Category: News in Brief

LGA backs parliament decision to reinstate Miladhoo councillor

The Local Government Authority (LGA) has backed parliament’s decision last week to reinstate Noonu Atoll Miladhoo Island Councillor Nasrulla Mohamed after he was removed from the post through a resolution adopted by the council.

LGA member Ahmed Faisal told newspaper Haveeru that the LGA supports the parliament’s decision to reinstate the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) councillor as the authority believes Nasrulla was not dismissed in accordance with the rules or following due process.

He added that councillors can only be removed by the Elections Commission (EC) according to a Supreme Court ruling. While councils could vote to remove one of its members, Faisal said the decision would not be considered legal until the EC declared a seat vacant.

Nasrulla was dismissed after he allegedly did not attend seven consecutive council meetings, which is cause for removal according to the law. The LGA however did not accept the council’s decision and informed it to reinstate Nasrulla and pay him wages.

The LGA was set up by the landmark Decentralisation Act of 2010 as a parent body tasked with overseeing local councils and coordinating with the government.

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Nasheed calls on government to complete Thimarafushi airport

Former President Mohamed Nasheed called on the government last night (June 22) to complete the stalled Thimarafushi airport project within the next month.

Speaking at a campaign rally on the island of Madifushi in Thaa atoll, Nasheed said he would welcome the “coup” government opening the regional airport and pledged the Maldivian Democratic Party’s (MDP’s) assistance to complete the stalled project.

Nasheed said that the airport was necessary to implement the MDP’s guest house or mid-market tourism policy, which targets 2,000 tourist beds in the southern atoll within the next two years.

In addition to the airport, he continued, a reliable nationwide transport network of ferries was essential for tourists to travel across the country and for local entrepreneurs to transport goods.

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UN translates Special Rapporteur’s report on judiciary into Dhivehi

The UN has released an unofficial Dhivehi translation of Special Rapporteur Gabriela Knaul’s extensive report on the state of the Maldivian judiciary.

In her report, Knaul expressed “deep concern” over the failure of the judicial system to address “serious violations of human rights” during the Maldives’ 30 year dictatorship, warning of “more instability and unrest” should this continue to be neglected.

The report is a comprehensive overview of the state of the Maldivian judiciary and its watchdog body, the Judicial Services Commission (JSC). Knaul examines the judiciary’s handling of the trial of former President Nasheed, the controversial reappointment of unqualified judges in 2010, and the politicisation of the JSC.

Knaul also examines parliament’s failure to pass critical pieces of legislation needed for the proper functioning of the judiciary and “legal certainty”, as well as raises serious concerns about an impending budget catastrophe facing the judicial system.

Read the translation (Dhivehi)

Read the original report (English)

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PPM threatens to leave govt coalition if Tourism Minister Adheeb is dismissed

The Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has threatened to leave the government coalition if Tourism Minister Ahmed Adheeb is sacked from the cabinet by President Dr Mohamed Waheed.

According to local media reports, PPM MP Abdul Raheem Abdulla alleged at a press conference today that the resignation of State Minister for Tourism Mariyam Mizna Shareef – daughter of Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) Spokesperson Ibrahim Shareef – was part of “a scheme” by the DRP and President Waheed to dismiss Adheeb.

Mizna resigned citing the “unacceptable” manner that the ministry was run by Adheeb, who was elected deputy leader of the PPM earlier this year.

MP Abdul Raheem Abdulla claimed that Mizna’s allegations would be used as a pretext to remove Adheeb.

“If Adheeb is dismissed, it is very likely that a proposal would be made to the PPM council to decide whether to remain in the government coalition,” he was quoted as saying in newspaper Haveeru.

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Maldives Broadcasting Corporation schedules presidential debate for September 1

The Maldives Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) has announced that a debate between rival presidential candidates will be broadcast via state media on September 1 this year.

MBC Managing Director Mohamed Shafeeq Mahmoud told local media that efforts were underway to secure the participation of the four key candidates presently expected to contest the presidential election, which has been scheduled for September 7.

These participants are expected to be President Dr Mohamed Waheed; Mohamed Nasheed of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), MP Abdullah Yameen of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and MP Gasim Ibrahim of the Jumhoree Party (JP).

Shafeeq told Sun Online that in the build up to the debate, state television and radio would provide airtime for candidates to broadcast information on their campaigns from July.

Television Maldives (TVM) is expected to broadcast four separate live programmes, each focused on a single candidate that will include the opportunity for the public to ask questions, he said.

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MP Ahmed Mahloof quits as PPM spokesperson: media reports

Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) MP Ahmed Mahloof has today resigned from his position as spokesperson for the party, according to local media.

Sun Online reported that MP Mahloof had confirmed his intention to resign as the PPM spokesperson via text message, but did not clarify the reasons for the decision.

Meanwhile, a PPM official was quoted as saying that the party’s office had not officially been informed of Mahloof’s decision, but had received a text message informing them of his intention to resign from the position.

Mahloof and fellow PPM MP Ahmed Nihan were not responding to calls at time of press from Minivan News to clarify the reports.

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Two males and a minor arrested on Muli over assault of foreign national

Police have arrested two suspects in connection with the assault of a Bangladeshi national on the island of Muli in Meemu Atoll yesterday (June 17), according to media reports.

The two male suspects, aged 24 and 23 years, were arrested at around 4:50am this morning whilst attempting to hide in house on the island, Sun Online has reported. Police have also reportedly arrested a minor in connection to the attack.

Sun Online reported that the as yet unidentified victim, who was found to have suffered multiple head injuries, was presently in Muli Regional hospital where his condition was said to be improving.

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MTDC to sell Herethere resort for US$30 million

The Maldives Tourism Development Corporation’s (MTDC’s) board of directors has decided to sell the government-owned company’s biggest asset, Herethere resort in Addu City, for US$30 million to a company with a majority stake owned by local tourism magnate ‘Champa’ Hussain Afeef.

MTDC Managing Director Mohamed Matheen told newspaper Haveeru yesterday that the decision was made to sell Herethere to Afeef’s Treetop Investment Pvt Ltd because the government corporation did not have the finances to profitably operate the resort.

He added that a large investment was needed to fix problems with the beach and the environment of the resort in the southernmost atoll.

Herethere was the first resort developed and opened by MTDC while Afeef was chairman of the government’s tourism company.

Tourism pioneer Afeef meanwhile told the local daily that the Herethere development would take place in conjunction with the development of the international airport in Gan.

In November 2012, thirty percent of the Addu International Airport Ltd (AIAL) was sold to Afeef’s Kasa Holdings to raise finances to develop the Gan airport in Addu City.

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Two hundred Maldivians miss out on Hajj pilgrimage after Saudi slashes quota

Two-hundred Maldivians will miss out on the annual Hajj pilgrimage this year after the Saudi Arabian government reduced the quota for Maldives from 1,000 to 800.

Islamic Minister Sheikh Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed said at a press conference yesterday (June 17) that the Saudi government communicated the decision to the ministry this week.

According to local media reports, Shaheem explained that the Saudi government reduced the quota as a result of ongoing work to expand the area around the Kaaba in Mecca.

Consequently, Shaheem added, only 22,000 people would be able to perform the tawaf (circling the Kaaba) in one hour compared to 48,000 in the past.

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