Politics – Page 605 – Minivan News

JSC decision must be investigated by Parliament, urges member

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) decided last week to reappoint all current judges, regardless of whether they hold a previous conviction for a crime or a criminal breach of trust or bribery.

After the decision was made, member of the commission Aishath Velazinee spoke out against it, writing in her blog, “it is indeed a sad state of affairs, and an insult to all those honest judges whose integrity and good name is compromised by today’s decision.”

Today, Velazinee told Minivan News it might seem like “one mad woman screaming,” but insisted “the Majlis has to attend to this and demand a public inquiry. I can only bring it to public attention.”

She said “Parliament has failed to hold the JSC accountable,” and said she still “firmly believes” the composition of the commission presents a conflict of interest, leading to a vote that ultimately contradicting the purpose of the commission.

The JSC was created to reform the judiciary and investigate all judges, “and was asked to evaluate every single sitting judge appointed prior to the 2008 Constitution,” Velazinee said.

According to the Constitution, the nine-member commission must comprise of the speaker of parliament; an MP and a member of the public both appointed by Parliament; three judges, one from the Supreme Court, High Court and the trial courts; a private lawyer elected among licensed lawyers; the Chair of the Civil Service Commission (CSC); a person appointed by the President; and the Attorney General.

“The JSC was not functioning under the law of the Constitution, and not acting in the interest of the public,” said Velazinee, who is the President’s member on the Commission.

She suggested it be made up of a “cross-section of people in this country, who are educated and have an understanding of democracy.”

Last week’s decision was won by majority, with five votes in favour.

“They have decided Article 285 is symbolic,” Velazinee said, “it is a very simplistic view of democracy.”

Article 285 stipulates that the JSC shall determine before August 7, 2010 whether or not judges on the bench posses the qualifications specified by the Constitution.

Currently, there are seven judges found guilty of a criminal breach of trust; five with allegations of a criminal breach of trust; two are being prosecuted for an alleged breach of trust; one is on trial for sexual misconduct; two have been found guilty of sexual misconduct; one was found guilty for an offence which had a prescribed punishment in Islam; and another judge who has been accused of a criminal breach of trust, and found guilty of sexual misconduct.

That is a total of nineteen judges with a criminal history, most of which have not been tried in a court of law.

Velazinee said she was not given an opportunity to discuss or issue alternative proposals, even though she had been trying to bring attention to her argument for months. “Even the Superior Court Justice decided it was not worthy,” she added.

Parliament’s power

Parliament has the power to reverse or alter the JSC’s decision, “but now they’re in recess, too,” Velazinee said, noting probably nothing much can be done until the Majlis reconvenes in mid-June.

Adding to Velazinee’s concern, the JSC has only until 7 August of this year to submit any reforms and all cases on the judges. “And probably not even until the deadline,” she added.

She said although the president “would normally have a say” in this decision, “in the current political context, the president getting involved could do more harm.”

Press Secretary for the President’s Office, Mohamed Zuhair, said “there are legalities to be considered” because “the law does stipulate a clause on limitations,” which says that a judge, or an MP or a citizen, “can be absolved of a crime after five years” of being convicted.

He added “judges should be examples” and new regulations and legislation should be considered.

Zuhair said President Mohamed Nasheed “will adhere to the Constitution,” and there is “nothing to do until Parliament comes back.”

But, he added, a parliamentary committee could look into the issue extraordinarily, just like the National Security Committee is having a sitting this Wednesday.

Judges Abdulla Mohamed and Abdulla Didi did not respond to Minivan News at time of press.

Attorney General Husnu Suood did not respond, either.

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Maldives to resettle two Gitmo inmates

Two inmates of the controversial Guantanamo Bay detention camp that houses terror suspects will be transferred to the Maldives for resettlement, President Mohamed Nasheed has announced.

Addressing growing opposition to the move in his weekly radio address, President Nasheed said the resettlement of the two former prisoners would not “change anything or cause any loss to the country.”

“On the contrary, it will be good for the country,” he said. “[The country] will get a good name, honour and prestige. We will be noted as people who help in whatever capacity we can to help solve others’ problems.”

He added that not helping when the opportunity presented itself was, in his view, was not in keeping with either the constitution, Islam or the Maldivian national character.

“There are more than 150,000 expatriates living in our country. We are benefiting from their work. There is no danger in two more people coming to the Maldives,” he said, stressing that the government would not violate any laws in the process of transferring the inmates.

The religiously conservative Adhaalath Party yesterday clarified its position on the matter, noting on its new English-language website that “if the two men in question are Muslims who have been detained unjustly, providing assistance to them from a Muslim country is not a problem on Islamic grounds.”

However, “if they are terrorists who have committed crimes against humanity, then it is not wise to give them sanctuary in Maldives,” the party said, expressing concern about the government’s “ambiguity” on the subject.

