Month: February 2011

Maldivian President joins calls for Mubarak to step down

President Mohamed Nasheed has joined the first wave of world leaders calling for Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to step down and “heed the will of the Egyptian people,” after hundreds of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets and demanded the end of autocratic rule.

“Egypt is a mature country. It contains many reasonable people who are capable of ruling reasonably,” President Nasheed said, during an interview with the BBC yesterday.

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has warned Mubarak that his actions now would determine his legacy.

“Mr Hosni Mubarak: I want to make a very sincere recommendation, a very candid warning… All of us will die and will be questioned over what we left behind,” Erdogan said, in a party speech broadcast in Arabic and reported by Reuters Africa.

“As Muslims, where we all go is a two cubic metre hole,” he said. “Listen to the shouting of the people, the extremely humane demands. Without hesitation, satisfy the people’s desire for change.”

Mubarak has meanwhile offered to step down at the next election, during an appearance on Egypt’s state-run television network.

“In the few months remaining in my current term I will work towards ensuring a peaceful transition of power,” Mubarak said. “I have exhausted my life in serving Egypt and my people. I will die on the soil of Egypt and be judged by history.”

However, demonstrators have called for Mubarak’s immediate departure, given the extraordinary expression of public anger taking place in the country.

Egypt’s opposition leader, Nobel peace laureate Mohamed El Baradei, yesterday noted that demonstrators were increasingly calling for the President to not just resign but be put on trial, and urged him to leave at once “if he wants to save his skin”.

In another development, after initial prevarication US President Barack Obama appears to have withdrawn support for the Egyptian leader, praising the protesters and calling for an immediate transition of power following a 30 minute conversation with Mubarak.

The US has been a key ally of the embattled Egyptian President, pumping US2$billion of aid in the country annually since 1979. Much of this – US$1.3 billion in 2010 – is military aid, mostly Pentagon castoffs, making Egypt the second largest such recipient of US military assistance after Israel. This has seen a good deal of public anger aimed at the US within Egypt.

Mubarak’s other public allies – Israel, Jordan and Saudi Arabia – have been noticeably silent since the protests began.

Remarkably, the Egyptian military appears to have turned on Mubarak, stating publicly on state media that it would not obey orders to use force against the protesters.

“The presence of the army in the streets is for your sake and to ensure your safety and wellbeing. The armed forces will not resort to use of force against our great people,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, the UK’s Daily Telegraph newspaper has published a leaked confidential cable between Washington and the US Ambassador to Cairo, Margaret Scobey, sent on December 30, 2008, outlining conversations with an unnamed “activist” concerning “regime change” in Egypt prior to the elections in September 2011.

“According to [the source], the opposition is interested in receiving support from the army and the police for a transitional government prior to the 2011 elections. [The source] asserted that this plan is so sensitive it cannot be written down,” the communication revealed.

“[The source] asserted that Mubarak derives his legitimacy from US support, and therefore charged the US with ‘being responsible’ for Mubarak’s ‘crimes’,” wrote Scobey.

“He accused NGOs working on political and economic reform of living in a ‘fantasy world’, and not recognising that Mubarak – ‘the head of the snake’ – must step aside to enable democracy to take root.”

Scobey, however, did not appear optimistic about the source’s chances of success, describing its goal of replacing the current regime with a parliamentary democracy prior to the 2011 presidential elections as “highly unrealistic”.

“Most opposition parties and independent NGOs work toward achieving tangible, incremental reform within the current political context, even if they may be pessimistic about their chances of success. [The source’s] wholesale rejection of such an approach places him outside this mainstream of opposition politicians and activists,” Scobey wrote.

In his interview with the BBC, President of the Maldives Mohamed Nasheed called on Western powers “not to fear a democratic Egypt”, because this, he claimed, “is the best guarantor of fundamental liberties and human rights.”

“Suppressing people with extremist views through repressive means only makes them stronger,” he said.

“Fundamental rights and freedoms are human aspirations… things that all of us want. These forces are playing out on the streets of the Middle East today.”

The Maldivian government has asked Maldivians in Egypt to leave the country as protests escalate. Haveeru reported that 107 Maldivian nationals were leaving the country today on an Indian flight va Mumbai, arranged by the government.

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Addu election canceled after Civil Court rules Addu city criteria invalid

The Civil Court has ruled that the government’s criteria to declare Addu a city are invalid, days before the local council elections are due to take place.

Yesterday evening the decision led the Election Commission to cancel the elections in Addu.

Local newspaper Haveeru reported that Civil Court Judges Aisha Shujoon Mohamed, Hathif Hilmy and Ali Naseer had examined the case, before ruling that the criteria established by the Local Government Authority – consisting solely of Home Minister Hassan Afeef – were invalid. According to court documents cited by Haveeru, this ruling came from a case filed by Hassan Nasir of Annaaru Villa/Addu Atoll Hulhudhoo.

