Author: Minivan News

DRP’s ‘Crafty Government’ protest cancelled due to rain

The opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP)’s ‘Crafty Government’ protest, which was scheduled for last night was cancelled due to bad weather.

Local radio station SunFM reported that the protest was cancelled because there was a lot of equipment that was going to be used, and also because less people were expected to be attending if the weather was unsuitable.

The radio station also reported that former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom was scheduled to be take part in the event.

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Cabinet approves code of conduct

Cabinet has approved a code of conduct governing the execution of ministerial responsibilities, accountability and dealing with issues of conflict of interest, participation in organisations and societies, and delegation of Cabinet functions.

On August 3, the Cabinet approved clauses for engaging with the People’s Majlis (parliament).
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Nephew stabs uncle in dispute

A dispute between two nephews and their uncle led to one of the men up stabbing the uncle in the ear, reports reports daily newspaper Haveeru.

Haveeru reported that two persons, including the uncle and another man who was stabbed in the chest, were injured during the incdient on Hithadhoo in Seenu Atoll.

Police have arrested three people in connection with the case.

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Insurance companies to form private navy to tackle Somalian piracy

Insurance companies have signaled their intention to form a private navy to tackle rising levels of piracy around the Horn of Africa.

Hijacked vessels are costing the industry up to US$157 million in ransoms a year. The success of the piracy has let to increasingly aggressive and well-armed and equipped groups seeking further prey from bases in failed states like Somalia.

The UK’s Independent newspaper reported that Nato documents indicated that both ransoms and the duraction of hijackings had doubled in the last 12 months, to an average of US$4 million and 117 days.

16 ships and and 354 seamen are currently held hostage.

Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group (JLT), which insures 14 per cent of the world’s commercial shipping fleet, told the Independent that the world’s first private navy would work under the direct control of the military with clear rules of engagement valid under international law. A senior partner with the firm told The Independent that the navy would consist of armed personnel with fast boats escorting ships and “make it very clear to any Somali vessels in the vicinity that they are entering a protected area.”

The Maldives has previously repatriated latest castaways (six Somalians) who were rescued on May 16 are currently being kept in Dhoonidhoo custodial,” Muhusin said. ”They were brought there after they were discharged from hospital.”

Somali nationals have been rescued in Maldivian waters on several occasions, after being found adrift in small dinghys.

The country recently repatriated 25 castaways included seven people who were saved on December 1 last year, five people rescued on December 5, seven people saved on May 12 this year and six men more recently discovered in a dinghy near Makunudhoo, one of whom was found in the boat locker and believed dead but later stirred and recovered.

Makunudhoo islanders who rescued the men said it appeared they had been drifting in the tiny 12-15 foot vessel for three months without food or water.

There was public speculation as to whether the men were lost pirates, however this was not proven by police who noted that many of the castaways carried no passport or identity cards, or any document clarifying who they were and where they were from.

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US Department of Justice delegation visits Maldives prisons

A delegation from the US Department of Justice has met with President Mohamed Nasheed to offer suggestions about improving the prison system in the Maldives.

After reviewing the country’s prisons, the team suggested the strengthening of prison operations, prison facilities, training and personnel development, and complying with international human rights standards.

The team included Department of Justice Assistant Director of Corrections Programs Mr Mike Pannek, Mr Jeffrey Woodworth of the Bureau of Prisons, and two officials based in the US Embassy in Colombo.

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Maldives democracy sparked vicious political struggle

The establishment of a multi-party democracy in the Indian Ocean archipelago in 2008 ended a 30-year period of authoritarian rule under President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, writes New Delhi journalist Vishal Arora for Global Politician, but it started a vicious political struggle depriving the Maldivians of any sense of relief.

“Six months after former activist Mohamed Nasheed won the October 2008 presidential election, Gayoom’s Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) and its allies got a simple majority in the parliamentary election. When two rival parties became almost equally powerful, the clash was inevitable.

The tussle between the ruling coalition led by President Nasheed’s Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and the conservative DRP and its ally People’s Alliance (PA) peaked in June 2010 when the education minister Dr. Mustahafa Luthfee’s planned to make Islam and national language Dhivehi optional in school curricula for senior students.

The Gayoom regime homogenised Sunni Islam by restricting people’s religious and cultural rights – the South Asian island nation claims to have a 100 percent Muslim population like in Saudi Arabia. Nasheed, on the other hand, is seen as a liberal Muslim.

The other bone of contention was the government’s move to privatise the Malé International Airport, which was a source of income for some opposition legislators.

In response, the opposition moved a bill in the parliament to amend the Public Finance Act to resist further privatisation of state property, and brought in a no-confidence motion against the education minister.

However, on June 29, President Nasheed’s cabinet resigned en masse alleging inability to carry out its constitutional duties. The government also arrested some opposition legislators – including the leader of the PA and Gayoom’s half-brother, Abdulla Yameen – on charges of bribing lawmakers to vote against the government in the parliament. The arrests led to violent street protests in which several people were injured.”

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World Heart Day marked in Maldives

World Heart Day is to be marked today for the first time in the Maldives, infant cardiovascular disease NGO Tiny Hearts of Maldives has announced.

The NGO, which has hosted several highly successful charity fundraising events such as celebrity football matches, said the theme of World Heart Day 2010 was ‘Take responsibility for your own heart health’.

Tiny Hearts stressed the importance of a healthy lifestyle to avoid heart diseases, particularly for young people.

“Healthy behavior must be adopted even in the workplace,” the NGO said. “Workplace-wellness programs such as improving health and productivity and reducing the risk of heart diseases and stroke will benefit both employees and employers.”

The NGO will hand out heart-shaped balloons as well as conduct walks, public education and a puppet show.

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MDP reschedules elections for Friday

MDP (Maldivian Democratic Party) has rescheduled its delayed constituency elections for Friday, October 1.

The elections were postponed after MDP encountered what it claimed were “technical problems” with its plans to allow voters to cast their votes in text messages. Voters who had not previously registered for SMS voting will now have to cast their votes on paper, reports Haveeru.

Haveeru also reported that MDP is seeking to verify how the technical problems arose but have not yet got to the root of the problem.

The elections on Friday will be held from 2:30 to 7:30 pm.

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