Nasheed meanwhile urged the opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) not to make the issue a politically divisive one, calling on opposition parties to take up complaints with the government.

“We will clear up what the DRP wants to know,” he offered.

The president thanked the leader and deputy leader of the DRP as it was the opposition party’s responsibility to hold the government accountable and offered to hold discussions on the subject.

On Tuesday, DRP MP Ali Waheed filed a motion without notice at the parliamentary national security committee to investigate the government’s decision.

“While we don’t even have a proper jail and the society is drowning in gang violence and crime, the Maldivian government has reached the point where they are forming agreements with another country and creating a legal framework to bring in people from the jail that has the world’s most dangerous terrorists and citizens aren’t aware of what’s happening. The People’s Majlis elected by the Maldivian people aren’t aware of it,” Ali Waheed told press on Tuesday.

Not confidential

Nasheed further said the issue has not been kept confidential by the government.

The president referred to his radio address on December 11 when he signaled that Gitmo prisoners cleared off terrorism charges could be transferred to the Maldives.

“If a Muslim does not have a place to live in freedom, we will help in whatever way we can. We don’t want anyone to suffer any harm,” Nasheed had said. “We know that the Maldives, in helping just three people from Guantanamo Bay, does not mean that either the Maldives or the world would be free of inhumane treatment,” he said. “However this jail, Guantanamo jail, is very symbolic.”

He said most of the detainees at Guantanamo Bay were innocent people caught up in the war in Afghanistan, and that offering assistance to other nations in whatever capacity was “a national duty.”

On Friday, the president said it was “very clear” to the government that the Muslims detained in Guantanamo Bay in Cuba were not terrorists.

A Maldivian citizen kept in Gitmo was released by the government, said Nasheed, and Maldives police have concluded that he was not a terrorist.

Meanwhile, Independent MP Mohamed Nasheed wrote on his blog last week that official correspondence showed the government was in the final stages of “resettling” prisoners.

The former legal reform minister wrote that diplomatic correspondence has been exchanged between the Maldivian government and the American Embassy in Colombo to agree upon guidelines for the release and monitoring of the former terror suspects.

He noted that following initial discussions between the two governments, the American embassy sent a three-page diplomatic notice to the Maldives Foreign Ministry in February.

According to the diplomatic note, once the Maldivian government presents written confirmation, it will be agreed that the government shall:

Agree to resettle Gitmo prisoners escorted to the country by the US military
Determine a date and time for arrival after discussions between the relevant officials
If the Maldivian government wishes to relocate or transfer the prisoners to another country, it will be done only after discussions with the US government.
Maintain correspondence on the process of resettlement.
Conduct surveillance on the prisoners while they are in the country, including monitoring their phone calls, letters and other communications.
Prevent them from leaving the country.
Regularly meet them and see how they are settling.

On March 28, writes Nasheed, the foreign ministry asked for legal advice from the attorney general on instituting a legal mechanism for the transfer.

Nasheed also noted possible legal complications concerning the issuance of visas as the immigration laws specify that people ‘considered to’ belong to a terrorist organization or ‘believed to’ pose a danger to national security shall not be given visas.

While the parliamentary committee has scheduled a meeting for Wednesday, Nasheed wrote that ministers would likely be summoned for questioning.

“If our beloved human rights-loving president so wishes, it would be much better for the country if he could implement even one recommendation of the Human Rights Commission,” he added.

DQP anger

Imad Solih, vice-president of the Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP), had meanwhile announced the party’s intention to take the matter to court at last week’s “Red Notice” protest.

A statement on the party’s website claims that the President was not empowered to transfer “convicts such as those in Guantanamo by either the constitution or any law or regulation in the Maldives.”

“There is no reason that a small country like the Maldives with limited resources should accept such convicts when a country like America won’t accept them,” it continues.

“While any sense of security of person and property has been lost and people are being knifed in front of police officers, there is no doubt that bringing such serious criminals to the Maldives is only going to make expatriates working in the country as well as visiting tourists more unsettled.”

It adds that President Nasheed’s decision was going to turn the country “from a tourist paradise into a terrorist paradise.”

Moreover, the decision was motivated by the president’s “greed for a prize” as the government was “not making any effort” to repatriate the many Maldivians in foreign jails.

In addition to filing a case at court, the party will be submitting a bill to the next session of parliament on prohibiting the transfer of foreign convicts to the Maldives.

DQP will also communicate with the US State Department and the American embassy to “prevent this from happening”, the party said.

“The president was elected by the Maldivian people to fulfill duties specified in the constitution and the laws of the country,” it concludes, “Under no circumstances does the president have the power to violate the law to further his self-interest.”

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“Red Notice” protest leaves scores injured

The opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party’s (DRP) “Red Notice” protest against hiked electricity tariffs on Thursday was forcibly broken by riot police outside the State Electricity Company (STELCO) building, leaving protestors and police officers injured.