Establishing the criteria required majority of the board, the Court said, as “if a law requires a certain decision to be taken by a particular council or a committee, the decision should be taken by the majority of the council or the committee unless interpreted otherwise.”

Afeef said he was unable to comment as he had not yet seen the Civil Court’s ruling.

The Civil Court first overturned the President’s declaration of Addu as city last month, citing the technicality that the criteria to establish the definition of a city had not been established as required by the Local Government Authority.

That case was filed by the minority opposition party Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP), and strong feelings on the subject among Addu citizens in Male’ and Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) supporters led to protests outside the house of DQP Leader Hassan Saeed – himself a prominent Adduan.

In response, President Nasheed appointed Afeef to then-empty Local Government Authority – leaving other positions empty – who hastily published city criteria in the government gazette.

The criteria stated that a region would be considered a city if it had a minimum population of 25,000 people and a GDP of no less than Rf 1 billion. The GDP of Addu in 2010 was more than Rf 2 billion, while the population is almost 30,000, according to the Department of National Planning.

The President then declared Addu a city for the second time, even as the Elections Commission (EC) warned that it could be obligated to repeat the voter registration process in Addu, potentially delaying the local council elections in Addu by two weeks. The EC subsequently decided to continue with the election on February 5, on correction of the procedure.

Minivan News sought response from the Attorney General Dr Ahmed Ali Sawad, but had not received any at time of press.

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Island chiefs, magistrates and secretaries on alms list: NSPA

A number of island chiefs, magistrates and secretaries have signed up for alms under the government’s social welfare programme, the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) has claimed.

Speaking to Haveeru, NSPA Chairman Ibrahim Waheed observed that “some of the government employees that collect the highest salaries are also registered on the list.”

“According to my knowledge, alms are paid to the poor,” he said.

The recipients were discovered during a review of the alms list, after the government granted those on the list free participation in the Madhana health insurance service.

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Egyptian military to protect protesters ahead of million-strong gathering

The Egyptian army has signaled that it is willing to support the population’s right to protest and announced that it would not use force to put down legitimate demands for democratic reform.

Journalists present in Egypt have noted that the army has popular support from many protesters, unlike the police who have been accused of launching a violent crackdown on the demonstrators – Reuters has reported the deaths of at 138 people.

Hundreds and thousands of demonstrators have meanwhile packed the centre square of Cario and demanded an end to the 30 year regime of President Hosni Mubarak, a figure who’s autocratic excesses have been widely tolerated by Western powers in the interests of regional stability.

In a statement aired on state media, the Mena news agency, the military claimed that “The presence of the army in the streets is for your sake and to ensure your safety and wellbeing. The armed forces will not resort to use of force against our great people.”

The government has meanwhile cut access to the internet and mobile phone services in a bid to reduce the size of the demonstration, while yesterday authorities revoked the license of news agency Al-Jazeera, shutting its office in Cairo and withdrawing the accreditation of its staff.

“In this time of deep turmoil and unrest in Egyptian society it is imperative that voices from all sides be heard; the closing of our bureau by the Egyptian government is aimed at censoring and silencing the voices of the Egyptian people,” the network said, promising that it would continue its coverage.

Egypt’s opposition leader, Nobel peace laureate Mohamed El Baradei, is emerging as a key personality as civil discontent skyrockets. Calling on Mubarak to leave the country “if he wants to save his skin”, El Baradei has observed that demonstrators were increasingly calling for the President to not just resign, but be put on trial for his handing of the demonstrations.

President Mohamed Nasheed spoke to the former UN weapons inspector on Sunday, emphasising that “Maldivians will always support those who are peacefully advocating for political freedom in Egypt.”

Meanwhile, the Egyptian economy has ground to a halt as tourism fades and businesses across the country close because of the threat of looters. At the Egyptian National Museum, home to some of humanity’s oldest archaeological artifacts, looters damaged a number of objects including several ancient mummies, before hundreds of Egyptian citizens formed a chain around the museum to protect it.

The military has since secured the museum, placing snipers on the roof and detaining 50 men following subsequent attempts to loot and destroy the artifacts.

Egypt’s most iconic site, the Pyramids of Giza, have been closed to visitors.

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Local involvement key to sustainable development, says President

President Mohamed Nasheed has claimed that the involvement of local people in development was key to ensuring sustainable development in the country.

During a campaign visit to Vilufushi in Thaa Atoll yesterday, Nasheed said developing islands required people to make their opinions heard, which could only be achieved through having an island council “backed by the people.”

As one of the islands most impacted by the 2004 tsunami, Nasheed said promised the government would build houses on the island under both the tsunami housing project and the government’s housing programme.

