Author: Mohamed Saif Fathih

Details of President’s trips to Singapore a public right, says Nasheed

Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) leader and former President Mohamed Nasheed has stated that Maldivian citizens have the right to information regarding President Abdulla Yameen’s frequent trips abroad.

In a statement, followed by a tweet in Dhivehi regarding the issue, Nasheed stated that under the Information Act the public has the right to know details of all Yameen’s expenses.

“Revealing information regarding the expenses of the president from funds raised by public taxation is something that must be done in a transparent, democratic society,” said the MDP party president.

Responding to the statement, President’s Office spokesman Ibrahim Muaz told Minivan News that the president’s health was not an issue.

“You can see him actively working day and night. He is in good health, Alhamdulillahi,” said Muaz.

He added that the government does not believe that the details about such trips have to be made public.

“Details of president’s personal trips do not have to revealed, nowhere in the world does that happen,” said Muaz.

Further, he assured that the government will uphold the spirit of the Information Act and would  therefore welcome any information sought within the boundaries of the act, “even if president Nasheed’s travel expenses and information on how many foreigners he employed, paid by the state, was requested”.

In his statement today, Nasheed said that during MDP’s tenure details of all government expenses were revealed by the Ministry of Finance and Treasury on a systematic basis, noting that the practice has been put to an end after the new government stepped in.

In a letter to Vice President Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed yesterday (January 11), MDP Deputy Chairperson Ali Shiyam asked the President’s Office to make public details of the number of official and unofficial visits Yameen had undertaken to Singapore since he assumed office in November 2013.

The MDP also asked for details on the number of days Yameen spent in Singapore, the number of individuals who accompanied him, the amount of money spent from the state budget, and details of the president’s health.

Yameen has travelled to Singapore at least five times between July 29 and the end of November last year. This includes two stop-overs in Singapore – one in August and one in November – on the way to China and Nepal, respectively.

Nasheed first raised concerns over the president’s health in October.

During Malé’s water crisis in December, the MDP passed a resolution claiming the government had failed to perform its duties and declaring support for Jumhooree Party leader Gasim Ibrahim to assume power.

Yameen had been in Singapore, but cut short his unofficial trip and returned to Malé as the water crisis continued. The capital’s 130,000 residents had been left without running water due to a fire at the water plant.

Article 123 of the Constitution states that if the president believes himself temporarily unable to perform the duties and responsibilities of office, he should inform the speaker of the People’s Majlis in writing and handover duties and responsibilities to the vice president.


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Teacher’s Association welcomes salary hikes

The Teacher’s Association of Maldives (TAM) has welcomed rises to teacher salaries, but noted that the organisation needs to analyse the changes in order to see if teachers’ demands were “satisfactorily met”.

Speaking to Minivan News, TAM’s Secretary General Ali Nazim said the government had not yet released details of the new pay structure despite schools opening up for the new academic year today.

“We welcome the increases in salaries. We have some concerns, we will release a full statement after analysing the changes brought, if they satisfactorily meet our demands”, Nazim said.

The education ministry on Friday announced teachers’ salaries would be increased by 35 and 15 percent depending on the qualification they held.

Those with a Bachelors degree were awarded a MVR3,600 hike – increasing take home pay from MVR11,238 to to MVR14,894, and teachers with a Diploma Certificate were awarded a MVR2,600 hike – increasing take home salary from MVR8,671 to MVR11,337.

Teachers who hold other qualifications were awarded increases between 25 and 15 percent.

Vice president Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed today said that the increment to teachers’ salaries would improve the quality of education throughout the country.

Ad hoc policy

Speaking to Minivan News regarding the implementation of the new curriculum for grades one through three, former education minister Shifa Mohamed stated that the introduction of the curriculum came without adequate preparation. Parents and teachers have not been properly briefed on the changes to the teaching style, approach and the aims of the curriculum, she said.

“According to a baseline study, communication and comprehension skills of students are decreasing. Teachers and parents must know that those skills are the skills that are to be targeted and improved through the new curriculum,” said Shifa.

She also expressed concern over the government’s “indecisiveness and lack of consistency” with regards to changes brought to the school management structure, claiming the government had decided to remove the post of deputy principals and leading teachers who play a decisive role in implementing the new curriculum. The ministry had made the decision due to pressure, she said.

“Deputy principals and leading teachers did not have the guarantee that they would have a job by the start of the academic year. That will surely affect their performance.”

Shifa, who currently serves as the Malé City deputy mayor, also said that 14 political appointees were heading all the departments in the ministry despite the civil service regulations requiring otherwise.