Following a tense three-hour stand-off on Thursday evening, police used water canons and then tear gas to disperse the crowd at 1.15am and took a number of DRP activists into custody.

An hour after the demonstration started at 8.30pm near the tsunami monument area, the red-shirted protestors marched to STELCO led by two pickups with loud speakers, breaking through the first police cordon before coming to a halt in front of riot police.

The crowd, numbering in the thousands, was led by DRP MPs, who vowed to continue the protest until either prices were reduced or President Mohamed Nasheed resigned.

“We are not a party that takes protesting and raising our voices lightly,” DRP Leader Ahmed Thasmeen Ali told supporters just before the march, adding that the party would do everything necessary on behalf of “suffering and impoverished Maldivian citizens” to hold the government accountable.

The raised tariff was “a debt” the government owned to citizens, he said, pledging DRP’s support and cooperation in fulfilling the government’s campaign promises.

But, he added, it had become clear the current administration was “ruining people, impoverishing citizens, putting them on their knees and forcing them to beg.”

He concluded with a warning that the government’s harmful policies and disregard for citizens’ welfare would spike if MDP candidates were elected to local councils.

Thasmeen and his wife, Maduvari MP Visam Ali, left the protest before the march to STELCO began.

Apart from MPs of the DRP, Imad Solih, vice-president of the Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP) and Maavashu MP Abdul Azeez Jamal Abubakuru addressed the crowd.

The protestors condemned the government’s decision to raise electricity prices, the formation of utility companies and the appointment of “drug users” as its managing directors.

Moreover, DRP MPs alleged that electricity subsidies – “a failed innovation” – were awarded solely to supporters of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

An audio clip of President Mohamed Nasheed assuring citizens during a coalition campaign rally that the price of an electricity unit would not be raised was played throughout the protest.

The clip was followed by a recording of President Nasheed stating that a government would lose its legitimacy if it broke the promises it made to get elected.

While the DRP faced off with riot police in front of the children’s park next to STELCO, a group of MDP supporters gathered behind police lines, calling on DRP Leader Thasmeen to “pay your debts to the government”.

Violence

Settling outside the children’s park in front of riot police protecting the STELCO building, DRP MPs Ali Waheed, Ahmed Mahlouf, Ilham Ahmed, Ali Arif, Ali Azim, PA MP Abdul Azeez and DRP Vice-President Umar Naseer took turns addressing the crowd from the front pickup.

Police repeatedly urged protestors to vacate the area as they were blocking traffic and disturbing the peace.

“Staying here in violation of our order is illegal,” they warned. “The Maldives Police Service will take [legally sanctioned] action against those who stay here.”

However, the warnings were met with heated words from the DRP MPs, who said the citizens behind them were exercising a constitutional right to freedom of assembly and would not leave before the president either lowered electricity prices or resigned.

Meanwhile, Umar Naseer called on the assembled police officers to join the protestors: “Even if only the police that are here join us, we can topple the government tonight!”

“If the government decides against discussions and negotiations tonight, remember that we not discuss anything anymore!” warned Ali Waheed. “If you play with us tonight, we will bring four people to every one here tomorrow night.”

Deputy DRP leader Ibrahim Shareef told Minivan News today it was not the party’s policy to try an overthrow the government through force.

“I don’t know what he said. Our party policy is to engage in peaceful protest when dialogue fails. We will not overthrow the government through force,” he promised.

Almost three hours later, police turned the water hose first on the front pickup and the DRP MPs.

After water bottles and other projectiles were thrown, police used teargas and charged the crowd, which included a bevy of middle-aged women and children, with shields and batons.

In the aftermath, Minivan News journalists observed that the megaphone and speakers on the DRP front pickup were damaged, while the front windshield was smashed.

DRP MPs Ali Waheed, Mahlouf and PA MP Abdul Azeez were lying prone upon the ground.

A woman fainted and was carried inside STELCO, while ambulances arrived to take the injured to hospital.

Camera crews and journalist from all three local television stations filmed the police charge.

Shareef claimed the situation only became violent “when MDP activists wearing black shirts began to cause havoc from behind the police line. Then police started to use teargas and water cannon simultaneously.

“They targeted our sound system and the pickup where the DRP MPs were standing. They were quite badly hurt. One PA MP fainted and had to be taken to hospital, and Ali Waheed suffered cuts and bruises.”

Shareef said the party “did not know what really happened. We heard a glass panel at STELCO was smashed, but it could not have been DRP members because we were behind the police lines.”

Police

A statement issued by police on Friday reads that force was employed to disperse the crowd after protestors broke through police lines and “attacked police officers.”

It adds that STELCO was “an important institution that provides a basic service” and the gathering posed a danger to public safety and threatened the peace of a residential area.

Moreover, it notes that the regulations on freedom of assembly prohibited gatherings after midnight.

The regulations enforced by presidential decree under the previous administration also makes it illegal to protest outside the presidential palace and other designated spots.

