Day: February 8, 2014

Voting ongoing in PPM primaries

The ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) has begun primaries for 25 parliamentary constituencies today.

Voting is proceeding smoothly in Malé at Dharubaaruge, Thajuddeen School, Malé City Hall and the PPM’s ally Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) party offices, PPM Secretary General Mohamed Zuhair said.

Over 2,700 members had registered to vote in Malé, Zuhair said, adding that the only complaints the party had received so far related to registration.

Parties in the ruling coalition allocated 49 of the 85 People’s Majlis seats to the PPM, 28 seats to the Jumhooree Party (JP) and nine seats to the MDA.

The party ticket was initially awarded to 13 candidates due to a lack of contestants. The 13 included eight incumbent MPs.

Over 150 candidates applied to contest the remaining 36 constituencies. But only 92 candidates were chosen for the primaries.

Applicants were graded on a six point criteria that included the extent to which candidates uphold party ideology, the length and type of service to the party, experience in parliament and participation in the presidential campaign.

Only candidates who received over 75 points were allowed to contest.

Five candidates – including four incumbent MPs – were awarded the party ticket on Friday after their competitors failed to meet the 75 percent threshold.

The PPM said it will hold primaries for the remaining six constituencies tomorrow.

Vilimaafannu MP Ahmed Nihan who won the party ticket by default said some members had complained of the party leadership favoring one candidate over the other.

“Holding primaries is not easy. For any party. But I do not expect any major issues,” he said.

Meanwhile, local media have reported conflict has emerged between the PPM and MDA over the Gahdhoo constituency. The seat was initially allocated to the MDA, but the party decided not to field a candidate and to instead back incumbent MP Zahir Adam.

Zahir was recently suspended from opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) after he violated a three-line whip and voted for President Abdulla Yameen’s cabinet in December.

Following MDA’s decision not to contest the Gahdhoo constituency, PPM called for applicants for primaries. According to local media, the MDA has ordered the PPM to retract the announcement.

Polls will close at 10:00pm tonight.

Applications must be submitted to the Elections Commission by February 11. Parliamentary elections are set for March 22.

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Supreme Court orders Majlis to expedite PG appointment

The Supreme Court issued an order Thursday night instructing “all relevant state institutions” to expedite the appointment of a new Prosecutor General (PG).

The apex court order (Dhivehi) noted that the constitution did not envision the post remaining vacant and stipulates that it must be filled within 30 days of a vacancy.

Referring to the “principle of necessity” and the importance of the criminal justice system continuing to function to ensure rule of law, the Supreme Court also ordered trial courts to accept and proceed with cases submitted by the Prosecutor General’s office.

Following the lapse of the 30-day period for the parliament to appoint a replacement for former PG Ahmed Muiz, the Criminal Court decided to halt all ongoing cases pending the appointment.

Muiz submitted his resignation on November 25 last year, shortly before parliament was set to debate a no-confidence motion against him.

In late January, Deputy PG Hussain Shameem wrote to the Supreme Court seeking its assistance in resolving the dispute.

Shameem told Minivan News at the time that there were more than 150 cases at the office that needed to be filed at the Criminal Court, including cases of suspects held in pre-trial detention.

“So what do they do now, it would not be fair to keep them in there until the parliament comes back to work from recess after three months and appoint a new PG,’’ Shameem said.

On December 10, President Abdulla Yameen nominated his nephew Maumoon Hameed to the post of Prosecutor General.

The nominee was forwarded to parliament’s Independent Institutions Committee for review.

The committee’s chair, MP Ahmed Sameer – who recently defected from the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party to the government-aligned Jumhooree Party – told newspaper Haveeru shortly after the Supreme Court issued its order that the vetting process was stalled due to lack of cooperation from political parties.

While a committee meeting scheduled to take place during the ongoing recess to interview the nominee was canceled upon request by pro-government MPs, a second attempt to hold the meeting was unsuccessful because MDP MPs opposed it.

“I am ready to hold the meeting even tonight if they request it,” the MP for Haa Alif Dhidhoo was quoted as saying.

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Week in review: February 1 – 8

The last week’s headlines were dominated by the stabbing of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP Alhan Fahmy in a Malé cafe.