“Despite the many political appointees, what we are seeing is the lack of planning and organisation. Quran, Islam, and Dhivehi textbooks for grade 1, 2 and 3 have still not been printed,” Shifa said.

The education ministry’s Permanent Secretary Dr Abdul Mushin said although the ministry had not printed all the books, they are compiled and ready for printing.

Muhsin claimed it was customary to print the final copies after hearing responses from students, teachers, and parents. He also assured that all lessons would be printed individually and made available to students as they are printed.

Opposition leader and former President Mohamed Nasheed, in his message on the start of the new academic year, stated that the key to building a civilized and developed society is education, and stressed the importance of a single session school system.

Meanwhile local media have reported that parents of Feevah Island school in Shaviyani Atoll have closed the school in protest as only six out of 13 teachers turned up for work today. Haveeru reported that the school had not received text books.

Similary, Gulhi Island school, in Kaafu Atoll, local teachers did not turn up for work today in protest against the principal.

Furthermore, students enrolled at the new Hulhumalé pre-school were forced to go to school in plain clothes to the old temporary building as the education ministry had failed to find a party to run the new school on a contract basis.


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President Yameen announces rise in teachers’ salaries

President Abdulla Yameen has announced a rise in teachers salaries from the start of the academic year this Sunday (January 11).

Speaking at a ceremony held last night at Dharubaaruge to inaugurate the salary scheme for senior players of national sporting teams, President Yameen stated that the increment will amount to over a third of the salary teachers are receiving at the moment.

Teachers strikes regarding pay and working conditions were narrowly avoided last year after the government entered into negotiations with the Teachers Association of Maldives (TAM).

Meanwhile, local media outlets have reported that the Ministry of Education will terminate the post of ‘leading teacher’.

The ministry’s Permanent Secretary Dr Abdul Muhsin stated that the school staff structure is being revised, resulting in changes to the scope of responsibility and tasks assigned to different posts.

While noting the revised staff structure has not been finalised, Muhsin assured that “all drafts of the structure have so far included the post of leading teachers”.

Last month, the ministry announced that the position of deputy principal was to be abolished, with the 188 individuals currently holding the positions transferred to different posts, and administrative staff taking their place.

Muhsin stated that he was unable to give any further details on the revised staff structure and salary hikes as neither had been finalised.

Around 90 percent of the country’s teachers protested in September last year – wearing black clothing to raise awareness over issues such as poor pay, inadequate protection of teachers, and the failure to grant the TAM official recognition.

The government avoided a full work stoppage just as strikes seemed set to go ahead, sitting down with TAM and creating a timeline in which to meet the demands of teachers.

TAM Athif Abdul Hakeem was not responding to calls at the time of publication.

In November, the Maldivian Democratic Party’s budget review committee suggested that the government had not budgeted the required MVR532 million (US$34.5 million) needed to raise the salaries of teachers despite promises made by both President Yameen and Vice President Dr Mohamed Jameel.


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Government introduces monthly salary scheme for national athletes

The government has decided to award monthly salaries to professional athletes and sportsmen included in the national squads.

In a ceremony held last night (January 6) under the banner of ‘Our National Teams – Our Pride’, President Abdulla Yameen stated that the scheme will ensure all sportsmen and athletes officially representing the Maldives will receive at least MVR2,500 (US$162) per month.

Maldives Olympic Committee Secretary General Ahmed Marzooq described the move as a “massive step in the right direction” and congratulated the government on the decision.

Marzooq explained that the scheme ranks all athletes into categories corresponding to a different level of salary rates, with the categorisation of athletes assigned to the national sports associations.

Currently, athletes have to obtain scholarships abroad in order to pursue full time training, or must fit their training around their work lives.

“The government has decided to review the categorisation process and the way in which the national associations are utilising the money in April. This will give associations adequate time to have an idea of how best the money can be utilized”, Marzooq explained.

He also stated that as taxpayers money has now been assigned to pay for national athletes, the public and the state will demand more social responsibility from them and that proper standardisation, with regards to performance and codes of conduct, needed to be established.

Stressing the importance of proper technical evaluation of athletes by the national sports associations in determining which category they fit into, Marzook expressed joy over the fact that such a scheme had been inaugurated before the Indian Ocean Games – scheduled for August, 2015, in Reunion Island.

“This decision will definitely give a boost to the preparation for the Indian Ocean Games.”

Fourteen teams will represent the Maldives in 10 sporting events, he continued, noting that the Maldives aimed to achieve between 9 and 11 medals.