The statement claims that the protestors damaged STELCO property and climbed over the fence into the children’s park.

“In addition, when the crowd was dispersed, some people in the area attacked the Henveiru police station and smashed its window,” it reads. “And a number of police officers sustained injuries, while some had their heads smashed, when rocks and other objects were thrown at police.”

Local daily Haveeru reports that 16 police officers were injured in addition to 13 others who were taken to hospital.

While a number of protestors were taken into custody, said police, no one apart from a minor suspected of smashing the Henveiru police station window was arrested.

The statement goes on to condemn the actions of protestors “led by honourable members of parliament” in attacking duty officers, breaking through police lines and “obstructed the legal duty of police”, adding it was “regrettable” that force had to be used after repeated pleading and warning was to no avail.

It concludes by urging those who organise protests to abide by regulations and conduct themselves peacefully.

The protest continued on Friday night with a smaller crowd but was called off at around 11pm after giving the government “until Thursday” to find a solution.

A group of people reportedly threw rocks at the DRP supporters near the tsunami monument. DRP leaders claimed they were paid Rf50,000 to disrupt the rally.

President welcomes drop in temperature

President Mohamed Nasheed yesterday welcomed the DRP’s decision to suspend its protests against hiked electricity tariffs for one week to allow the government to resolve the issue.

A statement issued by the president’s office yesterday offers President Nasheed’s “sincere thanks” to DRP Leader Ahmed Thasmeen Ali for the party’s decision to cease its protests “to cooperate with the government’s efforts.”

It stresses that a special taskforce was formed last week to assist in the awarding of subsidies following the introduction of fuel surcharges by the State Electricity Company (STELCO).

The president said in his weekly radio address on Friday that the government would resolve the issue to ensure that citizens would not “face too much hardship” in paying electricity bills.

While STELCO has been an efficiently managed state-owned enterprise until the 2000s, the company’s shortfalls and debts was “a loss to the government and the people.”

The government anticipates that all state-owned enterprises would be able to compete in the market place as a viable and sustainable business.

“The government will always cooperate with opposition political parties on any issue that would improve public welfare,” the statement concludes.

The government hiked electricity tariffs for the Greater Male’ region in November as part of a tariff restructure.

At the time the government argued that granting over Rf100 million in annual subsidies to STELCO was “subsidising the rich and poor alike.”

Moreover, it was revealed that STELCO faced a loss of Rf547 million (US$43 million) in 2008 and was operating at a daily loss of Rf320,000 (US$25,000).

Concurrently with the raised prices, the government introduced “targeted subsidies” to poor income families through the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA).

In his weekly radio address on Friday, President Nasheed said a proper mechanism for awarding electricity subsidies has not yet been established.

He added that efforts were underway to resolve the issue so that citizens would not have to “bear such a burden”.

President Nasheed noted that subsidies would also be awarded in the atolls and “not just in Male’.”

Moreover, as a result of direct government subsidies in the past, state-owned enterprises were “not at all responsible.”

“So the change we made is to help citizens directly, not the company,” he said.

However Shareef noted that during the last 30 years the previous government “only had to subsidise STELCO in 2006-08 when the price of fuel skyrocketed, but now it is half the price of what it was in 2008. Otherwise, it was making a profit.”

The current programme of subsidies was encouraging begging, and stripping people of their dignity, Shareef claimed.

“People don’t want to have to ask for a subsidy,” he said.

President Nasheed claimed the crux of the matter was difficulty in ascertaining deserving and eligible recipients for subsidies.

“I know the process of clearing this up has been going on for a long time,” he said. “However, God willing, it will be completely resolved in the coming week.”

Meanwhile, three people were taken into custody at a DRP demonstration in Addu yesterday following the Southern Utility Company’s decision to introduce fuel surcharges.

While the protestors damaged the Southern Province Office, the three men were arrested after they attacked police officers during the protest.

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Maldives gets highest number of votes for Human Rights Council

The Maldives has been officially awarded a seat in the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, receiving historic support from the UN General Assembly members.

The votes, which were cast on 13 May at the UN Headquarters in New York, revealed the Maldives came in at the top of the Asian group running for the Council.

The seat was also highly endorsed by a group of international NGOs, with UN Watch and Freedom House reporting that out of fourteen candidate countries from all regions, only five, including the Maldives, have human rights records that merit a seat in the Council.

The report said only the Maldives, Guatemala, Spain, Switzerland and Poland have a worthy human rights record, while the remaining nine countries have either “questionable” or “unqualified” records.

The seat had already been secured after Iran withdrew its candidature last month, leaving four countries–Malaysia, Thailand, Qatar and the Maldives–running for four seats.

But the unprecedented support from Member States show the “enormous respect for the Maldives, its government, its people, its national human rights institution, and the work that we have all been doing to strengthen the respect for human rights,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Ahmed Shaheed.

He said “we topped the whole list. It was the highest number of votes ever on the Council.”