After flying to Sri Lanka for prolonged surgery to repair spinal damage, the Feydhoo constituency MP’s family revealed he will face a hard struggle if he is to regain the full use of his right leg.

The attack was swiftly condemned both internationally and domestically, with fellow MP’s pointing the finger at local gangs and their political paymasters.

Despite his attack, Fahmy remained determined to contest in the Majlis primaries, despite the MDP refusing to hold a re-vote in the Feydhoo party primary. After losing the poll, Alhan had questioned the fairness of proceedings and will now contest as an independent.

Controversy also accompanied a number of other MDP primaries, with  Kendhoo constituency candidate Mauroof Zakir considering a legal response to what he considered to have been irregularities stemming from the party’s abandoned polls in late January.

Kaashidhoo incumbent Abdulla Jabir, meanwhile, retained his place on the party ticket after the MDP’s disciplinary committee found party regulations did not permit his removal, despite his repeated defiance of the whip.

The MDP’s talismanic leader, Mohamed Nasheed, this week told Minivan News he was confident in the transparency of the polls. Discussing the two years since his removal from the presidency, he noted that the current governing coalition would struggle to provide political stability.

Following the completion of its primary races, Nasheed revealed that his party’s legislative agenda for the 18th Majlis would include strengthening local government, reforming the judiciary, and eliminating barriers to development.

Nasheed’s doubts over the unity of the current coalition appeared well-founded this week as the religious Adhaalath Party announced it would be openly competing with the Jumhooree Party (JP) in five parliamentary constituencies, while talks with the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) continue.

The PPM’s selection of candidates for the poll continued, after party members in Maavah constituency, Laamu Atoll, demonstrated against the apparent award of the ticket to the current member without a primary.

After assigning 13 of its 49 places on the ticket without contests, the PPM is holding primary polls for an additional 27 seats today (Saturday 8), with the method of allocation for the remaining 9 yet to be decided.

Progressive coalition partner the JP meanwhile concluded selections for its 28 allocated constituencies, which includes eight incumbent MPs and new member Abdulla Riyaz – former commissioner of police.

One person who is unlikely to be standing in the March 22 polls is Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party MP Dr Abdulla Mausoom. As Minivan News’ series of interviews with MPs continued, Mausoom described the occupation as no longer “savvy”.

Legal interpretations

The Majlis continued to hold special sessions this week to help the government raise revenue to meet its 2014 budget commitments, including the reintroduction of tourist bed tax and the raising of T-GST in November. Changes to current import duties were also passed.

Following the Criminal Court’s continued recalcitrance after the Majlis’s failure to approve a new prosecutor general, the Chief Justice this week suggested that parliament take some time during the current emergency sessions to resolve the issue.

PPM MP Ahmed Mahloof also suggested that he would submit a motion to the house, calling for a public referendum on the death penalty to be held alongside the parliamentary elections.

Asked about the practice of female circumcision this week, Figh Academy Dr Mohamed Iyaz Abdul Latheef endorsed the practice, citing several hadiths which he felt made clear the obligatory nature of this procedure.

Elsewhere, local heritage group REVIVE announced it would be considering legal action after a centuries old mosque in Malé was demolished to make way for a modern replacement.

Finally, as crime figures in the country revealed a huge spike in cases of theft and robbery, a local drug lord appeared to have evaded punishment, leaving for Sri Lanka part-way through an 18 year sentence.

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Lost diver found dead at 100 meters

A diver reported lost on February 4 has been sighted at 100 meters off the coast of Kaafu Atoll Villingili Island.

The Maldives National Defense Forces (MNDF) said it is currently holding discussions with expert foreign and local divers on retrieving Mohamed Jameel’s body.

Mohamed Waseem was among the last to see Jameel alive. Waseem told local newspaper Haveeru that he had noticed Waseem diving to an unsafe depth and had cautioned him not to do so.

Jameel, Waseem and a third man had been diving to catch live fish at the time.

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MDP launches parliamentary elections campaign

The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) officially launched its parliamentary elections campaign at a rally in Malé last night.

