Day: June 24, 2010

Five people assaulted in Hithadhoo house

Five people have been injured in a night time assault at Feeneez house in Hithadhoo island, Seenu (Addu) atoll. The victims were watching the World Cup at 12.40 a.m. when they were attacked with sharp objects and wooden sticks.

They received various injuries including cuts. Three of the victims have been released after treatment at the Hithadhoo Regional Hospital. The other two are under observation due to the severity of their wounds.

The police have apprehended five people suspected of being involved in the assault. All the suspects have criminal records for theft, assault, looting and other crimes.

Police investigations are continuing.

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Closer scrutiny of Maldives Human Rights performance now, warns foreign minister Shaheed

Membership of the United Nations Human Rights Council will bring close scrutiny of the country’s human rights performance, warned foreign minister Shaheed as the Maldives takes its seat on the 47 member Council.

Speaking at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, the foreign minister said it was the first time Maldives has held a seat on a UN Council, and he promised the Maldivian government was determined to use its three-year membership to promote human rights abroad and to consolidate democracy at home.

The Human Rights Council is responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe. The Council was created by the UN General Assembly on 15 March 2006. The Maldives has been active on the Council as an observer since 2006 through its Permanent Mission in Geneva and stood for a seat in elections earlier this year, securing 185 votes – the highest number in the history of the UN human rights body.

The Human Rights Council meets three times a year, in September, March and June. During its membership, the Maldives will focus on torture prevention, women’s rights, children’s rights, environmental rights, and the rights of persons with disabilities.

“It is therefore vital that the Maldives practises what it preaches and lives up to the highest international human rights standards as well as to its legal obligations under international human rights law,” said the foreign minister.

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Beta Thalassemia and Healthcare Assistance for Maldives from Italy

The Abruzzo region of Italy, 50 miles east from Rome, has signed a declaration with the Maldivian government providing increased assistance for the Maldivian health sector.

Each year, the Abruzzo region will provide transplantations for ten Maldivians with Beta Thalassemia.

The Abruzzo region and the government of Maldives will also share knowledge and best practices in healthcare, Beta Thalassaemia programs and consultations on Thalassaemia projects in the Maldives.

The agreement was signed during President Nasheed’s ongoing visit to Italy.

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Clean Energy Viable and Better for Security: President Nasheed

Low carbon development is both possible and economically viable, said President Nasheed in a speech at the “International Conference on Climate, Energy Environment: How to Build a New Global Deal” in Rome.

The climate issue must be understood as an economic, financial and security issue, he said. Climate change was a very real threat to humanity but there was “an organised scheme” in many developed countries against climate change.

Climate deniers were able to stop the momentum gained after Copenhagen, the President claimed, and the only way to regain the momentum was 60s style street action. “Soon after Copenhagen, sceptics started working,” he said.

“We have more than 16 islands where people have to be relocated, our fresh water is being contaminated… our ocean temperatures are rising and therefore our fish stocks are dwindling,” said the President.

The conference was organised by the Centre for American Progress, and the Institute of European Democrats and Sustainable Future Centre.

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Maldivian woman pleads not guilty to murder charges in fatal stabbing case

The Criminal Court has started the trial of Mariyam Nazaha, 21, of Henveiru Baikandige, less than 24 hours after she allegedly stabbed her ex-husband to death Tuesday afternoon.

State prosecutor Dheebaanaz Fahmy told the court that Nazaha bought a knife around two months ago and hid it in her bedroom to murder Hassan Shahid, 34, of Machangoalhi Edhuruge. She also said Nazaha had stabbed him in the back at her house while he was leaning towards a TV rack.

Shahid died while undergoing treatment for injuries sustained from the alleged attack, and murder charges should be laid against her, the prosecutor said.

When the judge asked whether she understood the charges, Nazaha replied “yes” but said she pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor noted that the charges were based on Nazaha’s confession in the investigation and added that the police were collecting evidence. She sought a revision of the charges.

The defendant’s lawyer Ahmed Abdulla Afeef said he would respond to the charges after reviewing the documents.

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High Court upholds blasphemy acquittal

The High Court has ruled in favour of the Criminal Court’s acquittal of a Maldivian who allegedly claimed that there was no God and Prophet Muhammad was not a Messenger.

The Criminal Court judge earlier said the man had made the comments while drunk and therefore could not be convicted. The man’s father had given evidence against him but the High Court ruled the father’s evidence inadmissible because it was motivated by a personal grudge.

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Thulusdhoo and Funadhoo – Capitals Again

The former capitals of Kaaf atoll and and Shaviyani atolls have been reinstated.

The government changed the capitals from Thulusdhoo to Maafushi (Kaafu atoll) and from Funadhoo to Milandhoo (Shaviyani atoll) on 26 October 2009.

That decision has now been reversed by the Majlis after a vote with 41 MPs for the reinstatement and 31 against.

The bill containing the reinstatement, originally presented by Funadhoo MP Ali Saleem, was passed with committee amendments.

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