Year: 2010

Corruption case against Kaashidhoo MP begins

MP for Kaashidhoo Ismail Abdul Hameed appeared in court today facing charges of corruption and abuse of authority while he was director of the Male’ municipality.

Elected as an independent, Hameed signed for the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) last year but left the ruling party shortly after.

According to Haveeru, Hameed’s lawyer questioned whether the case was officially sent to the Prosecutor General’s (PG’s) office by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), arguing that the letter requesting prosecution was signed only by former ACC President Ali Rasheed Umar.

Deputy PG Mahmoud Saleem replied that the normal procedure was for the chair of the commission to sign official correspondence.

Today’s hearing was adjourned after the judge asked the prosecution to submit documents from the ACC at the next hearing.

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Civil court dismisses lawsuit against Thasmeen

Civil court has dismissed three lawsuits against Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) leader Ahmed Thasmeen Ali filed by three directors of the company Victorious Travels and Tours claiming compensation for the sale of Shaviyani Kabaalifaru resort.

The judge ruled that there were no legal grounds to hear the case in the absence of a legally binding agreement between the claimants and Thasmeen, reports Haveeru.

The three directors of the company claim that the resort was sold to Thasmeen by the fourth director, Ali Shareef, M. Anavilla, on the condition that proceeds from the sale would be handed over to the company.

While a portion of the amount had been paid, the claimants sought damages for the unpaid amount.

The 200-bed Kabaalifaru resort was awarded in 2006 for a rent of U$13.8 million over 10 years.

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Former Information Minister Ibrahim Hussein Manik faces prosecution

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has forwarded a case for prosecution against former Information Minister Ibrahim Hussein Manik to the Prosecutor General’s (PG’s) office, seeking damages worth US$530,707 for the state.

A statement issued by the ACC yesterday reveals that an investigation into purchases made by Television Maldives in 2000 and 2001 found that the Information Minister “abused his position for undue gain” and violated the state assets and financial regulations.

According to the ACC, the minister sent advance payments on two occasions to Singaporean company Pro-Audio, which went bankrupt in 2001.

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President calls for renewal of commitment to democracy

President Mohamed Nasheed called on the public yesterday to renew their commitment to consolidating democracy in the Maldives while “visualising the big picture” on the occasion of the International Day of Democracy.

“To reap the benefits of democracy, we must prioritise empowerment of women in national, political and social matters, strengthen civil society, establish a strong and proper judiciary, and implement measures to ensure respect and trust for judges,” reads the president’s message.

“We must remind ourselves that the development we hope for can only be achieved by inter party agreements on decentralisation and enacting free and fair local and national elections.”

Meanwhile opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) Leader Ahmed Thasmeen Ali, writing in his personal website, accused the government of jeopardizing the country’s nascent democracy.

“Two years on, today, the joy seems to have vanished. Signs of discontent, dismay and frustration are to be seen and heard across the country,” he writes.

“The mixed emotions have strongly skewed towards distrust to the government on its direction, ability to deliver, and above all, the government’s sincerity in safeguarding the democratic principles and promoting democratic values.”

As a result of the “irresponsible” government, he argues, public confidence in a  democratic system of governance is compromised.

“It is a moral obligation of the government to promote democracy and its values and deliver on its campaign promises. DRP shall, in the best interest of the nation, keep on pressing the government to be responsible and will continue our fight for democracy and all its values.”

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Comment: Truth, justice and water boarding

For a foreigner living in the exotic hybrid of tourist paradise and Islamic state that is the Maldives, it can be a sometimes tough, occasionally exotic, yet never-boring life as an expat.

But the last few weeks have been particularly odd, with the world seemingly coming to an end amidst the build up to an imminent world war of ideologies.

The emerging conflict I speak of is the growing cultural divide between us, accelerated by ‘nutjobs’ both Islamic and non-Islamic, with sanity – as usual – caught in the middle.

And yet with all the drama triggered by the acerbic comments of the Florida-based pastor, Terry Jones, who recently proposed a ‘Burn a Quran Day’ in his 40 person Gainesville church, there appears to be an unlikely middle ground at the Ameenee Magu offices of the Male’ Water and Sewerage Company.

After all, the potential threat of a global religious war and its resulting nuclear holocaust can only go some way in recreating the monthly spectre of having to waste a lunchtime queuing up to pay a utility bill in the nation’s capital.

But it is in these moments, hunched among Maldivian strangers, that you begin to gleam some hope for society. Awaiting the sight of your ticket number flashing up on the screen – still a hundred or so people away – so one can pay their dues for the privilege of coffee and hot showers, an unlikely solidarity seems to form.

As a distinctly non-Maldivian looking chap amongst a very alien local populace, I was surprised to find myself not excluded from being passed old tickets from my fellow lingerers in a modest attempt to speed up one’s own personal waiting hell.

Between muffled and confusingly pronounced “fank yous” and “shukiriyams”, everyone is soon passing tickets on to one another – whether black, white or anything in between – with a growing sense of ceremony and desire to beat the system. It is about as much fun as you can have paying 500 rufiyaa of your own money over a counter.