Addressing supporters at the carnival area of the artificial beach, former President Mohamed Nasheed said the party was once again facing an election with “many new experiences” and “renewed courage”.

“The Maldivian Democratic Party has made a proposal to the Maldivian people. This party has brought hope of another way for the people – the hope that they could find housing, provide healthcare for their children, provide education for their children, travel easily from one place to another, and [the hope] that the Maldivian people will have social security,” he said.

The party’s aim was to fulfil the hopes of the Maldivian people, he added, pledging to “take you to the ‘Other Maldives.'”

“It is going to be 100 days since the Maldivian government changed the way the Supreme Court wanted. The people of our country can see very clearly how things transpired during the past 100 days. They said they will create 90,000-odd jobs but our people were watching when posts were divided among family members,” Nasheed said.

The Progressive Party of Maldives-led (PPM) coalition government has not formulated policies or launched any projects to spur job creation, Nasheed claimed.

“Building flats has stalled and they’re saying loudly that there’s no money for land reclamation,” he continued. “We are seeing the [public] transport system come to a halt. Going from one island to another for medical treatment or to visit relatives has once again become difficult.”

The MDP government’s policy of shifting schools to single sessions, which Nasheed contended was responsible for year-on-year improvements in the O’ Level pass rate, has been discontinued, he added.

Moreover, infrastructure projects in the atolls, such as construction of harbours and provision of electricity and waste management services, have also ceased, Nasheed said.

Nasheed argued that development projects remained stalled because senior government officials were working in their self-interest.

During last year’s presidential campaign, Nasheed had maintained that a power sharing arrangement to form a coalition government was incompatible with the presidential system envisioned in the Maldivian government.

Nasheed went on to call on the public to “vote for the scale [MDP logo]”.

“Vote for the scale to reform the judiciary. We are asking the Maldivian people to vote for the scale to not let the powers of the state be merged. We are asking the Maldivian people to vote for the scale to guarantee social security,” he said.

The former president expressed confidence that the MDP would secure a “comfortable majority” in the upcoming parliamentary polls scheduled for March 22. The party is contesting all 85 constituencies.

At last night’s rally, 84 of the party’s candidates for the People’s Majlis were brought on stage to read out a declaration pledging loyalty to the party.

The MDP’s slogan for this year’s campaign is “Vote for the scale for separation of powers.”

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Comment: Vital for police to win public confidence

Former Chief Superintendent Mohamed ‘MC’ Hameed was dismissed in August 2012 after being investigated for leaking intelligence information to the Maldivian Democratic Party as it compiled a timeline of events for the February 7 transfer of power.

Citing procedural issues, the Civil Court ordered Hameed’s reinstatement in September 2013. The Maldives Police Service is currently appealing the ruling.

Today is the second anniversary of the infamous February 8th – the day many witnessed a never-seen extent of police brutality. The CoNI, Police Integrity Commission, and reports by many others called to sanction the perpetrators of brutality. In fact the PIC found 5 police officers guilty in its inquiry into events of Feb 8, 2012 and recommended their expulsion from the police service.

Two years passed and that is yet to happen. Instead some of them are given important assignments such as being a focal point for elections.

Some, including the current police commissioner, declared police action on that day was necessary to prevent a major public order situation. For me it was not. Police action was not just unnecessary, it was disproportionate, unlawful and the MPS have still not accounted for it. Just two days ago, the Metropolitan Police chief – widely regarded as the top police officer in the UK – visited its parliament to apologise to an MP who had been subjected to public criticism based on falsified witness accounts by three Met police officers in an incident he was alleged to have sworn at police officers.

The saga – now famously known as ‘plebgate’ – saw the Met Commissioner initially backing his officers. After an independent inquiry found his officers guilty, he demonstrated what is required of him by apologising to the MP – the victim.

In Maldives, on Feb 8, 2012, dozens of public members and a few members of parliament were brutalised and treated inhumanly by police officers. So far the MPS had not stepped up to apologise to the public or to individual MPs. It has further degraded the integrity and public trust in the institution by failing to take any disciplinary action against the 5 among many who committed crimes on that day.