Dr Shaheed told Minivan News last month he believed the Maldives would be number one in the rankings.

Speaking in New York, Dr Shaheed said “this is a proud day for the Maldives,” adding that “five years ago we were a human rights pariah, today our bid to secure a Council seat has won almost universal support from UN Member States.”

Dr Shaheed added he was “delighted” the seat was won on merit; “today the world’s governments and human rights NGOs have joined together to recognise and endorse the enormous strides that the Maldives has taken in the realm of human rights.”

Press Secretary for the President’s Office, Mohamed Zuhair, said President Mohamed Nasheed was “very happy” about the seat in the Council, “especially because Maldives was elected with a very high award.”

He said he believes the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) “should become strengthened on this kind of endorsement.”

Zuhair added “human rights issues in the Maldives will be more highlighted” and said the votes show “international recognition of the Maldivian government in human rights issues.”

Speaking to Minivan News last month, President of the HRCM, Ahmed Saleem, said winning the seat was “a very good opportunity for the government to realise [they have] to make necessary changes.”

He added membership in the Council should improve human rights in the country “because the government also will have to act very positively now, there has to be room for improvement in the way the government reacts to human rights issues.”

Saleem noted he was “very delighted” the Maldives won a seat in the Council, as it “reflects well on us, as well.”

Human Rights Council

Seats for the Human Rights Council are voted upon by all forty-seven Member States of the Council, and seats are awarded with over 51% of votes, cast on secret ballots, by the General Assembly.

The Maldives secured 185 votes out of 192 Member States, making it the highest number of votes for a state in any region. Coming in second was Thailand, with 182 votes.

The Council, working out of the UN Palais des Nations in Geneva, is responsible for promoting human rights, addressing violations of human rights and promoting the effective coordination within the UN system.

This is the first time the Maldives has won a seat in a major UN body. The country will serve a three-year term. Countries are not eligible for immediate re-election after two consecutive terms.

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Comment: Speak freely, Dr Waheed

I write this letter with the passion of one who has not heard enough from the man who holds the second leading position in the government of the Maldives.

As Dr. Waheed says, “It is [high] time to get rid of that fear of speaking out.”

This is a new freedom we have as a nation that is clearly not being utilised enough.

This letter begins my own attempt to follow his example. This letter is also a plea that he continue to speak publicly, namely about the recent injustice to the Minister of Trade and Economic Development of the Maldives.

The government’s administration of injustice on Rasheed due to the call for freedom of speech led by Dr Waheed is discrimination. There was no reason given for Rasheed’s dismissal. I urge Dr Waheed to speak freely on what is going on in our government.

Dr Waheed brings up a grave concern. The gravity of the situation can clearly be seen now, as we know that even a Minister holds no safety in his position. Is this not just another autocratic government that does as it pleases with the power it holds? Who was involved in Rasheed’s firing?

Yet Dr Waheed is hopeful. He says in a recent article, “there is ‘nothing that can’t be fixed'”, as the government “is going through a learning process.”

Despite the hindrance on his job, he says, “I don’t see why we should be hiding our feelings now. We did not bring about this change to work in despair.”

In my view this is a man of courage and integrity. He is clearly working for the people. He speaks his mind and faces in the process public scrutiny and even ridicule. In my opinion, he needs to do more of this. If the government is not hearing your advice, tell it to us, the public. Continue the open line of communication you have started by beginning to voice your concerns.

If you are for the people, Allah’s power is with you. We did witness a miracle when we elected our current government into power, but the abuse of power can never reign without the intervention of Allah’s force. Dr. Waheed has not responded publicly to Rasheed’s loss at the hands of the government.

Please do not be silent for the sake of avoiding confrontation. Sometimes, difficult things need to be voiced, as you have suggested. Anything can be said in the spirit of compassion. Allah shows us this. This must be what is meant by freedom of speech.

As far as the claim that he is angling for the presidential seat in the next election, how is this even relevant to the concerns of governance of the people now, and the obvious unrest in the current government? As a self respecting citizen, I will not buy into this line of inquiry nor comment on what I think the VP is going to do, or is trying to do.

The question we should be more concerned with revolves around the unclear governance of our nation now, the very question Dr Waheed points us towards. The tyranny of the government has gone too far. The Vice President is being left in the dark. A minister has been fired for no reason. How can the people feel safe and secure under such a government?

Power is a dangerous mechanism and can be used too easily for harm. Dr Waheed speaks the truth that it should never be in the hands of a few. This always leads to the subjugation of others, just look at the history of governance of every nation in the world.

As a side note, when a voice of governance speaks publicly in any nation, he or she is speaking in his or her role, the role that this individual was elected into, especially if s/he makes it clear that s/he is speaking from this capacity! May Dr Waheed use his power for the benefit of the people. Speak to us, for us.

