Category: News in Brief

Police request Elections Commission make “easier voting arrangements” for officers

The Maldives Police Service has requested the Elections Commission make “easier arrangements” to vote in the upcoming presidential for police officers and suspects in custody, reports local media.

Current regulations require eligible voters to cast their vote in September’s upcoming presidential election on the island where they have registered, according to police.

However, police officers have to make urgent trips for official purposes and might lose their constitutional right to vote, the police told local media.

Additionally, suspects might be held on an island other than where they are registered, which would deprive them of their right to vote, police said.

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Four Raa Atoll councillors sign with MDP

Fours councillors based in Raa Atoll have joined the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) during a signing ceremony held on the island of Alifushi yesterday (May 27), according to local media.

Among those reported to have signed for the party during the ceremony were Vice President of Alifushi Council Ibrahim Shuaib – formerly of the government-aligned Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP). Atoll Councillor Ibrahim Mahees, who previously represented the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), also joined the MDP yesterday, Sun Online has reported.

Vaadhoo councillor Ali Riyaz, formerly of President Dr Mohamed Waheed’s Gaumee Ithihaad Party (GIP) and one time Adhaalath Party member Hussain Rashad of Rasgetheem Council also reportedly signed to the opposition party.

The four councillors signed to the MDP during a ceremony that coincided with a visit by the party’s presidential candidate, Mohamed Nasheed, Sun Online reported.

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Electoral register to be published in government gazette on Thursday

The Elections Commission will publish the electoral register for the upcoming presidential elections in the government’s gazette on Thursday, the commission’s president told local media.

Regulations give eligible voters 10 days to file complaints over the register once it is published.

According to the Elections Commission, 240,302 people will be eligible to vote in the presidential elections – a 15 percent increase (31,000 people) on 2008’s 209,294 eligible voters.

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Government cuts costs of foreign missions, sacks staff

The government is cutting the costs of its 13 overseas missions, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Abdul Samad Abdulla told local media today.

“Foreign mission expenses are very high. In addition to the salaries, a large sum is spent on rent for officials,” Samad said, noting that the Maldives spent MRV 3.5 million (US$227,000) a year just on rent for some employees based overseas.

As well as curtailing maintenance of some missions, Samad said Councillor at the high commission in Malaysia, Hassan Khalid, and Deputy High Commissioner of the Maldives to India Khadeeja Ibrahim had also been dismissed “after serious deliberation”, Samad said,

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Car flips in Addu City accident, none injured

A car lost control and flipped over while traveling at high speed in Hithadhoo, Addu City today (May 27), reports local media.

The accident occurred near the Hithadhoo harbor at approximately 9am when the car’s driver attempted to overtake a motorcycle, police told local media.

The drivers of both the car and motorcycle were not injured, however the car sustained “a number of damages”, according to police.

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Recent wheat flour imports contain gravel, worms, and lice: FDA

The Maldives Food and Drug Authority (FDA) issued a food alert today (May 27) warning that recent imports of wheat flour contain gravel, worms, and lice, reports local media.

The FDA also advised local retailers to refrain from selling contaminated wheat flour stock.

The agency has received a “number of complaints” that stones and sand were found in recently sold wheat flour.

The FDA is currently conducting tests of wheat flour storage facilities in Male’, and thus far they have determined shipment number 4500003103, produced in March 2013 and set to expire on September 2013, did not contain any of the suspected contaminants.

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Police seize 349 drivers licenses in one week

Police withheld 349 drivers licenses last week for traffic violations, reports local media.

Police Vehicle Checkpoints (VCP) set up in different locations around Male’ from May 19th to the 26th enabled police to seize individuals’ licenses for various traffic violations.

The majority of violations were due to driving with expired “roadworthiness stickers”, resulting in 210 licenses taken, while expired annual registration fees, violating traffic signals, driving the wrong direction down one-way streets, driving while on a mobile phone, “dangerous” driving, and other miscellaneous violations comprised the remainder of offenses.

Police also detained 86 people for driving without proper licenses.

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Maldives’ sovereignty threatened by “economic slavery”: President Waheed

President Dr Mohamed Waheed has said talk of the Maldives’ independence or sovereignty will be pointless if the country falls into “economic slavery”, following the passing out parade of the second Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Officer Candidate Course.

The comments were said to have been made in relation to the importance of “safeguarding” national security, according to the President’s Office.

Speaking after commissioning new officers from the course yesterday (May 25), President Waheed – in his capacity of Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces – said it was not just the MNDF and police who were required to protect national security.

He therefore called on every individual in the country to prioritise “national interests”.

The President’s Office website quoted Dr Waheed as stating that the government was committed to having a diplomatic policy said to protect the Maldives’ interests, as well as those of “other friendly nations”.

Yesterday’s parade was held at the Girifushi training facility.

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Media Council asks Criminal Court to stop obstructing press freedom

The Maldives Media Council (MMC) has requested the Criminal Court halt unconstitutional efforts to obstruct press freedom, reports local media.

The MMC sent a letter to the Criminal Court yesterday (May 26), addressed to Chief Judge of Criminal Court Abdulla Mohamed, in response to the court’s request that local media outlet Sun Online reveal a source related to a recently published article.

“The council believes that this impedes the protection guaranteed to journalists in article 28 of the Constitution, and also obstructs journalists’ freedom in carrying out their duties. We urge all groups to refrain from repeating such acts,” the letter stated.

Investigations by the MMC in regard to the article in question – for which the Criminal Court requested the source of information – revealed that the Ali Shifan murder case report was delayed due to an administrative error of the court.

The MMC also highlighted that Sun Online was the only media outlet requested to reveal their source(s), despite other local media groups reporting the incident in the same manner.

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