Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP Hassan Adil has been transferred to house arrest following a police investigation into allegations of child molestation.
The case was sent to the Prosecutor General’s Office on April 7.
Adil was formerly an MP of the opposition-aligned Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP) before joining the ruling party.
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(0)The Secretary General of the People’s Alliance (PA), the party of the former President’s half brother Abdulla Yameen, has been appointed the General Secretary of the Elections Commission (EC).
Ahmed Shareef Adam was appointed to the post out of 25 applicants who applied.
“Only five applicants fit the criteria devised by the commission. Out of them, one did not fit the criteria already set under the regulation of the commission and another application was withdrawn. So we interviewed only three applications, out of whom Shareef scored the highest and got the job,” the EC’s Executive Director Ismail Habeeb told newspaper Haveeru.
The PA announced that Shareef was resigning from his post at the party following his appointment.
(0)Dislikes(0)The government owes Rf443 million (US$34 million) in unpaid salaries and allowances to civil servants following yesterday’s High Court upholding of a Civil Court ruling that salaries be restored to pre-cut levels and the balance repaid.
The Civil Service Commission (CSC) took the Finance Ministry to court last year after it refused to restore the salaries in January 2010 following three months of austerity measures.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has pressured the government to reduced its civil service spend to reduce its deficit. The government has not said whether it plans to appeal.
(0)Dislikes(0)The government has continued to criticise opposition politicians, including representatives of President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, for “misleading” international media over the scale of protests in Male’ last week.
The protests were today labelled by the Washington Post as one of the 29 largest crackdowns of the last decade, eclipsing the riots following the death of Evan Naseem.
After seven days of demonstrations across Male’ last week, purportedly in protest against the government’s decision to implement a managed float of the rufiyaa – police on Wednesday (May 4) announced that any protests not held in the open artificial beach or tsunami monument areas would be immediately dispersed.
The opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) has insisted the protests are ‘youth-led’ despite the apparent leadership of its MPs, and tried to replicate the ‘Arab Spring’ protests across the Middle East by branding President Nasheed as a despot to the international media and dubbing a busy Male’ intersection ‘Youth Square’.
In the Washington Post piece, photos were published of 29 protests that have occurred around the world and were deemed to be among the biggest demonstrations and crackdowns of the decade – including the recent unrest in the Maldives.
“Syria, Libya and other Middle Eastern regimes aren’t the only ones to use force against protesters. Here are some of the major crackdowns since 2000,” wrote the paper in a picture story on its website.
The Maldives is listed at 28th, placed between the riots in Uganda last month over rising fuel costs – where protesters were shot at by police – and Egypt’s anti-government uprisings that ended the thirty year reign of President Hosni Mubarak in February.
“In recent weeks, hundreds of anti-government protesters took to the streets of Maldives to demonstrate against soaring prices and demand the resignation of President Mohamed Nasheed,” the article wrote, alongside a photograph of a local protester who appeared to have been knocked down by Maldivian police carrying batons.
Responding to the Washington Post article, Press Secretary for the President Mohamed Zuhair said he was suspicious that international journalists from established publications like the Washington Post were speaking to representatives of the former president or opposition politicians, who in some cases had provided false information in an attempt to “tarnish” the government’s image.
“We have received alleged reports that former President Gayoom’s spokesperson – Mohamed Hussain ‘Mundhu’ Shareef – has been contacted by international media and has perhaps given the impression he remains as the spokesperson for the current President Mohamed Nasheed,” said Zuhair.
“There appears to be misconception that there has been a higher turnout at these protests than were actually there,” he said.
Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP ‘Reeko’ Moosa Manik, who is currently on an official visit to China, has also accused Gayoom’s spokesperson of giving interviews to Chinese journalists who were under the impression he was the spokesperson for the current administration.
‘’Most of the foreign papers have his [Shareef’s] number as the spokesperson of the President, so when they contact him he says he is [the President’s] spokesperson,’’ Moosa claimed on the MDP’s website. “He has told foreign papers that there is severe civil unrest in Male’ and that it is not safe to send tourists here.’’
Moosa alleged that Shareef was “intentionally” seeking to destroy the tourism industry of the Maldives and “to mislead the international community.”
Minivan News contacted Shareef to refute the allegations, but he refused to comment on the matter.
Zuhair said that the week of protests had represented the involvement of only a small part of a voting population that in Male’ alone numbered tens of thousands of people.
“This is the case of the picture telling the story,” Zuhair said. “After the first few nights of protests the numbers [of participants] began to dwindle to just a few hundred people on the final night [Friday, May 6],” he claimed.
Zuhair claimed that he believed that there had been a deliberate attempt to try and tarnish the image of President Nasheed internationally through the supply of information to foreign media that he said had led to travel warnings being issued to Asian travel markets like Hong Kong.
The government reported today that the President’s Special Envoy, Ibrahim Hussain Zaki, had been sent to China in the wake of several travel warnings issued in the region that are feared to have begun harming one of the fastest growing tourist arrivals markets presently coming to the Maldives.
