Category: News in Brief

Voter re-registration exceeds expectations: EC

The number of voters re-registering to vote in locations other than their home islands has exceeded predictions, reports the Elections Commission (EC).

The EC said that by the closure of the August 8 deadline, 65,745 people had re-registered, surpassing original estimates of 65,000, “a great response”.

EC President Fuwad Thowfeek told local media 61,130 re-registrations had been completed, and was waiting to receive 3115 forms from resorts and political parties, and a further 1500 from the islands, but warned that incomplete or invalid forms could change the final tally.

The EC will publish the final voter registry on August 20.

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Court extends detention of man accused of beating wife unconscious

Police have arrested a 33 year-old man charged with physically abusing his wife on Vilingili in Gaaf Alif Atoll, reports Haveeru, after the wife’s family reported the abuse.

The Vilingili magistrate court extended the detention of Ahmed Mueed by 15 days, while the woman has been hospitalised in Male.

Haveeru reported the victim’s brother as alleging that the woman was severely bruised and unable to speak properly, after Mueed beat her unconscious in front of their four year-old step daughter.

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Police investigating theft of MVR 500,000 from immigration department

Police are investigating the theft of more than MVR 500,000 (US$32,425) from the Department of Immigration.

The money was stolen from a safe over the weekend, according to a statement from police. The money was reported missing at 9:00am on Saturday.

Police said the thieves climbed over a wall between between Atoll Canteen and the Ghazee building. No details were provided as to how the intruders gained access to the safe.

The immigration department has not officially commented on the theft.

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No new Home Minister to be appointed before election: President

President Mohamed Waheed has dismissed the possibility of appointing a minister of Home Affairs – with oversight of the police – before elections in September, reports Sun Online.

Former Home Minister Dr Mohamed Jameel was dismissed from the position after he sided with Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) candidate Abdulla Yameen, later defecting from his own Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP) and becoming Yameen’s running mate.

Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture Ahmed Shafeeu has since served as acting minister.

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Kolamaafushi voting venue painted yellow reports Sun Online, “orange” says Island Council President

A ballot box on the island of Kolamaafushi in Gaafu Alifu Atoll is to be placed in a building that has been painted yellow, reports Sun Online.

Citing an island council source, Sun reported that the island’s number two ballot box was to be placed in the building used by the island’s women’s committee.

Yellow is the party colour of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), members of which make up four of the island’s five council members responsible for designating the voting venues.

The island’s other ballot box is to be hosted in the island’s school, however the Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) has reportedly lobbied the Elections Commission requesting the box instead be placed in the campaign hall of President Mohamed Waheed’s ‘Forward with the nation’ coalition.

According to Sun, President of Kolamaafushi Council Ahmed Jameel contended that the fence of the offending building was in fact orange.

The PPM in June called for a cease-fire in the so-called ‘paint war’ between rival political supporters, with buildings, walls and even plant-life being painted in party colours.

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Gayoom to tour northern atolls for PPM

Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom is campaigning in the north of the Maldives on behalf of the Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM)’s presidential candidate, Abdulla Yameen.

Local media reports that Gayoom will visit Kinolhas, Alifushi and Dhuvaafaru in Raa Atoll, Funadhoo in Shaviyani Atoll, Kulhudhuffushi in Haa Dhaalu Atoll and Dhidhdhoo in Haa Alifu Atoll.

PPM Spokesperson, MP Ahmed Mahlouf, told local media that Gayoom would be accompanied by Yameen and his running mate, former Home Minister and former Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP) deputy, Dr Mohamed Jameel.

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President Waheed calls for public unity, solidarity in Eid ul-Fitr message

President Dr Mohamed Waheed has called for unity and solidarity among Maldivians on the occasion of Eid ul-Fitr.

In a statement issued today, President Waheed called on those campaigning ahead of next month’s election to avoid sewing “discord” among the public, requesting that all parties adhered to democratic principles in the build up to, and during, voting.

The president personally pledged his commitment to ensuring a free and fair election next month, while also speaking of various development projects presently being overseen by his government.

President Waheed also today held a reception for members and assorted dignitaries of the public at Muleeaage.

State ministers, foreign diplomats, government officials, MPs civil servant and members of the general public were among those greeted by the president this morning, according to an official press release.

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UK to establish temporary mobile visa application point for Maldivian students

Maldivian students intending to study in the UK will able to apply for student visas without having to travel to Colombo in Sri Lanka, thanks to a temporary mobile enrollment system to be set up later this month.

Students will be able to lodge UK visa applications on August 28 at Nasandhura Palace Hotel, using what the High Commission described in a statement as a ‘mobile biometric clinic’.

“Those using the service will save themselves the cost and time of travelling to Colombo. The service is optional, and being run by our commercial partner, VFS Global, who have successfully managed similar services in India and elsewhere on behalf of UK Visas and Immigration,” the statement read.

Tom Greig, Regional Director South Asia for UK Visas and Immigration said the UK “is keen to attract the brightest and best talent from around the world. Our aim in
setting up a temporary enrollment location in Malé is to bring the UK visa application point closer to our Maldivian customers, and make the process of applying for a UK visa as quick and convenient as possible.”

Applicants wishing to use the service must book an appointment in advance by calling +94 114 692 604 (08:00 hrs to 15:00 hrs – Maldives Standard Time). There will be a charge of £192 (US$302) for using the service, in addition to the usual visa fee. Appointment numbers are limited.

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Islamic Ministry declares Thursday August 8 Eid-ul-Fitr

The Islamic Ministry has declared that Eid-ul-Fitr will take place tomorrow, Thursday August 8.

Eid-ul-Fitr is the celebration marking the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting.

President Dr Mohamed Waheed will receive members of the public at Muleaage to exchange Eid greetings tomorrow morning from 9:30am, according to the President’s Office website, and then address the nation at 11:00am.

The event is open to members of foreign diplomatic missions and international organisations in Male, according to the President’s office.

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