Day: November 15, 2011

Inmate found hanged in Maafushi prison

A 35 year-old inmate was found hanged in his cell in Maafushi jail on Tuesday morning, according to Home Minister Hassan Afeef.

Speaking to press this afternoon, Afeef said Abdul Munnim, H. Cozy Corner, who was serving a sentence on drug-related charges, was found dead at around 11.35am in the fifth cell in unit three.

The deceased was alone in the cell today as his cell mate was in Male’ for medical treatment, Afeef explained.

The Home Minister promised a full and thorough investigation “to determine if there was any foul play and if we believe anyone else is culpable, we will take legal action against them.”

A team of journalists was allowed to visit Maafushi jail later in the afternoon by the Department of Penitentiary and Rehabilitation Services (DPRS) under the Home Ministry.

The family of another inmate in Maafushi jail told Minivan News that some inmates claimed to have “heard a man shouting last night.”

“The inmates knew about his death this morning when prison officers told them about it,” the family member said. “The prisoners said they remember hearing a man shouting that night.”

“The prison officers said that it was a suicide and that he hanged himself using a bedsheet,” he continued. “But that cell he was in when he died is a very small cell and there is no way a person could hang himself to death because that cell will not have enough height.”

The source further claimed that according to prison officers, the deceased was found in a sitting position and his neck was tied to the fence.

“Besides, prison officers are always on duty and it would be impossible to commit suicide in that cell because that’s not a regular cell,” he said. “Prisoners are put there usually when they are caught with something illegal like a mobile phone. The inmates heard that he was put there after prison officers found a mobile [in his possession].”

The source alleged that prison guards told prisoners that the man died of torture and that guards tied his neck to the fence using a bedsheet.

Home Minister Afeef and State Minister for Home Affairs, Mohamed ‘Monaza’ Naeem, currently in charge of DPRS, were unavailable for comment at time of press.

The President’s Press Secretary Mohamed Zuhair meanwhile told Minivan News that he believed there was “no institutionalised torture permitted under this government,” adding that torture by prison guards would be “a criminal act.”

“There’s no regimen of punishment that could be described as torture,” he said. “Inmates are under lock and key and are looked after. This government does not condone torture and if someone is accused of such a despicable offence, it will be investigated.”

A senior government official noted that it was possible there still existed remnants of “a culture of torture” among staff in the DPRS persisting from the former government, which faced many allegations of custodial abuse.

Heroin epidemic

In March 2009, Minivan News reported that five heroin addicts died of either overdose or suicide in the space of one month.

On 20 March, Abdullah Shiham, 33, an inmate at Maafushi jail serving a 25-year sentence for drug possession, was found dead in his cell. Police revealed at the time that the inmate died of a benzodiazepine overdose.

A forensic examination of drugs seized had uncovered that heroin sold on the streets was laced with benzodiazepine, a class of psychoactive drugs, according to police.

The combination of benzodiazepine with opiates is known to lead to coma and even death.

A week after the inmate’s death, a 33-year old woman hanged herself in Male’. According to her family, she had been in the local rehabilitation centre some years ago and had been sent abroad for treatment on many different occasions.

She committed suicide two months after police caught her with a small amount of heroin and was subsequently fired from her job.

The night before, on 24 March, police rescued a drug addict in Male’ as he attempted to hang himself.

Earlier in the month, another drug addict, a 29-year old woman, was found hanged at her house. She was reportedly denied the chance of rehabilitation by the authorities.

Over 70 percent of inmates in Maafushi jail were incarcerated for drug abuse, possession or drug-related offences.

A discussion paper on judicial reform prepared in June 2005 noted that between February 2000 and September 2003, there was a 243 percent rise in persons serving prison terms, of which 80 percent were convicted of drug offences and 75 percent of those were under 30 years of age.

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Over 240 apply for 25 housing units in Feydhoo

Some 249 application forms for 25 housing units under construction in Feydhoo, Addu City, by the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) have been submitted before yesterday’s deadline, reports Haveeru.

According to the department of business and youth development in Feydhoo, the forms are being evaluated to be sent to the Housing Ministry.

Under the points scheme for awarding the units, residents of Feydhoo aged 21 to 35 with no registered plots in the country will receive 10 points while those over 35 would receive 15 points. Applicants with three children or more receives 15 points while those with two children or less receive 10 points.

Down-payments for the units cost Rf30,000 while Rf4,500 is to be paid monthly over the course of 20 years.

Construction is expected to be complete by the end of the year, according to HDC.

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By-elections for Shaviyani atoll council, Alif Alif Mathiveri island council seat scheduled for December 31

The Elections Commission (EC) has announced by-elections for vacant seats in the Milandhoo constituency of the Shaviyani atoll council and a vacant seat in the Alif Alif Mathiveri island council for December 31.

Candidates for the vacant seats have been informed to apply to contest in the by-election before November 29.

