Day: December 30, 2014

MVR22 million fine issued for ship stranded on Thilafushi reef

A cargo ship which ran aground on the reef near Thilafushi earlier this month has been fined MVR22 million (US$1.4 million), the Transport Authority has told local media.

The MV Mutha Pioneer – registered in Dominica – became lodged on the reef to the north west of the industrial island on December 10, with an analysis by the Environmental Protection Agency revealing it had caused damage to 588 square meters of reef.

After spending around ten hours stranded on the reef, the Maldives National Defence Force was able to free the 1,900 tonne cargo vessel.

At the start of the year (January 7) a 27,000-tonne vessel called Auguste Schulte became stranded in shallow water while attempting to make a turn near the coast of the Raalhugandu area in Malé.

After assessing the damage caused by this incident, the government claimed damages of MVR 62.7 million (US$4 million).

Source: Haveeru

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Civil Court Judge Aisha Shujoon resigns

Civil Court Judge Aisha Shujoon has given her letter of resignation to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), reports Haveeru.

Shujoon, a founding member of Maldivian Democracy Network (MDN), was recently re-elected to UN subcommittee on the prevention of torture and other inhuman treatment or punishment.

Earlier this month, the seven member Civil Court bench condemned the removal of two Supreme Court Judges, including the chief justice, saying the JSC was “forced” to deem the two judges unfit for the bench through an “unconstitutional” amendment to the Judicature Act.

A subsequent case challenging the decision was removed from the Civil Court’s jurisdiction by the Supreme Court.

In February, JSC launched an investigation into Shujoon after she announced on state television that she was once offered a US$5 million bribe, which she refused.

Source: Haveeru; Sun Online

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ACC sends Rathafandhoo Island Council corruption case to PG

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has submitted a case against Gaaf Dhaal Rathafandhoo council President Ahmed Fauzee and three others to the Prosecutor General’s Office.

Haveeru reported that the commission has accused Fauzee and three others of using the influence of their positions while assigning security work, suggesting that the members of the proposal evaluation committee had allocated points in violation of set standards.

According to the paper, an ACC statement explained that documents and testimonies collected during investigations proved the accused had acted in violation of the State Finance Act to provide unlawful benefit to a third party.

The others implicated alongside Fauzee are Fathuhulla Basheer, Abbas Haneef, and Fathuhulla Ahmed – all members of the proposal evaluation committee.

Source: Haveeru

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Environmental NGOs call for action as images of turtle slaughter surface

Warning: This article contains graphic images.

Local environmental NGOs Ecocare and Bluepeace have condemned images circulating on social media showing a turtle being cut in half for its eggs and meat.

Both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and police are now investigating the pictures.

Ecocare has demanded “immediate action from relevant authorities to stop such atrocities against protected marine species in the country”, in a statement which also said the NGO was “outraged by the lack of adequate enforcement measures in place”.

The pictures which were shared on Facebook show a group of people cutting open an adult sea turtle and extracting its eggs and meat. Local media outlet Sun Online has reported that the pictures were taken on the island of Maalhos in Alif Alif Atoll.

Maalhos Island Council has expressed concern over the incident but has said it was not aware that the pictures originated from the island.

Sun reported council Vice President Ahmed Sameeh as saying that it was common for islanders to hunt turtles and that the council has repeatedly requested citizens to stop.

Bluepeace Executive Director Rilwan Ali told Minivan News that the main obstruction to preventing such instances was poor institutional coordination between the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture and the EPA.

“The biggest problem is that turtle conservation comes under the fisheries law which is implemented by the fisheries ministry. The ministry has to share its resources with the EPA so that these kinds of events can be prevented,” said Rilwan.

Speaking on behalf the EPA, Director General Ibrahim Naeem said that these kinds of events could have a negative impact on the tourism of the country as well as long term effects on the economy, while highlighting the need for stricter punishments for such environmental crimes.

According to the fisheries regulations, the “catching, fishing, collecting or killing” of sea turtles is illegal throughout the country. The collection of sea turtles and eggs is also illegal, but only in 14 of the country’s 1,192 islands.

The current moratorium is set to last until 2016 thoug reports of turtle slaughter persist. Earlier this year, one source estimated that up to 180 turtles were killed from a single island in Shaviyani Atoll in 2013.

“There is a well-known nesting island and every night a group is going and hunting the turtles. It is so obvious, every day since January one or two are killed,” said the informed source. “They wait for them to nest on the island, or go snorkeling to hunt them.”

While speaking to Minivan News in April this year, Sam Hope – Marine Discovery Centre Manager at Four Seasons Kuda Huraa – said that the biggest threat to turtles is egg collection and trade.

Meanwhile, turtle conservation expert Dr Agnese Mancini has reported a decline in the population of  the majority of turtle species found in the Maldives.


