Category: News in Brief

Dhiraagu concert delayed in solidarity with Palestinians

Local telecommunications provider Dhiraagu has cancelled its annual Eid al-Fitr music event in solidarity with Muslims facing Israeli attacks in Palestine.

“This is a very colourful event which we hold to celebrate Eid every year. But we’ve cancelled this year’s Eid show to express our grief for the suffering faced by Muslims in Gaza,” Senior Marketing Communications and Public Relations Executive Imjad Jaleel told Sun Online.

He went on to explain that the show will be held during Eid al-Ada in October instead.

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Foreign investments should not threaten independence, says home minister

The current administration should carefully consider how far and wide the country’s doors should be opened to foreign investors in order to protect economic independence and sovereignty, Home Minister Umar Naseer has said.

In his speech at a flag-hoisting ceremony held last night to mark the 49th Independence Day, Naseer said tactics to “enslave” nations in the present day involved infiltration of the economy and “ideological warfare”.

“[But] the happy news is that the policy of the current government is very clear,” he said, adding that President Abdulla Yameen’s administration would ensure that independence and sovereignty are protected when economic zones are created to attract foreign investors.

The property and assets of the Maldivian people would be preserved, he said, while the government would also ensure that necessary “restrictions” are in place when the special economic zones are established.

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More than MVR2 million donated to Gaza fund

A total of MVR2.3million (US$149,157) and US$8,089 has been donated to the Gaza fund set up by the religious conservative Adhaalath Party (AP) to provide financial assistance to Palestinians affected by the ongoing Israeli military aggression.

In addition to fund boxes placed in the capital Malé and other islands across the country, according to the AP, dollar and rufiyaa accounts have been opened in the Bank of Maldives and the Islamic Bank of Maldives to collect donations.

Fund raising activities are set to continue till August 17, after which the proceeds will be channeled through the Qatari Red Crescent.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon issued a statement on Thursday (July 24) condemning the Israeli bombing of a United Nations shelter in Beit Hanoun, Palestine.

“It is a cowardly and shameful act on the part of Israel to target a UN shelter whose exact coordinates were given to the Israeli military by the UN. It again underscores the need for the UN Security Council to take urgent and stronger actions against Israel. The international community has a duty to put pressure on Israel to stop the killing and to end the crippling blockade of Gaza,” she was quoted as saying in a foreign ministry statement.

The statement noted that the Maldives co-sponsored a resolution at the UN Human Rights Council last week to establish an International Commission of Inquiry to investigate “atrocities” committed by Israel in the ongoing conflict, which has seen more than 800 people killed.

Following an announcement by the government last week of its intention to boycott Israeli imports, Commissioner General of Customs Ahmed Mohamed told local media on Thursday that the import ban has now been enforced.

“From today, any attempt to import Israeli products will be blocked, and the importer will be given the chance to re-export, failing which the products will be destroyed,” he told Sun Online.

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Correctional services prepare chamber for lethal injection

The Maldives Correctional Services (MCS) has prepared a chamber in the Maafushi jail for the administration of the death penalty through lethal injection, reports Vnews.

While all administrative matters for implementing the death penalty have been completed, an MCS official said the home ministry was seeking the lethal injection.

Thazmeel Abdul Samad, media coordinator at the ministry, told vnews that the system for administering the lethal injection would be computerised.

Media officials at the MCS and home ministry were not responding to calls at the time of press.

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Russian accused of drug-smuggling remanded until trial

Russian national Purtova Angelina has been remanded until her trial for allegedly smuggling 2.5kg of cocaine into the Maldives.

Angeline was arrested on January 27 this year when she arrived in the Maldives from Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Despite being sent to the Prosecutor General’s Office in April, the case has been delayed due to a dispute between the Criminal Court and the PG’s office over the provision of a translator.

Haveeru reported yesterday that Angelina will now be held until her trial has concluded.

The Law on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances stipulates that a foreign national charged with importing over 1 gram of narcotics will be sentenced to life imprisonment. There is also a possibility of received a minimum fine of MVR10,000 (US$651).

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Maldivian jailed in Thailand for 14 months

A 44-year-old Maldivian man has been sentenced to 14 months in jail in Thailand for using counterfeit US dollars and overstaying his visa.

Nahula Ali, executive coordinator at the Foreign Ministry, told local media that the Maldivian citizen was indicted in June and had confessed to the crime.

Local media has identified the man as Abdulla Saeed from Raa Atoll Ungoofaru.

The Foreign Ministry has reportedly communicated the news to the man’s family and local authorities.

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PPM MP Ibrahim Riza elected to represent Majlis on JSC

Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) MP for Kaafu Guraidhoo, Ibrahim Riza, has been elected at today’s sitting of parliament to represent the People’s Majlis on the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

Riza’s nomination was approved with 47 votes in favour and 27 against. Riza was nominated by Majority Leader Ahmed Nihan and seconded by PPM MP Jameel Usman.

The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party had decided to back Jumhooree Party MP Ali Hussain for the post.

The JSC is comprised of the Speaker of the People’s Majlis, a Supreme Court Justice elected by the bench, a High Court judge elected by the judges of the High Court, a judge of the lower courts elected by the judges of the lower courts, an MP elected by parliament, a member of the public appointed by parliament, a presidential appointee, the attorney general, president of the civil service commission and a lawyer elected from among licensed legal practitioners.

Also at today’s sitting, PPM MP Mohamed Waheed Ibrahim was appointed as the parliament’s representative on the Clemency Board with 48 votes in favour and 29 votes against.

PPM MP Ahmed Rasheed was meanwhile appointed as the parliament’s representative to a coordinating committee created under the anti-human trafficking law passed last year.

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Majlis accepts two government-sponsored bills for further review

The People’s Majlis yesterday accepted two pieces of legislation submitted on the behalf of the government and sent the bills to committee for further review.

An amendment proposed by Progressive Party of Maldives MP Abdulla Rifau to a 1976 law governing mandatory national service for students of public schools as well as private schools operating with state financial assistance was accepted unanimously with 75 votes.

Amendments to the Lagan, Derelict, Flotsam and Jetsam Ownership Act of 1998 was meanwhile accepted with 67 votes in favour and one against. The amendment bill was sent to the economic affairs committee for further review.

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Parliament endorses nominees for four diplomatic posts

The People’s Majlis approved four nominees of President Abdulla Yameen to top diplomatic posts at yesterday’s sitting following evaluation by the national security committee.

All four nominees were endorsed with unanimous consent of all MPs in attendance.

Dr Mohamed Asim, of Galolhu Vaijeheyge, was approved as non-resident high commissioner to the People’s Republic of Bangladesh while Ahmed Shian, of Galolhu Samantha, was appointed ambassador of Maldives to Belgium and the European Union, and non-resident high commissioner to the United Kingdom.

Fathmath Inaya, of Manchangoalhi Resting House, was approved as non-resident high commissioner of Maldives to Singapore and Abdulla Hameed, of Maafanu Crescent Wood, was approved as the non-resident ambassador of Maldives to United Arab Emirates and the State of Kuwait.

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