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PPM vows to defend “national heroes” who destroyed Pakistani SAARC monument

Protesters who toppled and then set fire to the controversial Pakistani SAARC monument in Hithadhoo, Addu City, are “national heroes”, the Progressive Party of Maldives has said, vowing to “do everything we can” to defend those arrested for attacking the allegedly “idolatrous” monument.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Mohamed Waheed Ibrahim ‘Wadde’, lawyer of PPM figurehead and former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, said the party would provide legal assistance for the two men arrested for toppling the monument last week.

After a group of people set the monument on fire Monday night, the top half of the monument, containing a bust of Pakistan’s founder Mohamed Ali Jinah with an Islamic crescent moon symbol, was stolen last night, police have confirmed.

Waheed meanwhile contended at yesterday’s press conference that the monument was “illegal” and erected in violation of the constitution.

“No one should give any room to consider any kind of act against Islam lawful,” he said. “Even if it’s the People’s Majlis or any other state institution, no law that conflicts the religion of Islam can be made in the Maldives.”

The arrest of those who toppled and vandalized the monument was therefore “questionable,” Waheed continued, insisting that the arrests were “unlawful” as they were opposing “something the government did in violation of the constitution.”

Speaking at the press conference, MP Dr Afrashim Ali argued that damaging a monument erected in violation of the constitution and law could not be an illegal act.

Afrashim also contended that the ostensibly pagan symbols on the monument amounted to denial of the oneness of God, the central belief of monotheism.

“The most clear and important sign of a people’s shirk [denial of God] is erecting idols,” he explained, adding that displaying “idols” in the Maldives was “most definitely haram [forbidden].”

Afrashim claimed that the monument was “proof that President [Mohamed] Nasheed encourages the spread of other religions [in the Maldives].”

“We have always been saying he has been trying to introduce other religions in the country,” he said. “He has tried to freely sell alcohol in the country. He has also appealed to MPs to not include Islamic punishments in the law.

Meanwhile the religious conservative Adhaalath Party sent a letter to the Prosecutor General yesterday requesting the office to look into the matter and prosecute those responsible for erecting the monument.

The party claimed that the monument was erected by the government under a “plan to defile the beloved citizens of Addu and the beloved citizens of Pakistan.”

In a press statement on Sunday, Adhaalath Party called on the authorities to “immediately release” those arrested for toppling the monument.

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Government invites bids to manage Equatorial Convention Centre

The government has invited interest parties to bid for management of the newly-built Equatorial Convention Centre (ECC) in Hithadhoo, Addu City, along with the development of a 100-bed city hotel under its plans to introduce conference tourism in the southernmost atoll.

In his Republic Day address on November 11, President Nasheed said the international tender would seek parties to manage the ECC together with a convention hotel in the marshland area of Hithadhoo.

According to the Addu City Council, bid documents are available for Rf2,000 for locals and Rf4,626 (US$300) for foreigners.

Newspaper Haveeru meanwhile reported that Shangri-la resorts and Singapore’s Crescendas Group have expressed interest in managing the ECC and developing conference tourism in Addu City.

Meanwhile, the Transport Ministry yesterday invited interested parties to submit proposals for a city ferry service between Male’ and Addu City.

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IGMH to introduce triage system to prioritise urgent medical care

The Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), the main referral hospital in the Maldives, has announced the introduction of a triage system to prioritise emergency treatment for patients who require urgent care.

In a press statement today, the government hospital explained that patients at the waiting room would have their vitals checked to determine urgency of treatment.

Under the new system, a team of doctors and nurses will check the patient’s blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen levels in two minutes and those requiring immediate treatment would be rushed to the emergency room.

The system was changed as patients who do not require urgent medical attention were being treated at the emergency room.

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Maldives Red Crescent gains membership of IFRC

The Maldives Red Crescent (MRC) has been recognised by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as the 187th National Society of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement today.

According to a message by MRC Secretary General Rasheeda Ali, the awarding of the full membership of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) will take place on November 23 during the IFRC’s 18th General Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.

“On this momentous occasion, I wish to express my sincere appreciation and thank all MRC volunteers, members and staff for their valuable contribution towards this significant achievement,” reads the message.

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Parliament deadlock continues

A third consecutive week of parliamentary sittings have been cancelled over an ongoing dispute over the attendance of Independent MP Ismail Abdul Hameed, who was convicted of corruption on August 29.

The last sitting on October 24 was cancelled after heated arguments between opposition and ruling party MPs over the Kaashidhoo MP’s right to participate in sittings until he exhausted the appeal process.

The High Court has since upheld the Criminal Court verdict.

Meanwhile a statement put out by the secretariat on Sunday explained that this week first sitting yesterday was called off as Speaker Abdulla Shahid’s efforts to resolve the dispute through discussions among parliamentary group leaders have been so far been unsuccessful.