Dr. Waheed played a lead role in the reconstruction of a war torn country, Afghanistan, where he led an organisation of 250 Afghans and an international staff from 20 different countries. His early biography is brief, but mentioned he came from a low income family, and we all know what a low income family in Male was like in the early 1950’s.

Regardless of how he is able to serve us as a country, in my mind, this man has earned our respect for his very impressive track record abroad. As much I am giving Dr Waheed the benefit of doubt, I also think he needs to step up, and be more vocal about policies he would implement and the injustice being conducted by the government he is a part of. If you are working for the people Dr. Waheed, be the voice that gives us the power of information. Give the power that is being taken from us, back to us, where it belongs.

We as a country cannot forget the past that we come from. This man represents that past. If we are to move forward into the future with dignity and continued growth, we have to face the suffering of our past in unity, as well as the suffering we face today though of a very different form than it was only a few years prior.

I plead our honorable president to take heed of the words of a man who should be his best, his right hand man. Having read of Dr Waheed’s accomplishments abroad, I feel eager for some of this good work at home.

May Dr. Waheed continue the process of speaking his mind that he has only just begun. I challenge him to be even more transparent. What is the point of bringing his dissatisfaction to the public if he will not continue that process through, and keep us informed as to what he feels our country needs, as well as what is happening behind the curtains of the powers that be? You have the chance Dr Waheed, to use the power of words for our benefit.

Finally, as a Maldivian woman, I have been disappointed with the slow pace of progression when it comes to women’s rights and leadership. What does it take to right a patriarchal system that finds roots in the entrenched world patriarchal culture that we still live in?

I would like the women in power to speak to these issues. I implore the women in power to do so. For such an educated man as Dr Waheed, I find myself questioning how far he would go to uphold the rights of the people in this country, so many of whom are women.

This is a very high standard that I hold him to above others of his standing because of his background and experience. The task of reconstructing our patriarchal system is one I would like to see someone with power in our government tackle. When we look at the history of subjugation of women, we see how subtle and how permeable is the assault inflicted by those that hold power.

Every major power in the world that has found great success has not been able to do so without its women empowered to hold their own on equal footing with men, and add their wisdom to the process of growth.

Women have been given positions of power in the Maldives, but we are underrepresented and so our voices cannot be heard loudly enough. As a feminist, I am extremely sensitive to the power differentials among the sexes. Perhaps the task of addressing this issue in my country is one that I as an educated woman need to begin to tackle for myself. Perhaps I need to take my own advice around using the power of words and freedom of speech, being that I have it.

What I have learned as a feminist is that we each cannot hold anyone but ourselves responsible for speaking to the suffering in our own hearts. May the might of words bring power of justice back to the people where it belongs. May this letter be a start for me, in the name of our most Merciful and Compassionate.

With Best Intentions,

Mirani Bhava

All comment pieces are the sole view of the author and do not reflect the editorial policy of Minivan News. If you would like to write an opinion piece, please send proposals to [email protected]

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Letter on Minivan News

Dear Editor,

I read on your “about us” page that “Minivan News (’minivan’ means ‘independent’ in Dhivehi) is:

an English-language news website providing independent and unbiased coverage of news in the Maldives. Published in the capital Male’, Minivan News is widely read by both local and global audiences and is internationally regarded as the Maldives’ most reliable news source. Minivan News also sets high standards for ethical and impartial reporting, training local journalists to an international standard while providing the country’s first fully independent platform for free expression. In keeping with our commitment to independence, Minivan News is self-funding through banner advertising.

However your reports and news coverage is a just another version of Dhivehi Observer new (aka. Presidents habaru fathafolhi”) meaning it’s always pro-government news.

As a reader of Maldivian news on most of the sites both in Dhivehi and in English, I find it hard to believe in your “pledge” to cover stories “independently”, neither do I believe that they are “unbiased”.

In a baby democracy like ours, it is my view that media has a huge responsibility in disseminating information, cover news in an independent/unbiased manner and in building trust among general public in the whole new democratic system.

Hoping to see a positive change on your e-paper and wishing you all the best.

Ahmed

All letters are the sole view of the author and do not reflect the editorial policy of Minivan News. If you would like to write an letter, please send proposals to [email protected]

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DRP plan protest to “serve red notice” to government

The main opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) is organising a mass demonstration in Male’ tonight to protest the government’s decision to raise electricity tariffs.

The protest will take place near the tsunami monument at 8.30pm and will call on the government to restore the price of electricity units to the rates that existed in December 2008.

At a press conference yesterday, DRP MP Ahmed Nihan said “the government will be forced” to reverse the hiked rates as a result of the protest.

Nihan warned that the protest “could get heated and might be drawn out.”

Participants at the protest rally will be wearing red shirts symbolizing the “red notice” received by many citizens unable to pay their electricity bills.

Galholu South MP Ahmed Mahlouf said tonight’s protest will be “very different” and other political parties have signaled their support.

“You will see different things in this protest,” he said. “We want to leave it a surprise.”