The current Home Minister Umar Naseer – who used to be a ‘Chulbul Pandey’ during his police career – wrote in his foreword for the Strategic Plan 2014/2018 of MPS that intelligence and forensics were vital to win the fight against crime. More than anything he needs to fix the basics first before opening his mouth to talk about modern tools for policing. Someone seriously needs to educate him on the founding principles of policing.

Here is one principle Umar Naseer and his police leaders need to ingrain in to the policing landscape and constantly remind their officers of: “the power of the police to fulfill their functions and duties is dependent on public approval of their existence, actions and behavior, and on their ability to secure and maintain public respect,” – Sir Robert Peel, 1829.

Therefore, public acceptance and confidence is vital for policing.

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DRP to contest six seats in parliamentary elections

The Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) has announced that the party will field six candidates in the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for March 22.

Along with present leader, MP Mohamed ‘Colonel’ Nasheed – who will be standing for the Laamu Isdhoo seat – the other candidates are Badrudeen Naseem for the Kanditheemu constituency, Ismail Zakariyya for the Dhuvafaru constituency, Ahmed Shareef for the Galolhu South constituency, Assad Shareef for the Machangoalhi South constituency, and Lirqam Saeed for the Maavah constituency.

Nasheed told the press on Thursday that the constituencies were determined by the DRP council based on the party’s support in the selected islands.

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Elections Commission dissolves eight parties

The Elections Commission (EC) dissolved eight parties on Thursday for failing to reach the mandatory minimum of 3,000 registered members.

The eight parties were the People’s Alliance (PA), Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP), Islamic Democratic Party (IDP), the Maldivian Labour Party, the Social Liberal Party, the People’s Party, the Maldivian National Congress (MNC), and the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Social Democratic Party.

The EC explained in a press statement that the eight parties were removed from the political parties registry after providing a three-month period to increase party membership.

“While most of these parties are not active at all, the Elections Commission made a public announcement in 2013 to find out where their offices were located as letters and other documents sent to the parties were not being delivered,” the EC stated.

“We also note that these parties to whom funds have to be released every year from the state budget have not been regularly submitting audit reports to the Elections Commission.”

As inactive parties were provided large amounts of state funding, the EC noted that dissolving the parties would alleviate the strain on the state budget.

In December 2012, parliament passed the Political Parties Act with a clause requiring a minimum of 10,000 members for registration.

The Supreme Court however struck down the article in September 2013 and the EC decided that the minimum party membership would fall to 3,000 as stipulated in the previous political party regulation.

The commission decided to dissolve the eight inactive parties last month and asked the parties to inform the EC of any debts or assets before February 7.

“We sent a letter to parties with membership below 10,000 to increase their members. But these parties are not being dissolved because they do not have 10,000. It is because they do not have the 3,000 member minimum,” EC Vice President Ahmed Fayaz explained at the time.

The councils of the Maldives Reform Movement (MRM) and the Gaumee Iththihaad Party (GIP) meanwhile voted to voluntarily disband in December.

With the dissolution of the eight parties, the Maldives currently has six active political parties. They are ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) and its coalition partners – the Jumhooree Party (JP), the Maldives Development Alliance (MDA), and the Adhaalath Party. The remaining parties are the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) and the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

Among the six, only MDA has membership below 10,000. According to the EC website, MDA currently has 7,537 members.

President Abdulla Yameen formed the PA in 2008 following a disagreement with half-brother and then-President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. Yameen resigned from the party and joined the newly-formed PPM in 2011.

Gayoom’s Attorney General Hassan Saeed set up the DQP in September 2008 ahead of his presidential bid. After unconditionally backing MDP candidate Mohamed Nasheed in the run-off against incumbent Gayoom in the 2008 presidential election, the party left the MDP-led coalition and became a vocal opponent of the Nasheed administration.

The party backed Yameen during the second round of the 2013 presidential polls after its coalition partner JP failed to make the run-off.

Current Home Minister Umar Naseer set up the IDP in 2005 and ran for president in 2008. He quit the party to join the DRP in 2010.

PPM MP ‘Redwave’ Ahmed Saleem established the Maldivian Labour Party in 2008 while the Social Liberal Party was a splinter from the MDP – founded by former MP and presidential candidate, Ibrahim ‘Ibra’ Ismail.

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