Four public transportation regulations and regulations were published yesterday in the government’s Gazette by the Ministry of Housing, Transport and Environment.
Transport rules published included motor vehicle driving license regulation, motor vehicles speed limit regulation, exempted vehicles regulation and public transport ferries regulation.
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(0)Maldives Envoy for Science and Technology Ahmed Shafeeq Ibrahim Moosa yesterday met with President of the Maldives Science Society (MSS) Mohamed Ijaz and Secretary General Amal Shaheed.
Moosa said it was important to have small scale grassroots movements to achieving important outcomes for the development of the nation.
The MSS could contribute to the government’s plans to make the Maldives the first carbon neutral country in the world, he suggested, and urged the organisation to work to make the public more aware of green technologies and environmentally friendly ways of living.
The two parties also discussed ways of providing government support and assistance for the MSS’s activities.
(0)Dislikes(0)The first cardiologist in the Maldives has begun work at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).
According to Miadhu, Dr Ali Shafeeq had previously worked at IGMH and received his specialised medical studies at India’s Sri Chitra institute of medical science.
The cardiology unit at IGMH has been closed for a while now, Miadhu reported.
(0)Dislikes(0)Prisoners in the Seenu Gan temporary jail, run by the MNDF, are being deprived of basic human rights according to an anonymous source claiming familiarity with the matter.
“[Inmates] are kept in small cages, four per block, they have to urinate in small water bottles, and if they want to use the toilet they are blindfolded, handcuffed and escorted by two guards,” the source told Minivan News.
Around 40 inmates were transfered to the temporary jail last October, after a fire caused by the inmates led to congestion in Maafushi jail.
When the prisoners were first transferred to the MNDF-run prison in Gan they were kept blindfolded and restrained for 72 hours, the source claimed.
“They have been here for three months now. It’s difficult to contact the outside world, and it was a long time before their families even heard from them. Inmates are being deprived of even the most basic necessities, even little things like soap, toothpaste and clothes are scarce. They feel they are not being given their rights.”
Contact with the outside world was minimal, “and they can’t see their parents, wives or children.”
The prisoners had previously gone on a hunger strike in protest at their treatment, the source claimed, and in response four were allegedly taken into a nearby wood and tied up for three days.
In addition, the source said the proximity to a military base meant the prisoners “hear gunshots all the time and can’t sleep at night.”
Most of the 40 inmates transferred to the prison were serving time for “small” convictions, “around five years”, the source claimed, and felt they should be treated as civilian rather than military prisoners as their court sentences had dictated.
Response
Minivan News attempted to contact the Department of Penitentiary and Rehabilitation Services (DPRS) to confirm the allegations but was referred to the MNDF.
Brigadier General Ibrahim Mohamed Didi, in charge of the Gan MNDF base, said “the reason they are here is because they burnt the jail [at Maafushi], and a place was needed to keep them temporarily. This place was chosen,” he said.
“This is a military training base, not a proper jail. We can’t provide facilities to the inmates for things such as family visits. As for matters such as toilets, we are doing the best we can, but they have to remember this is a military base and we can’t give them five star service.”
Asked how he felt about being given the prisoners to look after, Didi said “it is not an issue of us being burdened with prisoners. That there was no place for the prisoners after the jail was burned is a national issue, and the government asked us to look after them.”
Didi said the prisoners were monitored by the military “to ensure there isn’t any violence going on. We also have to keep in mind the safety of the people of Addu and international airport. The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) recently came and did a report.”
Ahmed Saleem, president of the HRCM said the organisation had been made aware of a problem at Gan jail.
“We have recently received reports of this as well, and we are investigating the case,” he said.
“We have no problem with the MNDF guarding the perimeter [of the prison], but direct contact with the inmates should be by civil authorities. MNDF personnel will treat the inmates like prisoners-of-war, not criminals.”
Saleem added that the prisoners were at the temporary prison because some inmates set fire to the Maafushi jail, and “there wasn’t enough space there. We don’t want to release them, but they needed to be treated humanely.”
Treatment of prisoners in the Maldives had changed over the last few years, he said, “and the police have a very positive policy now. But there are always going to be individuals [involved in mistreatment].”
Fathmath Afiya from the Society for Women Against Drugs (SWAD) said “we have received information about this as well, and recently sent a letter to the parliament asking that the conditions in the Gan jail be improved.”
(0)Dislikes(0)The Baa Thulhaadhoo Police Station and Thulhaadhoo Crime Prevention Committee held an awareness programme for the community of Baa Hithaadhoo, raising the issues of illegal drug use and child sexual abuse.
Police said a religious viewpoint was also given to further highlight the seriousness of these issues.
Six police from Baa Thulhaadhoo Police Station, 10 members of Thulhaadhoo Crime Prevention Committee, two teachers of Thulhaadhoo School and 27 students of Thulhaadhoo School took part in the programme.
(0)Dislikes(0)A pair of men and one person under the age of 18 have been arrested by police in connection with drugs, reports Haveeru.
The group were arrested in an abandon house on the island of Hithadhoo in Addu Atoll while they were allegedly packing suspected narcotics.
Police said the investigation was ongoing and they could not reveal more information.
(0)Dislikes(0)Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) held a meeting yesterday where they said they would go build on the foundation set by former leader Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.
The DRP also expressed ts feeling that they hope to benefit from former leader Gayoom’s knowledge and experience.
(0)Dislikes(0)Two 19 year olds were seriously injured in an automobile accident in Gaaf Dhaalu Thinadhoo.
A car and motorcycle collided into each other and left both badly damaged, police report.
The accident happened on Aabaadhee Higun around 7:00 pm last night.
Both of the victims are receiving treatment at Thinadhoo Regional Hospital.
(0)Dislikes(0)More than 200 employees from the Maldives Airports Company will be transferred to the Civil Aviation Ministry and the Maldivian National Defense Force (MNDF).
Managing Director Mohamed Ibrahim said 84 employees working at the air traffic control tower will be transferred tothe civil aviation ministry while 179 airport security officers will be transferred to the MNDF.
The company is being restructured and the transfer of employees is part of the downsizing project.
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