Assistant Secretary General of the Football Association of Maldives (FAM) Mohamed Nasir also welcomed government’s decision, saying that the association will conduct a technical evaluation of how the funds are to be spent.

He was unable to give further details, as FAM Technical Director Mohamed Shiyaz (Mohan) was currently on leave.


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Youth leaders express support for Akon concert, while religious groups maintain oppostion

Tourism minister Ahmed Adeeb has expressed his joy over the show of support by a team of youth leaders – including MP Yamin Rasheed – in promoting Thursday night’s Akon concert in Male’.

In a tweet hashtagged #ShowWillGoOn and #TeamZuvaanun, Adeeb said he was “happy to see Youth Leaders from all the Political Parties United for a cause, Respect!”.

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP Yamin Rasheed told Minivan News that he will be involved in promotional activities for the show, acting in his personal capacity.

Meanwhile, the Adhaalath Party has reportedly said this week that it will continue to work to stop the concert going ahead.

MDP Youth Wing President Mohamed Azmeel expressed support for the show, noting that when the MDP government organised such shows aimed at the youth, the current minister for Islamic affairs along with the Adhaalath Party also protested.

Stressing that the MDP supports entertainment avenues for the youth, Azmeel pointed out that the party has had no official contact or involvement with the government regarding the Akon show, despite the suggestion in Adeeb’s tweet.

In a press conference held yesterday (January 5), Azmeel did express some concern over the government’s decision to host another international star without the conclusion of the investigation into threats made against Sean Paul, who had been scheduled to perform at the Tourist Arrival Countdown show.

Sean Paul backed out of the show at the eleventh hour, with Adeeb telling Minivan News on December 30 that the decision had been prompted by pressure in the artist’s home country, Jamaica. Adeeb was not responding to calls at the time of publication today.

Adeeb told media this week that he hoped the appearance of international artists in Malé would rid the capital of the reputation it had gained as “a lair that harbours members of the Islamic State or extremist militants”.

The President’s Office has denounced the online threat as a hoax intended to create an atmosphere of fear in the capital.

During the ‘Tourist Arrival Countdown Show’ on December 31, which eventually featured a host of Indian artists, it was announced that the American R&B star Akon would be performing in Malé on January 8.

In 2010, a show featuring Akon was organised – and tickets sold – before organisers cancelled citing a lack of technical support and security. As with the Sean Paul concert, both the Islamic ministry and local religious NGO Jamiyyathul Salaf had spoken out against the show.

Adhaalath Party President Sheikh Imran Abdulla has stated on Vnews this week that the party will not differentiate between governments with regards to “anti-islamic activities”, saying that the party is working non-stop to block the Akon show.

“Akon performing in Maldives is something we condemn in the harshest terms. We do not support the show,” Imran stated.

The party was reported last weekend to have expressed concern at what it sees as “horrifying acts that defy Islamic teachings and social convention” taking place in the country.

Local media have reported that Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra is also scheduled to perform on Thursday, although the event’s organisers have not officially confirmed her appearance.

Meanwhile Jamiyyathul Salaf have said that social media announcements about a religious sermon scheduled for the same evening at the Artificial beach are a hoax designed to deter the masses from the activities of religious scholars and sheikhs, reported Haveeru.

Minivan News was unable to obtain comment from Jamiyyathul Salaf President Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohamed Ibrahim.


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Amendments to Judicature Act submitted on request of President Nasheed, says Reeko Moosa

Deputy Speaker of Parliament MP ‘Reeko’ Moosa Manik has alleged that amendments to the Judicature Act, which facilitated the removal of two Supreme Court judges, were submitted on the request of former President Mohamed Nasheed.

“[MDP MP Ibrahim ‘Mavota’] Shareef told me personally that the amendments to the Judicature Act were submitted on the request of President Nasheed,” explained the Hulhuhenveiru MP.

Moosa also alleged that neither the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) nor President Nasheed had formally asked MP Shareef to withdraw his amendments.

The former MDP chair was speaking to Minivan News regarding his appeal against the party’s decision to dismiss him for repeatedly breaching the three-line whip – twice during the removal of the judges.

President Nasheed has denied Moosa’s allegations, telling Minivan News: “I did not ask Shareef to submit any bill”.

Moosa suggested that Nasheed – currently the party’s president – was aware he would violate the whip if a situation arose in which Chief Justice Ahmed Faiz was to be defended, therefore initiating a process which would eventually result in the MP’s dismissal.

