Category: News in Brief

National security committee compiles report on Gitmo detainees

Parliament’s national security committee has completed its inquiry into the government’s plans to resettle exonerated inmates from the controversial Guantanamo Bay detention camp, reports Voice of Maldives.

Mulaku MP Abdullah Yamin, chairman of the committee, said a report based on testimony from senior government officials as well as official documents and correspondence will be presented to the parliament floor.

Some government ministries did not fully cooperate with the committee, Yamin said, while the Foreign Ministry only provided the requested documents after the committee completed its inquiry.

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Counterterrorism seminar begins in Aarah

A ten-day seminar on counter-terrorism conducted by the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) and the US Army entitled ‘National Deliberate Action Planning Seminar on Combating Terrorism’ began at Aarah yesterday.

Over 40 representatives from five state institutions, including Maldives Police Service, Maldives Customs, Maldives Monetary Authority and the Department of Immigration, will participate in the seminar, while lectures will be given by counter-terrorism experts.

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Bollywood superstar postpones Maldives appearance over “security concerns”

Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan has indefinitely postponed his concert in the Maldives, which was booked for Sunday evening.

Haveeru reported organiser Mohamed Shizleen, of Inex Maldives and Arts Solutions, as saying the performance was postponed on Khan’s request due to “security issues” in the capital Male, blaming stabbings and gang violence.

Shizleen said the show would be held following the World Cup closing set on July 11, Haveeru reported.

Tickets will be refunded, he told Haveeru.

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Police conduct lagoon cleaning program to celebrate World Environment Day

Maldives Police Services yesterday conducted a lagoon cleaning program in Male’ lagoon.

Maldives Customs Services, Maldives Ports Limited and Club Raaveriya accompanied police in the event.

Police disposed of plastic bottles, tires and metal blocks found in the lagoon.

Five pick-ups full of environmentally-harmful refuse was taken from the lagoon during this event.

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President returns from Australia after securing aid package

President Mohamed Nasheed has returned to the Maldives following the conclusion of his state visit to Australia.

Nasheed met with Prime Minister Rudd, and Australian Governor-General Quentin Bryce. He also held talks with other senior officials of the Australian government as well as Deputy Leader of the Opposition Liberal Party Julie Bishop.

During the President’s visit, the Australian government unveiled a new aid and assistance package of almost US$845,000, including US$422,000 to help the Maldives adapt to climate change and reduce carbon emissions, US$253,000 to support civil society groups and US$194,000 to support the Maldives national qualification framework.

Australia also announced it will help strengthen education, environment, science, health, governance and public administration in the Maldives as well as support capacity-building for the country’s democratic institutions, and offer 25 scholarships in the 2011 intake for Maldivian students to study in Australian universities.

“This is about helping the Maldives build a better future for itself. Although a small country, [the Maldives] are a part of the family of democracies around the world, and we stand shoulder to shoulder with them as a fellow democracy,” Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said.

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President Nasheed defends Australian PM’s eco politics

A visitor to Australian shores, Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed, might best have exemplified what’s wrong with local politics, reports the Herald Sun in Australia.

Perhaps both politicians and the public take the nation’s democratic tradition for granted.

Mr Nasheed, from an island nation that stands to suffer immeasurable damage from climate change, launched a staunch defence of Mr Rudd and his decision to delay the introduction of an emissions trading scheme.

The first democratically-elected leader of the Maldives, Mr Nasheed, who spent much of his life a political prisoner, made it clear to journalists he wasn’t just trying to curry favour with the Prime Minister.

“I’ve spent half my adult life in jail, and I’m not a person to say things that I don’t believe in,” he said.

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India and Seychelles join forces against Somali pirates

After activating a comprehensive security cooperation agreement with Maldives, India will increase maritime cooperation with Seychelles and will help the island nation deal with the increased incidents of piracy occurring near its waters, reports the Indian Express.

While the Navy already has a warship deployed in the Seychelles since April last year — after Somali pirates shifted base near the island chain due to increased international patrolling in the Gulf of Aden — the two countries have agreed to enhance the cooperation during the state visit by Seychelles President James Alix Michel.

“India and Seychelles have agreed to work together in controlling piracy in the Indian Ocean, so that we can try to make sure that this area is safer for economic development. Both countries face the same threat from piracy,” Michel said, addressing a business meet in the capital after meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

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