Sure, it may not be a significant blow for world peace, but for my fellow queue buddies in the line on Monday afternoon (September 13, 2010) – thank you, it was a hoot, and I look forward to passing on the tickets again next month.

So some advice for Terry Jones and the violent Islamic protestors: whether Maldivian, American or just a pasty white redhead, before giving up in despair at the state of the world, go pay your utility bills and get some faith in your fellow man. It’s what the Male’ Water and Sewerage Company would want.

Neil Merrett is a Maldives-based British writer and journalist and most definitely not an employee of the Male’ Water and Sewerage Company.

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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Supreme Court appeals for respect

The Supreme Court has appealed against “spreading misleading claims” harmful to the character and integrity of judges.

A statement issued by the court yesterday claims that such falsehoods would impede judges from impartially fulfilling their duties.

“And since protecting the honour and dignity of the courts with the law and through other means is obligatory upon all persons under article 141(d), and because the Supreme Court of the Maldives believes that making misleading claims about Maldivian judges violates the dignity of the lawful courts, we remind everyone to immediately cease spreading or repeating any misleading claim,” it reads.

The statement does not reveal the nature of the “misleading claims”; however, speculation in the media has focused on a case reportedly filed at the High Court challenging the eligibility of Supreme Court Justices.

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16-year-old stabbed

A 16-year-old boy was stabbed three times in the back near Star Cinema in Maafannu ward on Tuesday night, according to police.

Sub-Inspector Ahmed Shiyam confirmed the victim was taken to Indira Gandhi Memorial hospital for treatment following the attack.

However, Shiyam said it was too early to say whether or not the attack was linked to the controversial gang-favourite sport ‘Baibala’.

‘’We are still investigating the case and we haven’t discovered yet whether the stabbings are linked to Baibala tournament,” he said.

The government initially refused to authorise the annual Baibala Tournament this year after police expressed concern with the potential for violence between gangs during the competition.

However, permission was granted after a group of 150 players petitioned the president outside his residence.

Last month, a 16-year-old boy was stabbed to death after a football match between two gangs in the ’Maaziya’ football ground.

According to eyewitnesses, the victim was attacked by a group armed with knives and sticks.

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Maldives updates UN Human Rights Council on political developments

A day after taking a seat on the UN Human Rights Council, the government has updated UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on recent political developments in the country, and the challenges “surrounding the division and balance of power between the three branches of government.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the UN in Geneva Iruthisham Adam explained to the Council the Maldives was undergoing a democratic transition and was facing “many challenges and difficulties.”

“Many of the institutions, mechanisms and concepts introduced by the 2008 Constitution are new to the Maldives and all of us, including decision-makers and the general population, are still adapting and learning,” Adam said.

She noted that the government had invited the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) to assist in ensuring the separation of powers between the executive and legislature following recent political deadlocks, and added that the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) had sent a high-level mission to the Maldives to strengthen judicial independence and accountability.

The Maldives delegation also requested the Council to work with the authorities in Myanmar/Burma to ensure the country’s elections in November were “fair and free and reflect the will of the people.”

Press Secretary of the President, Mohamed Zuhair, observed that the Maldives faced its own human rights challenges domestically.

“One allegation many Maldivians are not aware of is human trafficking – the employment of cheap labour, and inhumane treatment of workers,” he said, adding that how to handle it “is one of our biggest [human rights] challenges.”

Minivan News recently reported that exploitation of foreign workers rivals fishing as the second most profitable sector of the Maldivian economy after tourism, according to conservative estimates of the number of Bangladeshi workers showing up at their commission in Male’ after being abandoned at the airport by unscrupulous employment agents.

“Certain sections of society treat their servants appallingly, whether they are Bangladeshi or Maldivian,” Zuhair noted, “but a lot of what is described as human trafficking is not happening intentionally. People obtain labour quotas for foreign workers, and then afterwards the workers fade into society.”

Zuhair noted that on one street corner in Male’, “every morning there are 300-400 Bangladeshis out moonlighting – it looks like a minor demonstration, and people have started calling it Bangladeshi corner.”

“Both sides are culpable,” he observed, suggesting there needed to be awareness programs, better legislation “and also a central point where the rules and regulations are available [for workers].

“Right now there is a split between immigration and the employment ministry – there should not be a split, and it doesn’t help,” Zuhair added.

The Maldives also faced other human rights maladies such as child molestation and civil rights, he noted.

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World’s third largest dredger begins reclaiming Gulhifalhu shallows

President Nasheed visited the third largest dredger in the world on Monday, as the enormous vessel begins reclaiming the shallows of Gulhifalhu in Kaaf Atoll.

The 10 hectares reclaimed by Boskalis International and the ‘Queen of the Netherlands’ – capable of reclaiming two hectares a day – will be converted into an industrial zone.

Nasheed told newspaper Haveeru that an area the size of half the capital of Male’ would be released by the project, boosting the economy by 20 percent and taking the stress of real estate prices Male’.

The first phase of the industrial development will see the construction of 1,500, 2,500 and 3,000 square foot warehouse complexes and hotels.

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