He has explained his position, arguing that the dismissed chief justice had done great harm to the party, not least when swearing in Vice President Dr Mohamed Waheed without question following Nasheed’s controversial resignation of the presidency in February 2012.

During Faiz’s tenure, the Supreme Court bench had stripped three MDP MPs of their membership and annulled the first round of presidential elections held in September 2013, Moosa has previously explained.

The removal of Faiz and Muthasim Adnan was condemned as unconstitutional by numerous local and international organisations, who have said the move compromises the independence of the judiciary.

Moosa reiterated his belief that the real reason for his dismissal from the party was that he had announced his intention to contest the MDP presidential primaries of 2018.

“I attended a meeting with Shareef at President Nasheed’s office to discuss about the amendments (to the Judicature Act). Nasheed did not request Shareef withdraw it.”

When contacted by Minivan News today, Shareef – who submitted the amendments to the Judicature Act in November – refused to confirm Moosa’s claims, saying that he did not wish to comment on the matter for the time being.

The MDP’s national executive council rejected Shareef’s amendments which were subsequently approved with the support of government-aligned parties in the Majlis. Shareef himself eventually voted against both the amendment and the judges’ removal.

Moosa has also questioned the legitimacy of his dismissal from MDP, noting that current party Chairperson Ali Waheed had not officially informed the Majlis

“If my dismissal is serious and legitimate why has it not been done? This also points to the fact that there is something not right about this whole disciplinary committee business”.

Disciplinary Committee decision

The MDP’s disciplinary committee expelled Moosa on December 22, stating that he would be required to issue a public apology and obtain 50 new members for the party should he wish to rejoin.

The committee has, however, barred Moosa from standing for any leadership position or contesting in party primaries for five years.

When asked why he chose to appeal the disciplinary committee’s decision through the MDP’s internal mechanisms despite having stated that he does not trust the party’s appeal process, Moosa asked: “What else is there to do? I would never take MDP to court, I would never do that”.

Moosa has also lodged a complaint with the Elections Commission (EC), which confirmed it has received the case.

Additionally, Moosa said he did not believe that a five-member disciplinary committee could expel him, noting that the dismissal of former MDP President Dr Ibrahim Didi and Vice president Alhan Fahmy was deliberated upon by the party’s National Council.

Moosa also claimed that that the party can only issue whips regarding the way in which votes are to be cast, and not on attendance at the parliament.

The disciplinary committee’s demand that he submit new membership forms when joining the party was also against the MDP’s standing orders, he added,

According to Article 114 of MDP’s constitution: “The disciplinary committee has the authority to warn, fine, suspend and expel parties proven guilty of” violating the party’s constitution, regulations, or damaging the party’s aims or reputation.

In explaining the timeline of events which preceded the parliamentary vote to dismiss the Supreme Court judges, Moosa said he had requested the parliamentary group hold a meeting to further discuss the issue.

Meanwhile in accordance with MDP’s disciplinary committee’s decision regarding the five other MDP MPs who broke the whip for the judges’ removal, their apology letters were published on the MDP’s website yesterday (4 December).


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Maafushi guest house feud caught on camera

Additional reporting by Daniel Bosley

Staff members from Maafushi’s Summer Villa guest house were caught on camera yesterday entering a rival establishment and assaulting a member of staff.

The owners of Summer Villa guest house were seen to barge into Kaani Village guest house after a disagreement regarding a picnic island to which the former establishment owns the booking rights.

Summer Villa’s Sales and Marketing Manager Mohamed Nabeeh told Minivan News that the incident caught on camera at Kaani Village followed an assault on him which was edited from the leaked footage.

Nabeeh said that he was the man who appears without a shirt in the video, explaining that it had been torn during the attack on him.

The CCTV footage shows a group of four men forcing themselves into the Kaani Village lobby and dragging out a man behind the reception.

Police have confirmed that an investigation into the matter is underway.

Attempting to explain the feud, Nabeeh said that the picnic island was fully booked but that Kaani Village threatened them saying that “they would not let us do our business” unless permission was granted.

“With in a few minutes Kaani Village management was at Summer Villa already smashing the belongings threatening and being violent and creating a commotion in front of all our guests,” alleged Nabeeh.

An anonymous source was quoted in local news outlet CNM as saying that Kaani Village was given the permission to take their guests to the island before later being revoked by Summer Villa, sparking the disagreement.

Minivan News was unable to obtain a response from numbers publicly listed for Kaani Village.

Nabeeh also stated that despite the commotion, he went to Kaani Village on their staff’s request to resolve the issue at which point he was assaulted and “badly injured”.

