Category: News in Brief

Parliament sitting adjourned amidst opposition MPs’ protest

The first regular sitting of the Peoples Majlis for 2015 was adjourned shortly after it began amidst protests by opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MPs.

MDP MPs called for the release of former President Mohamed Nasheed, who is currently in police custody until a surprise trial on terrorism charges conclude.

Speaker Abdulla Maseeh adjourned Majlis after forwarding the names of Moosa Ali Jaleel who has been appointed as Defence Minister by President Abdulla Yameen, Ahmed Saleem who has been appointed as Ambassador for Pakistan and Ahmed Akram who has been proposed by government as a member of Elections Commission to Majlis sub committees for further review.

Moosa Ali Jaleel was the Ambassador for Pakistan until he was appointed as Defence Minister after former Defence Minister Mohamed Nazim was removed from the post and charged with treason.

Jaleel is currently facing charges of terrorism for his role in the arrest of Criminal Court Chief judge Abdulla Mohamed along with former President Mohamed Nasheed, his Defence Minister Thalhat Ibrahim Kaleyfanu, former Male’ Area Commander of military MP Ibrahim Didi and ex Colonel Mohamed Ziyad.

Former Deputy Secretariat of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Ahmed Akram was proposed as a member of Elections commission after the term of one member had expired. Akram is relative of former MDP President Moosa Manik’s wife.

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Maldives introduces injectable Inactivated Polio Vaccine

Maldives has introduced the injectable Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) into its routine immunisation schedule, in a move to accelerate global eradication of polio.

The universal introduction of IPV is part of a global plan to eradicate polio and secure recent gains towards a polio-free world through stronger immunisation systems, a World health Organisation (WHO) statement explained.

“WHO and UNICEF have supported the Government of the Maldives to become the second country in South-East Asia to introduce IPV,” the statement read.

“The introduction of IPV to the routine immunisation schedule is a vital step in the journey to securing a polio-free world for all future generations to come,” Dr Akjemal Magtymova, WHO Representative to Maldives had said.

Maldives has been polio-free since 1981 with no indigenous cases detected since then. IPV introduction is the latest step by Maldives in its tremendous progress in improving child health and survival in the last decades, according to WHO.

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Adhaalth Party meets President Yameen to share concerns with political situation

Religious conservative Adhaalath Party met President Abdulla Yameen today to share the party’s concerns regarding the current political situation in the Maldives.

Speaking to reporters after the two-hour long meeting at the President’s Office, Adhaalath Party President Sheikh Imran Abdulla refused to reveal the concerns shared with the president at the meeting, where Adhaalath leadership members including Islamic Minister Dr Mohamed Shaheem and the party’s Vice President Dr Mauroof Hussein also took part.

Imran has been critical of the government on social media regarding the criminal prosecutions of former President Mohamed Nasheed and former Defence Minister Mohamed Nazim.

In a tweet following today’s meeting, Imran assured that the Adhaalath Party would not make a “financial deal”.

“I am certain before and now as well that Nazim was framed,” he tweeted.

In previous tweets, Imran said former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom should be “ashamed” of the government’s treatment of Gasim Ibrahim as the Jumhooree Party (JP) leader decided to back President Yameen in the 2013 presidential election run-off after Gayoom “pleaded” with Gasim.

After yesterday’s presidential address – delivered in the face of protests by opposition MPs – Imran tweeted: “President Yameen is now feeling the bitterness of dissolving of the coalition that brought [him] to power.”

A day before Imran tweeted: “Adhaalath Party will come out to protest when there’s no other way.”

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Government celebrates presidential address with fireworks

The government has celebrated President Abdulla Yameen delivering the annual presidential address at parliament today amidst protests from opposition MPs with fireworks in Malé.

The fireworks display took place at the ‘raalhugadu’ (surf point) area on the southeastern corner of the capital around 8pm tonight.

After concluding the address, President Yameen gave two thumbs up to pro-government MPs and made a thumbs down gesture towards opposition MPs.

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MP Ibrahim Didi hospitalised

Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP Ibrahim Mohamed Didi, a retired brigadier general, was hospitalised at the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).

A family member told newspaper Haveeru that Didi was taken to hospital after complaining of chest pains, adding that he is being kept at the ICU for a heart test every six hours.

According to Didi’s family, he suffered a stroke in 1994. Didi’s family told Raajje TV today that the retired general was feeling better.