Speaking last week following criticisms by Foreign Minister Ahmed Naseem of the manner in which some politicians had been courting international media attention, leader DRP Ahmed Thasmeen Ali hit out at suggestions of media manipulation.
Thasmeen said at the time that he was “utterly surprised” that a member of the current government, which has vocally supported freedom of speech and democratic reforms, would find protests “unreasonable” on the basis of protecting tourism.
“We have seen them try to stifle protest through using excessive police force,” he claimed. “We are peaceful protestors and are not impacting tourism in Male’.”
Thasmeen added that he believed the government had not made attempts to initiate a dialogue on the issue of living costs, although the opposition said they were willing to negotiate on the matter even though they did not agree to the current devaluation strategy being pursued.
“Obviously there are a lot of protesters here, but the government does not want to listen,” he said. “Lots of people are suffering.”
Thasmeen said that accusations that the country’s political opposition had been “misleading” international media was an “oversimplification” of the issues behind the protests.
“The international media are professionals, many of who will already know the facts of the protests, I don’t see it will be possible to manipulate them,” he said.
Thasmeen claimed that reports of excessive force against protesters had been accurate, adding that MDP supporters led by their parliamentary leadership had been “violently charging” protest crowds while police were attempting to disperse peaceful protesters.
The Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) has meanwhile issued a statement to international media and groups such as the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF), alleging “infuriating and agitating conflict by the police”, urging authorities to “bring to a halt the atrocities targeted towards journalists.”
(0)Dislikes(0)Famous local Boduberu singer and close ally of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) ‘Meyna’ Hassaan Mohamed has been arrested over a drug-related matter.
‘’It was a drug related case and at the moment we are not disclosing further information,’’ confirmed a police spokesperson. ‘’He was arrested last week.’’
A close friend of Meyna Hassaan told Minivan News that he was “not a bad person” who was also working in a good job when he was arrested.
‘’He likes to sing but sometimes gives up his career and grows his beard and becomes a religious person,’’ he said. “Then later he might give up being religious and start singing again.’’
An MDP Official said that Meyna Hassaan was a normal member of the party but had contributed his talents to the party on several occasions.
He responsible for composing the theme song for the MDP Local Council Election Campaign, and a song for the campaign of MDP MP Alhan Fahmy.
In September last year another famous Maldivian musician, reggae artist Haisham Mohamed Rasheed, was sentenced to 10 years prison for use and possession of less than one gram of cannabis.
Haisham, who is also the lead singer of the band ‘Palm Fever’, was arrested with a bag containing cannabis while at a resort to perform a live music show.
The Criminal Court convicted Haisham under Article 4 [a][1] of the Drug Act after he tested positive for cannabis, an illegal substance under the Act. Haisham received five years for using the drug and five years for possession.
President Mohamed Nasheed granted clemency to Haisham and suspended his verdict in March 2011.
(0)Dislikes(0)The Trade Ministry will force the sale of staples including rice, flour and sugar according to a price control list.
The ministry said that businesses selling flour, sugar and rice higher than the price control list will be fined up to Rf 100,000 (US$6500).
‘’Items should be available at the specified prices at all venues trading in these items from May 16, 2011,’’ the ministry said, adding that the enforcement was justified under Article 7 (a) of the Consumer Protection Act (Act number 1/96).
According to the ministry’s price control list for the capital Male’, flour has to be sold at Rf3.28 per kilo, sugar Rf4.30 per kilo and normal rice Rf4.28 per kilo. For the rest of Kaafu Atoll, the price of flour per kilo is Rf3.56, sugar Rf4.58 per kilo and normal rice Rf4.56 per kilo. Meanwhile in Seenu Atoll in the country’s south flour must be sold for Rf3.98 per kilo, sugar Rf5 per kilo and normal rice Rf4.98 per kilo.
The control price of flour per kilo for Haa Alifu Atoll is Rf3.81, Sugar Rf4.83 and the price for normal rice is Rf4.81.
For Haa Dhaalu Atoll, the price of flour is Rf3.76 per kilo, Sugar Rf4.78 per kilo and normal rice Rf4.76 per kilo.
In Shaviyan Atoll flour has to be sold for Rf3.71 per kilo, Sugar Rf4.73 per kilo and normal rice Rf4.71 per kilo while in Noonu Atoll flour has to be sold for Rf3.66 per kilo, sugar Rf4.68 per kilo, normal rice Rf4.66 per kilo.
In Raa Atoll flour has to be Rf3.68 per kilo, sugar Rf 4.70 per kilo and normal rice has to be sold Rf4.68 per kilo.
As for Baa Atoll, price of flour mentioned in the control list is Rf3.61 per kilo, sugar Rf4.63 per kilo and normal rice Rf4.61 per kilo.
According to the list, price for flour in Lhaviyani Atoll has to be Rf3.61 per kilo, sugar Rf4.63 per kilo and normal rice Rf4.61 per kilo.
While in Fuvamulah flour has to be sold at Rf3.94 per kilo, sugar Rf4.96 per kilo and normal rice Rf4.94 per kilo.