The statement noted that according to article 74 of the constitution, “Any question concerning the qualifications or removal, or vacating of seats, of a member of the People’s Majlis shall be determined by the Supreme Court.”

The Supreme Court meanwhile concluded hearings today on a case filed by a private party over Hameed’s seat. According to the Majlis secretariat, Speaker Shahid has written to the Chief Justice requesting the case be expedited so that sittings could go ahead.

According to local media reports, the Supreme Court today heard from third parties who had entered into the case.

The statement however noted that committee meetings, where legislation is reviewed and stakeholders are consulted, have been taking place.

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New7wonders announces winners of competition

The Switzerland-based New7wonders foundation have announced the seven winners to be the Amazon rainforest, Vietnam’s Halong Bay, Argentina’s Iguazu Falls, South Korea’s Jeju Island, Indonesia’s Komodo, the Philippines’ Puerto Princesa underground river, and South Africa’s Table Mountain.

The Maldives, the Dead Sea, Mount Kilimanjaro, the Great Barrier Reef and the Grand Canyon did not make the final seven.

Votes were collected online and via paid SMS voting in the various countries, in collaboration with assorted telecom providers. Final vote counts for the winners were not revealed.

In an announcement aired on YouTube, New7wonders founder and self-described “filmmaker, aviator and adventurer”, Bernard Weber, stated that “once the voting validation process is completed in early 2012, we will work with the confirmed winners to organise the official inauguration events.”

Weber also announced that New7wonders would be launching a competition to determine the greatest cities in the world.

Indonesian and Maldivian tourism authorities withdrew from the competition earlier this year, citing demands for large amounts of money from New7wonders for licensing and event hosting, that had not been explicitly outlined in the original contracts.

Indonesia’s Tourism Minister Jero Wacik claimed in the Jakata Post that the decision was taken “because the organisers – the New7Wonders Foundation – have taken actions that are not professional, consistent and transparent.”

“We have spent around (US$1.1 million) on campaign activities over the past three years,” Wacik told the Jakarta Post, claiming that New7wonders had subsequently demanded a US$10 million licensing fee and a US$35 million fee to host a ceremony celebrating the competition’s winners.

Meanwhile, Maldives State Minister for Tourism Thoyyib Mohamed announced in May that the Maldives was similarly withdrawing “because of the unexpected demands for large sums of money from the New7Wonders organisers. We no longer feel that continued participation is in the economic interests of the Maldives.”

The Tourism Ministry initially paid a US$199 participation fee to New7Wonder’s commerical arm, New Open World Corporation (NOWC), registered to a law firm in the Republic of Panama.

Subsequent requests for money included ‘sponsorship fees’ (‘platinum’ at US$350,000, or two ‘gold’ at US$210,000 each), and funding of a ‘World Tour’ event whereby the Maldives would pay for a delegation of people to visit the country, provide hot air balloon rides, press trips, flights, accommodation and communications.

After complaining, the Maldives was offered a bare-bones ‘protocol visit’, but informed that winners of the previous competition had all hosted a big event.

NOWC also attempted to charge telecom provider Dhiraagu US$1 million for the right to participate in the New7Wonders campaign, a fee that was dropped to half a million when the company complained about the price.

In response to the Maldives’ decision to resign from the campaign, New7wonders spokesman Eamonn Fitzgerald quoted John Donne’s ‘No man is an island’, and insisted that the Maldives remained in the competition “because the authority to withdraw a participant from the campaign is a decision for New7Wonders alone, not for any government agency.”

Following Indonesia’s decision to withdraw, Fitzgerald said that “Despite a series of malicious attacks on New7Wonders by the [Ministry of Culture and Tourism], the public and media opinion consensus in Indonesia is that the MCT should not interfere in the democratic right of the Indonesian people to vote for Komodo Island in the New7Wonders of Nature.”

“The MCT had no authority in this matter as it ceased to be the legitimate New7Wonders representative in Indonesia in February, so the announcement was absurd,” Fitzgerald said, stating that the foundation’s new representative in Indonesia was a group called P2Komodo.

“P2Komodo is an alliance of positive and forward looking members of Indonesian civil society, who are keen to ensure that Komodo Island has a fair chance of participating in the New7Wonders of Nature,” Fitzgerald said.

In the Maldives, New7wonders approached the Maldives Association of Travel and Tour Operators (MATATO), but the arrangement was never cemented.

Secretary General of MATATO, Maleeh Jamal, said at the time that the association had been in contact with New7Wonders and was considering working on the event in the government’s stead.

The studies offered by New7Wonders promised an “enormous return on investment”, Jamal suggested.

“I think US$500,000 for such an award would be quickly recovered. Although the money was a concern, we had a fair chance of winning. A lot of competing destinations, such as Australia and South Africa, are taking this competition very seriously,” Jamal said in May.

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