Didi is currently on trial on terrorism charges – along with former President Mohamed Nasheed and senior officers of the military – over the military’s detention of Criminal Court Chief Judge Abdulla Mohamed in January 2012.

Didi was Malé Area Commander at the time of the controversial arrest. At the last hearing of his trial, the judge gave Didi three additional days to prepare his defence.

After the first hearing, Didi asked whether the terrorism trial was his reward for risking his life in defence of the nation during the November 3, 1988 failed coup attempt by a group of Maldivians and Tamil mercenaries.

Didi – a corporal and former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s bodyguard at the time – played a pivotal role on November 3 by carrying the keys of the armoury from Machangoalhi Kinbigasdhoshuge to the besieged military headquarters before soldiers ran out of ammunition.

Politicians from both sides have meanwhile expressed well wishes for Didi on social media.

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Government submits three bills to parliament

The government has submitted to the People’s Majlis amendments to the Political Parties Act and the Family Act as well as legislation on establishing an Islamic University.

According to Vnews, the President’s Office proposed abolishing or amending clauses in the political parties law that the Supreme Court had ruled were unconstitutional.

Amendments proposed to the the Family Act meanwhile seek to provide temporary shelter to divorced women and their children and establish rules for equitable distribution of property in divorce cases.

The bill on creating the Maldives Islamic University outlines the powers and responsibilities of the envisioned higher education institution.

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EU delegation “shocked” to discover fake statement

The European Union (EU) delegation to the Maldives, resident in Colombo, Sri Lanka, has threatened legal action against the perpetrators of a false statement supporting former President Mohamed Nasheed’s arrest and prosecution.

In a press release on February 26, the EU delegation said it was “shocked to discover that somebody has circulated” a false statement which purports to be an EU Joint Local Statement on the rule of law in the Maldives dated 26 February 2015.”

The press release explained that the false document stated that the delegation “remains confident that the nature of the charges are in keeping with international best practices and conventions. We are satisfied with the assurances that former President Nasheed will be provided effective and appropriate legal representation at the court hearing”.

However, the statement was “an untrue representation of the position of the EU Delegation.”

The press release added that the EU Delegation “reserves its right to take legal action against the perpetrators of this false document.”

The EU statement on February 24 had expressed concern over Nasheed’s arrest and stated that the delegation was “seeking clarification as to the nature of charges.”

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High Court throws out Nazim’s search warrant appeal

The High Court today declined to rule on an appeal lodged by former Defense Minister Mohamed Nazim requesting the appellate court overturn a Criminal Court issued search warrant.

The police used the warrant to raid Nazim’s apartment in the early hours of January 18, and announced they had discovered a pistol and bullets in a bedside drawer.

Nazim was subsequently accused of plotting to overthrow the government and plans to harm senior government officials. The police arrested him on February 10.

The High Court today said a ruling on the search warrant at this time might effect an ongoing criminal trial against Nazim over illegal weapons possession, but said Nazim’s legal team could appeal the warrant at the Criminal Court.

The former defense minister has claimed the weapons were planted in order to frame him.

At the first hearing of Nazim’s criminal trial yesterday, state prosecutors accused the former defense minister of conspiring with the Villa Group – owned by opposition Jumhooree Party leader Gasim Ibrahim – to harm senior state officials.

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Opposition delegation in meetings with diplomatic missions in Colombo

A joint delegation from the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and Jumhooree Party (JP) are meeting with diplomatic missions in Colombo today.

The delegation – comprising of JP Leader MP Gasim Ibrahim, JP Vice President Dr Hussain Rasheed, JP MP Abdulla Riyaz, MDP Foreign Relations Committee head MP Abdulla Shahid, MDP Spokesperson Hamid Abdul Ghafoor and MDP Male’ City Mayor Mohamed Shihab – departed Malé last night.

The delegation met with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe and European Union delegations and briefed them on the state’s prosecution of former President Mohamed Nasheed and former Defense Minister Mohamed Nazim.

The delegation is due back tonight. The JP and MDP have called for mass demonstrations in Malé against what they allege to be repeated constitutional violations by President Abdulla Yameen. The parties have pledged to topple the government.

Yameen’s administration maintains it has remained within the constitution’s ambit and condemned what it calls the opposition parties attempts at destabilizing the country.

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