Recently a group of youths along with some opposition political figures protested in the streets of Male’ calling for the government to reduce the price of products and reduce living costs, and opposed the government’s decision to implement a managed float of the rufiya within a 20 percent band of the pegged rate of Rf12.85 to the dollar.
The move comes on top of a decision last week to halve the import duty on diesel, used to fuel the country’s extensive dhoni fleet.
(0)Dislikes(0)The President’s Special Envoy Ibrahim Hussain Zaki has left for China in the wake of several travel warnings in the region that may be impacting Chinese arrivals to the Maldives.
The President’s Office said the visit was at the invitation of the Chinese government to explore further avenues for cooperation between the Maldives and China.
Zaki will meet Vice Minister of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China Ai Ping and Deputy Governor of Export Import Bank of China Su Hong. He will also visit Tianjin City and Chengdu of Sichuan Province.
He will be accompanied by Parliamentary Group Leader of the Maldivian Democratic Party Moosa Manik, Minister of State for Economic Development Ahmed Mujthaba, Undersecretary at the President’s Office Eman Hussain and Major Mohamed Nasheed of the Maldives National Defence Force.
(0)Dislikes(0)Organisers of the first Maldives Beach Games tournament scheduled for later this year claim they are confident of leaving a long lasting sporting legacy in the country for local people and tourists, despite the challenges of self-funding and a lack of event hosting experience.
Hassan Ismail, Chairman of Marketing and PR for the Maldives Beach Games 2011, told Minivan News that the event – running from September 18 to September 25 – was expected to bring unprecedented opportunities, as well as a number of challenges, to the Maldives’ shores.
According to event organizers, the games will aim to bring hundreds of athletes from around the world to the country in order to compete in 10 sporting disciplines involving the sun, as well as potentially receiving coverage from a number of sports broadcasters.
In looking to host the event, Ismail claimed that some 500 to 700 local people were expected to be trained to look after guests and participants while overseeing the games, which is being designed to run as a commercially profitable and ongoing annual event.
“As well as providing entertainment for visitors, we are also trying to ensure sports development for local people to use and train on,” he said. “At present, we don’t have people trained to deal with such as event, so the organising committee is learning during the process. This is a big challenge, though we are bringing in foreign experts to help provide expertise and training.”
Costing
In light of recent protests and criticism of governmental financial policy in the Maldives, Ismail claimed that the event would ideally be funded 100 percent through sponsorship, although he conceded that state funding may be needed to “fill gaps” that would eventually then be paid back by organisers.
The event’s marketing head added that the games would be a relatively unique opportunity for participants to come to the Maldives from all over the world without having to pay to enter, serving as an event that was completely self-financed.
“We have not yet disclosed the cost for hosting the event, but will be doing so soon. We are consulting with international sponsors and we even hope we may be able to make a small profit for the event,” he said. “We believe there are plenty of commercial opportunities from this, particularly with broadcasters such as Eurosport and ESPN who have agreed to screen the games.”
Pointing to the Maldives’ present lack of experience with hosting international events, Ismail said that all the country’s broadcasters had agreed to produce programming for national and international coverage of the games, though investments in camera and television equipment would be needed.
“We are looking at sponsorship for local channels to buy equipment that they can produce related programming with,” he said. “We are looking for quotations for equipment, though there is also an important South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) conference taking place in Addu Atoll this year, so perhaps we can find a joint solution [for broadcasting these events].”
A wealth of sports including triathlon, kabaddi, beach cricket, football and ‘volleyball’ along with body building, swimming, rowing, surfing and wind surfing will be contested during the games at different locations around the country that are yet to be identified.
While this year’s inaugural event is not expected to be officially recognised with official status by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Ismail said that discussions were ongoing with the global sporting body about receiving an official stamp within the next few years.
“A number of official bodies are assisting in the games with the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) involved in beach soccer and the regional body building association helping with that event,” he said. “By year three, we ideally need the IOC to officially stamp us as an event. But all the sports at the games will be assisted by official bodies, which are important developments to help us gain an official status.”
Ismail claimed that beyond dealing with these potential hosting challenges, the games had two main objectives in the Maldives.
Beyond attempting to host a major international multi-sports event for the first time in the Maldives, he said that it would also be vital to help develop pitches and grounds where both local people and international visitors could train and enjoy sports.
“The Maldives is more than just a beach and cocktail venue, we hope to create a strong sport tourism scene here as well,” he said. “Our hope is that eventually every resort will be hosting mini-events for visitors to take part in.”
(0)Dislikes(0)Local singer Hassan ‘Meyna’ Mohamed has been arrested over a drug-related matter, reports Haveeru.
“He was arrested in a drug-related case. However, we cannot confirm whether he was taken into custody for possessing illegal drugs or taking the drugs,” a police spokesperson told the newspaper.
Hassan has performed at rallies of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), and sang the party’s theme song at the recent local council elections.
Haveeru reported that Hassan’s career peaked in the early 90s, and fell off after he told Haveeru he would “never ever sing again.” He later resumed his career.
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