Moreover, the party intends to continue the protest until its demand is met.

Imad Solih, vice-president of the Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP), announced on private broadcaster DhiTV that the party will join the protest as the issue was of national concern.

He alleged that the government was “deceiving the people” about electricity subsidies to poor income families.

Energy policy

In a campaign rally before the second round of the 2008 presidential election runoff, President Mohamed Nasheed pledged that the price of a unit of electricity would not go up in his government.

However, the State Electricity Company (STELCO) raised its tariffs in November as part of a restructure to bring electricity charges in line with operating costs.

The company revealed at the time that it was operating at a loss of Rf320,000 (US$25,000) a day, while it faced losses in excess of Rf540 million (US$43 million) in 2008.

Moreover, it was revealed that the company had debts to the tune of US$18 million.

The government announced that the changes were part of its policy to stop providing over Rf100 million in annual subsidies to STELCO in favour of targeted subsidies.

But, in January, MPs of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) expressed concern that the average monthly electricity bill for households had risen almost overnight from Rf545 ($US42) to Rf725 ($US56).

The MPs called on the government to broaden its criteria for eligibility to ensure that more households would be receiving assistance.

“We have to get rid of this mentality that if a house hold electricity bill is high, they are well off,” urged MDP MP Eva Abdulla. “We have to assume that it might just be 12 people living in that household, chipping in for the bill – this is the reality.”

Under the revised rates, the price of the first hundred units consumed was up from Rf1.60 to Rf2.25, while the second and third hundred units had risen from Rf .70 and Rf2.15 to Rf2.50 each.

Earlier this week, the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) announced that it would subsidise the fuel surchage in the electricity bill for low income families.

As part of the tariff restructure, STELCO decided to introduce a fuel surcharge of three laari for every eight laari increase in the price of diesel in the world market.

However, the surcharge would only be levied if the price of diesel exceeds Rf8 per litre.

Republican connection

Nihan said today that he doubted the validity of the procedure followed by NSPA to identify low income families.

He added that the municipality council was informed about the issue two weeks ago but no solution was found.

The MP for Vili-Maafanu further claimed that STELCO had a tank that could store fuel for three months and the reserves were purchased at “a cheap price”.

He called on all MDP MPs to join the protest tonight.

Meanwhile, Mohamed Zuhair, press secretary for the president office, claimed that the protest rally was connected to Gasim Ibrahim, business magnate and former presidential candidate of the Republican party.

Although Gasim backed the MDP in the runoff of the presidential election in exchange for posts in the coalition government, he quit as Home Minister 21 days into the new administration.

”You can see very clearly they are using Jumhoory [Republican] Party’s colour when DRP has their own colour,” Zuhair said. ”We have so far received a lot of information from local people that the rally is connected to Jumhoory party.”

Yellow standard

On the same day the DRP announced its protest, President Nasheed formed a task force to “assist and expedite” the provision of subsidies by NSPA.

Zuhair said the task force will monitor the awarding of subsidies and identify deserving recipients.

Meanwhile, Ibrahim Waheed, NSPA chairman, denied claims by DRP Vice-President Umar Naseer that subsidies were awarded exclusively to supporters of the ruling party.

Waheed said a DRP MP has been receiving subsidies from NSPA since January, but declined to reveal the identity of the opposition MP.

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Parliamentary committee to investigate “resettlement” of Gitmo detainees in Maldives

Opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) MP Ali Waheed has filed a motion without notice at the parliamentary national security committee to investigate the government’s decision to allegedly “resettle” inmates from the controversial Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba that houses terror suspects.

Speaking to press after filing the motion, Ali Waheed said that based on his information, the released prisoners would not necessarily be held in custody, but could be resettled in the Maldives.

“They are to be released among Maldivians and kept under watch in whatever way,” he said. “So while we don’t even have a proper jail and the society is drowning in gang violence and crime, the Maldivian government has reached the point where they are forming agreements with another country and creating a legal framework to bring in people from the jail that has the world’s dangerous terrorists and citizens aren’t aware of what’s happening. The People’s Majlis elected by the Maldivian people aren’t aware of it.”

He added that the government’s actions was “a bit too much”.

“Even if the Majlis is on recess, I ask that the committee look into this and take action against those culpable in this matter,” he said.

The DRP vice-president, who is also the deputy chairman of the national security committee, said the case should be investigated as a matter of urgent concern.

He called on the national security forces, Maldives Police Service and the Human Rights Commission to “stop this from happening.”

“And the Maldivian people should come out and stop this,” he said, adding that the government’s failure to seek the parliament’s opinion showed that personal interest was involved.

Moreover, it was regrettable that the government was planning to bring in “convicts” at a time when the social fabric “has been destroyed”.

“We can’t even properly control the convicts in this country,” he said.

Ali Waheed told Minivan News today that the DRP “fully supported” the closure of the Guantanamo Bay prison, but bringing inmates to the Maldives poses dangers to the country.