He also noted the introduction of telemedicine services on the island.

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Municipality head resigns to focus on election campaign

President of Male Municipality, Adam ‘Sarangu’ Manik, has resigned from his post ahead of the local council elections on Saturday, reports Haveeru.

Manik is competing for Male City Council in the election, and said he had resigned to focus on his campaign.

Haveeru noted that Manik had also faced criticism for campaigning whilst incumbent in the position.

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JSC dodged meeting with European Commission, contends Velezinee

Judicial Services Commission (JSC) member Aishath Velezinee has expressed concern that the JSC failed to meet with the European Commission Identification Mission today, despite a request to do so from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In a letter to Acting Secretary General of the JSC Moomina Umar, Velezinee said she wished to note “my critical concern that the Judicial Service Commission is refusing to meet with European Commission Identification team, as they have earlier refused to respond to requests from the US Embassy and Commonwealth teams, in order to hide trickery and treason practiced by JSC and their crimes against the State refusing to uphold the Constitutional mandate of the JSC.”

“As you are fully aware, JSC has been a closed body and remains one, and no one not even members are quite aware of what goes on in the Commission,” Velezinee said in the letter, adding that she had received no response from the JSC despite her efforts to ensure the meeting took place.

Chair of the JSC, Supreme Court Justice Adam Mohamed, declined to comment on Velezinee’s allegations. Vice Chair of the JSC, Dr Afrasheem Ali, referred Minivan News to the JSC itself. Moomina Umar was not responding at time of press.

Minivan News is currently seeking comment from the European Commission Identification Mission.

Velezinee is an outspoken whistleblower against the judicial watchdog, and has claimed that in her position of privilege within the JSC she has witnessed “it committing acts that stand to bring down the Constitutional Democracy that we as a people agreed to with the ratification of the Constitution on 7 August 2008.”

The JSC has meanwhile accused Velezinee of spreading misinformation to the international community, and set up a special committee comprising Vice Chair Afraasheem Ali, Member Abdullahi Didi, and Deputy Legal Representative Abdul Faththah to discuss how best to apply the new secrecy regulations against her.

It is the first time in the history of the new democratic government that a member of an independent Commission, set up by the 2008 Constitution, is being subjected to an internal investigation.

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HRCM concerned over “actions against the spirit of democracy”

The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) has expressed concern that actions “against the spirit of democracy” are occurring during the Local Council Election campaigns.

The Commission said it had noted that “irresponsibility and disrespect” had caused assaults and vandalism, which were affecting society.

”A peaceful environment, equal opportunity for all candidates to campaign, freedom of expression, freedom of gathering, freedom to travel and a just judicial system is required for an independent and fair election,” HRCM said.

The Commission called on all the citizens and candidates to follow the Local Council Act and the Constitution to conduct an election that is fair, free from fear and influence.

In an democratic environment, obstructing candidates from campaigning and exchanging personal words of confrontation should not be seen, said HRCM.

The HRCM also called on the media to provide “equal opportunity” to all the candidates.

Recently group of people attacked a delegation from the opposition Dhivehi Rahyyithunge Party (DRP) on Kaadedhoo in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll.

In the unrest, people from both sides was injured including former Deputy Leader of DRP Umar Naseer.

In another incident, a home-made bomb was set off inside MDP campaign office in Thulusdhoo of Kaafu Atoll, according to the MDP website’s

Although nobody was injured, the bomb was made of metal nails that could have potentially injured any person near it when it went off, the MDP claimed.

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Supreme Court defends transparency after Haveeru gag order

The Supreme Court claimed it has a policy of conducting trials transparency and openly to the media, after a a Haveeru journalist was ordered not cover a court trial.

The trial, which was presented to the Supreme Court by the Elections Commission, was being conducted to void the candidacy of Ibrahim Haleem, a Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) candidate running for Raa Atoll Innamaidhoo council in the upcoming Local Council Elections.

”Although the Supreme Court decided not to conduct the hearing of the case publicly, the policy of this court is to conduct trials transparently and publicly, and to allow the media to provide coverage according to the spirit of the constitution,” said Supreme Court a statement.

However the Supreme Court said the court will “always consider the honor and sanctity of the accused.”

”If the accused states that the court [trial] will affect his honor and sanctity, the court will consider the result of publishing such hearings after considering the nature of the case,” the court said.

The local media today reported that the Supreme Court has ruled that the candidacy of Ibrahim Haleem was voided.

Meanwhile, the Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) has issued a press statement claiming the trial was not the type of trial that should be conducted confidentially.

”We are very concerned that the Supreme Court has ordered a journalist not to report the hearing of the case concerning the candidacy of Ibrahim Haleem,” said the MJA.

The MJA said the Supreme Court’s order had narrowed the right to express opinion and right to media as guaranteed by the constitution.

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