanied by children, also queued at the MNBC studio and other locations hosting  fund boxes where they could make their contributions.

The single largest donor was trading company CTG, which provided Rf1 million (US$77,800).  Chairman of the Villa Group, Gasim Ibrahim, donated tuna cans worth Rf1.3 million (US$101,100).

In his weekly radio address on Friday, President Mohamed Nasheed urged all Maldivians to contribute to the telethon and show solidarity with Japan while Vice President Dr Mohamed Waheed led a walk with thousands of participants across the capital later that day.

A moment of silence was observed at 10:45am on Friday (18 March) to mark the moment the earthquake struck.

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MNDF commences Vilufushi crocodile hunt

Officers from the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) are conducting searches for crocodiles near Thaa Atoll Vilufushi after islanders reported sightings of two of the creatures on Thursday.

Officers from the MNDF Central Area on Friday searched the Vilifushi lagoon and nearby uninhabited islands, but there has been no sign of the presence of the amphibians so far.

According to the MNDF website, officers from the Laamu Kahdhoo post will remain on duty in Vilufushi during the operation that is set to continue for a week.

A six-foot crocodile found in Lhaviyani Naifaru on February 1 was the believed to be the second crocodile found in as many months within Maldivian waters.

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