Related to this story

Against the current – Turtle conservation in the Maldives

Widespread ‘secret’ slaughter of endangered sea turtles despite ban; “very tasty” say killers

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Chinese cultural items gifted to Maldives

China has today gifted a number of cultural items to the Maldives, following discussions between the countries’ respective first ladies during President Xi Jinpeng’s visit in September.

During a ceremony held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs this morning, Chinese Ambassador Wang Fukang signed an official certificate marking the handing over of the gifts, which included books, ethnic costumes, musical instruments, and Chinese crafts.

“During the meetings, both our countries’ leaders have made a decision to build a future-oriented, all-round, cooperative friendship,” Sun Online reported Wang as saying during the ceremony.

“We each promote our bilateral relations to new heights. So from our Chinese government we are very satisfied with our bilateral relations.”

Source: Sun Online

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Sean Paul cancels New Year’s appearance, citing security concerns

Jamaican dancehall artist Sean Paul has cancelled his appearance at tomorrow’s ‘Tourist Arrival Countdown’ show in Malé, citing safety concerns.

“Unfortunately, the world has reached a point where cyber threats must affect real life decisions,” read a message posted on the artists official facebook page this morning.

“With that said, due to safety concerns for my crew and the people of The Maldives attending the Tourist Arrival Countdown, it is with deep regret that I have come to the difficult decision to cancel my appearance.”

The cancellation follows the posting of an online death threat against the singer last week, as well as calls from religious groups within the country to stop the performance.

Tourism minister Ahmed Adeeb has told Minivan News that Sean Paul had decided to continue with the concert before pressure at home caused him to make the last minute decision to cancel.

“We discussed the situation with Sean Paul and he was convinced to come, but the Maldives is new to the Caribbean and he was under pressure from Jamaican media and from local fans,” explained Adeeb.

Adeeb revealed that the concert will go ahead, with organisers now planning to hold an additional show on January 8. He expressed regret at events but determination to hold a successful show.

“We will not give up and will make the best performance,” said Adeeb.

A tweet from the MP Ahmed Nihan early this morning showed that preparations for the show were continuing at the national stadium.

The organisers have joined the President’s Office and Adeeb in condemning attempts to defame the Maldives’ reputation in the international media.

President Abdulla Yameen had called on all Maldivians this week to leave aside political differences to assure a safe environment for visitors, while his office declared the threat to have been a hoax.

Concerns

Sean Paul, who was to appear at the free concert upon the invitation of Adeeb, thanked his Maldivian fans for their support and wished for their continued safety.

“I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to the Government and the people of the The Maldives for their invitation and wish for them peace,” read the statement.

A joint statement from the Maldives Police Services and the Maldives National Defence Force yesterday also called for citizens to refrain from inciting fear and damaging the country’s reputation.

“It is the responsibility of the national defense forces to ensure the protection of all officials and visitors to the Maldives. Also, it is the duty of these forces to safeguard individuals who visit the Maldives for business, investment and to participate in meetings and other activities,” read the statement.

“The Maldives’ economy is dependent on income generated through tourism. The defense forces will not hesitate to bring to a stop any action which might hinder the economic development of the country.”

Police are reported to have searched a house and questioned an individual in connection to the video after obtaining a warrant. Spokesmen were not responding to calls at the time of publication.

Former President Mohamed Nasheed – himself often accused of un-Islamic policies by then-opposition groups – has tweeted this morning about the show’s cancellation.

“The government is hypocritical. However, no good is going to come to the Maldives by halting the government organized new year’s show,” said the opposition party leader.

Following the video threat posted on Youtube last week (since removed), Islamic Minister Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed tweeted in condemnation of both the threat and the concert itself.

“Bringing foreigners to hold shows coinciding with the New Year is unacceptable. Issuing death threats is also unacceptable.”

“Lessons have to be learnt from the past of those who committed acts challenging the Muslim culture,” read a second tweet.

Tourism minister Adeeb explained today that plans for the concert had been discussed at cabinet level, and that Shaheem’s tweets were his own personal opinion and not those of the Islamic ministry.

Local religious NGO Jamiyyathul Salaf has also condemned the concert, calling upon “all brothers and sisters to refrain from participating in such misleading actions, and to do whatever you are capable of doing, in whichever field you can, to ensure that such activities cannot be carried out”.

Local media also reported that NGO Jamiyyathul Bayan had appealed to all religious leaders to take a stand against such ‘haraam’ music shows.


Related to this story

Online jihadists threaten Sean Paul with death ahead of New Year’s concert

Sean Paul threat a hoax to create atmosphere of fear, says President’s Office

President Yameen warns of adverse impacts on tourism from threats against guests

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