Nobel Peace Prize

In December last year, President Mohamed Nasheed said the Maldives will receive prisoners released from the jail.

“If a Muslim does not have a place to live in freedom, we will help in whatever way we can. We don’t want anyone to suffer any harm. We know that the Maldives, in helping just three people from Guantanamo Bay, does not mean that either the Maldives or the world would be free of inhumane treatment,” he said. “However this jail, Guantanamo jail, is very symbolic.”

US President Barack Obama pledged to close down the jail in the first year of his presidency. However, the American government now foresees that the prison will be closed at the end of the year.

In his radio address in December, President Nasheed said investigations have cleared most of the detainees of any involvement in terrorist activities, while the others will be taken to trial.

He said most of the detainees at Guantanamo Bay were innocent people caught up in the war in Afghanistan, and that offering assistance to other nations in whatever capacity was “a national duty.”

DRP MP Ahmed Nihan told Minivan News today that Saudi Arabia, Philippines and many other countries have refused to take in any Gitmo prisoners.

President Nasheed was trying to “win the Nobel peace prize” and secure American financial assistance, Nihan suggested.

He further warned that the move could leave the country open to attack by terrorist groups.

Nihan said Foreign Minister Dr Ahmed Shaheed was the one who came up with the plan.

Shaheed said today that it was important to remember that not everyone incarcerated in Guantanamo Bay prison was a terrorist or a criminal.

“There was once a Maldivian taken there,” he explained. “He is living here and nobody has attacked us.”

Shaheed claimed that DRP’s motion was driven by personal animosity towards him.

Last year, the DRP failed to pass a vote of no-confidence against Shaheed for his part in deciding to establish diplomatic ties with Israel.

On whether he advised President Nasheed on accepting the detainees, Shaheed said he did not have to answer that question.

The president said investigations have cleared most of the detainees of any involvement in terrorist activities, while the others will be taken to trial.

He said most of the detainees at Guantanamo Bay were innocent people caught up in the war in Afghanistan, and that offering assistance to other nations in whatever capacity was “a national duty.”

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‘ConDem’ coalition announced in UK

UK Conservative Party leader David Cameron has announced a historic coalition government with the Liberal Democrats, following the resignation of Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

The deal between the two parties, which are ideologically opposed on issues such as engagement with Europe, marks the country’s first coalition government since Winston Churchill’s wartime coalition 70 years ago.

Cameron has already moved into the Prime Minister’s residence at Number 10 Downing Street, 90 minutes after Brown’s departure. He becomes Britain’s 53rd Prime Minister, and its youngest in 200 years, while leader of the Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg will serve as the Deputy Prime Minister.

Cameron promised he and Clegg would put their political differences aside – of which there are a great many – and seek to rebuild public trust in politics. The catchphrase of the new government would be: “Those who can, should, those who cannot, we will always help”, Cameron said.

Clegg received backing for the deal from his party last night, and committed to a five year coalition government with five of the 23 members of cabinet coming from his party.

The agreement also forced the Conservatives to make concessions on many of their policies. Key among these was a move towards raising tax thresholds for the wealthy, and a referendum on political reform – namely an alternative voting system that would force elections on the House of Lords.

Conservative plans for welfare reform, immigration caps and independent state schools will remain, while disagreements still exist over nuclear power plants and the Trident nuclear deterrent.

The deal marks a bitter day for Labour. Despite losing seats five seats in the election, the Liberal Democrats have a five year opportunity to take control of left-wing politics in the UK, leaving Labour completely offside in the next election.

Brown’s resignation was Labour’s last card to play, hoping that their own negotiations for a Lib-Lab coalition would taste sweeter with Brown out of the way.

But the jubilation among both the parties now in government masks widespread dissatisfaction in the ranks of both. United only in their dislike of Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats are fundamentally different creatures and it will be a test of British politics whether one’s small-government approach will tolerate the welfare innovation of the other.

The change in government is a net gain for the Maldives. The Conservative party played a key role in training the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) from street campaigners into a political party, and pressured the British government to condemn alleged human rights abuses occurring in the country.

“Their human rights group took up our case and put pressure on the British government. At their conference they put me in touch with centre-right parties from Serbia to Sri Lanka and gave me a platform from which to tell the world about what was happening in the Maldives,” President Mohamed Nasheed said, in an interview with the Telegraph newspaper in January 2009.

It led a visit by a Conservative delegation including vice-president Richard Spring and recently-crowned Redditch MP Karen Lumley to give the MDP advice on campaigning and “strategic alliance building”.

“They deserve our support and they will certainly get it. We want to keep a spotlight on events unfolding in the Maldives,” Spring said, at the time.

After the election, Lumley wrote in the Birmingham Advertiser that she “was humbled by people who just wanted a better future for themselves and their families. I am so proud that I was able to a very small part of that change.”

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