While expressing disappointment over the fact that Summer Villa does not have video evidence to show Kaani Village management attacking the guest house, Nabeeh stated “we couldn’t control from our side, because they got me injured badly for no reason first”.

Nabeeh provided Minivan News with photos that allegedly show the harm and damage caused by the Kaani Village management to their staff and property.

Maafushi, in Kaafu Atoll, has become synonymous with the country’s burgeoning guest house tourism industry, with the island hosting the highest number of guest houses outside of Malé City.


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Reeko Moosa appeals to MDP disciplinary committee after dismissal

Deputy Speaker of Parliament MP ‘Reeko’ Moosa Manik has appealed against the decision to expel him from the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

Moosa described the decision as “discriminatory” as the five other MDP MPs who were absent from the vote to dismiss the Supreme Court judges were given lesser penalties, reports Haveeru.

The remaining five MPs had been ordered to issue a public apology after having breached the party’s three-line whip only once, with the party publishing the resulting letters on its website today.

Moosa’s letter is also said to have claimed that the three-line whip issued regarding the judges was in conflict with the interests of MDP’s ordinary members, also describing it as a step taken to defend the interests of a “few influential” people within the party.

The MDP’s disciplinary committee expelled Moosa on December 22 after he repeatedly breached the party’s three-line whips including the vote on the 2015 state budget, amendments to the Judicature Act – which reduced the seven-member Supreme Court bench to five, and the subsequent removal of Chief Justice Ahmed Faiz and Justice Muthasim Adnan.

If Moosa wishes to rejoin the party, he is required to issue a public apology and obtain 50 new members for the party, but he will be barred from standing for any leadership position or contesting in party primaries for five years.

Moosa has previously stated that he does not trust the party’s appeal process, and has said he will request that the Elections Commission review the decision.

Moosa’s mobile phone was switched off at the time of publication, while Ali Waheed said he did not wish to comment on the matter.

The former MDP chairperson Moosa told Minivan News last month that he felt his dismissal had been a deliberate ploy to remove him from the 2018 presidential primaries, labelling party President Mohamed Nasheed a “green dictator”.

Apology letters

Meanwhile Vaikaradhoo MP Mohamed Nazim, Velidhoo MP Abdulla Yamin Rasheed, Mulaku MP Ibrahim Naseer, Felidhoo MP Ahmed Marzooq, and Kurendhoo MP Abdul Bari Abdulla have apologised to the MDP and its members for violating the three-line whip on the removal of Supreme Court judges.

In the letter written by Yamin, he apologised to the party and its members “for not being able to attend, vote & not to followi [sic] whipline of the party”, assuring the “public and party leadership that, I will not repeat the mistake in the future”. The letter provided no reasons for his absence.

MP Bari stated that he was unable to attend the Majlis on the day of the Supreme Court judges removal as he had been in Colombo when the whip was issued, arguing “I have also not received the whip line with sufficient time for me to get back to Male’ to attend the parliament for voting”.

Furthermore Bari’s letter, “congratulated” the disciplinary committee for the “good work done” and stressed the need to take action against MDP MPs who have “consistently and purposely voted against the party whipline”.

Similarly, while apologising to the party and its members, Nazim stated in his letter that he was unable to attend the Majlis on December 14 as he was left with no choice but to travel abroad with his wife who required medical treatment.

While Marzooq’s letter did not provide any reasons for violating the three-line whip, he stated that he respects the decision of the disciplinary committee and that he sincerely apologises for being absent for the vote.

Marzooq also assured the MDP and its members that his decisions in parliament will not in any way damage or distress the party in the future.

In MP Naseer’s brief letter he apologised for the “damage caused to the party due to my absence”.

International reaction

The MDP has said the sudden removal of the two Supreme Court Judges is an attempt to stack the judiciary in President Abdulla Yameen’s favour.

Moosa has argued that the dismissed chief justice had done great harm to the party, not least when swearing in Vice President Dr Mohamed Waheed without question following Nasheed’s controversial resignation of the presidency in February 2012.

During Faiz’s tenure, the Supreme Court bench had stripped three MDP MPs of their membership and annulled the first round of presidential elections held in September 2013, he told Minivan News following his dismissal.

Commonwealth groups have described the judges’ removal as unconstitutional, saying it constituted a clear breach of the Commonwealth Principles to which the government of Maldives has subscribed.

The International Commission of Jurists said the Maldivian parliament and executive “have effectively decapitated the country’s judiciary and trampled on the fundamental principles of the rule of law and separation of powers in a democratic State.”


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