Category: News in Brief

Vice President inaugurates Counter Terrorism workshop

Vice President Dr Mohamed Waheed yesterday inaugurated a Counter Terrorism Workshop organised by the government and the British High Commission.

The President’s Office said that it was a two day workshop that began in Aarah yesterday, and aimed to develop a counter terrorism strategy for the Maldives and share experiences on the topic between the Maldives and the United Kingdom.

”There is nothing more important than creating and maintaining a peaceful environment for the people in our country,” said Dr Waheed. ”The Maldives is not exempt from the risks associated with international terrorism.”

He also said the threat of terrorism was affected every country in the world and highlighted the importance of making counter terrorism strategy an integral part of the national security policy.

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State requests extension to respond to Yameen civil suit

The state has requested an extension in the civil suit brought by MP Abdulla Yameen against the Maldives Police Service for unlawful arrest, claiming that it is awaiting a report from the Supreme Court of its verdict on a related case, reports Haveeru.

The Supreme Court ruled on June 29 that Yameen’s arrest on charges of alleged bribery and attempting to overthrow the government was unlawful.

At the second hearing of the case on Sunday, Yameen’s lawyer Azima Shukoor, a former Attorney General, argued that the absence of the Supreme Court report was not justifiable grounds for failing to answer to a civil suit.

Judge Aisha Shujune adjourned the hearing after scheduling the case for November 29 and told the state attorney that it would be the final opportunity to respond.

While the lawsuit did not specify an amount for compensation or damages, Azima argued at the last hearing that the arrest was in violation of articles 47(b), 45, 46 and 48(a) and that the claimant had to spend Rf61,005 on strengthening security at his residence and Rf668,950 on lawyer’s fees. In addition, the claimant also claimed to have suffered emotional and psychological distress during the arrest, which took place while an angry crowd was protesting outside his house.

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Participants take part in Salaf ‘Hijra’ camp

A ‘Hijra’ camp set up by religious NGO, Jamiyyath-al-Salaf, took place last week on Thinadhoo in Vaavu atoll in order to try and keep young people from ‘sin’ as well as extending Islamic knowledge through a combination of workshops and activities.

Costing Rf300 per person, Haveeru reported that the camp, which ran between November 18 to November 20, took in 60 participants for a combination of prayer and workshops overseen by Sheikh Adam Shameem Ibrahim. Ibrahim also delivered a sermon at the event.

Participants between 17 and 25 years of age that stayed at the camp were also invited to engage in water sports, fitness regimes and leadership training, according to Salaf, which told Haveeru that it aims to hold similar camps in the country soon.

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Parliament resumes with cabinet endorsement on the agenda

Parliament continues to debate endorsing the reappointment of cabinet this morning as some opposition groups pledge to block any and all appointments, an issue that has immobilised the legislature with forced cancellations over the past month.

Voting on the cabinet issue is due to take place at the end of today’s sitting. The outcome will be covered by Minivan News as it happens.

During the 20-minute debate, opposition People’s Alliance (PA) MP Abdul Raheem Abdulla declared that the party would not vote to approve any ministers.

“We have decided not to approve any of the ministers that resigned,” he said. “Whether [the issue] is sent to committee and brought back or any other way it is done.”

PA’s coalition partner, main opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP), meanwhile has an undisclosed list of ministers it intends not to approve.

MPs of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) continue to insist that the issue should be sent back to committee or removed from the agenda until parliamentary rules of procedure can be amended. These amendments relate to a Supreme Court ruling invalidating a provision allowing presidential nominees to the cabinet to be interviewed by committee.

MDP MP for Madaveli, Mohamed Nazim, said today that the Speaker cancelled previous sittings to seek a compromise between the two main parties, but “to this day I am not aware that any solution has been found. My parliamentary group leader has definitely not informed me that a particular solution has been found after discussions.”

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MDP campaign office ransacked

The campaign office of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) in Male’ was robbed on Friday night.

According to MNBC One, a number of documents, including a voter list of Male’ constituencies and an office laptop were stolen.

MDP Male’ Primaries Coordinator Sofwan Ibrahim said the thieves rifled through desks and drawers but the office was not seriously damaged.

He added that police arrived to inspect the scene when the robbery was reported on Saturday morning.

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DRP and Adhaalath deny reports of coalition for local election

The opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) will not look to battle upcoming local council elections in a coalition with conservative religious group, the Adhaalath Party (AP), an MP has told local news service Miadhu.

MP Rozaina Adam, the Local Council Committee coordinator of the DRP and representative for the Thulusdhoo constituency, says the country’s main political opposition group has no plans to work alongside the AP to try and enhance its prospects during next year’s local elections.

Miadhu reported that there has been rising speculation that DRP members have been actively campaigning alongside their AP counterparts in some constituencies ahead of the council elections scheduled for early February, 2011.

However, the newspaper cites unnamed representatives for both the AP and DRP parties that deny any collaboration strategy for the election.

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US Navy-MNDF conduct medical camp

A medical camp organised jointly by Naval officers of the warship USS Momsum and medical staff of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) took place yesterday at the Children’s Park in Male’.

The event is part of a series of social programmes to be conducted with the visiting American Naval officers and MNDF.

Dental information, fitness checks and instruction on first-aid and fire emergencies were offered to children at Saturday’s camp.

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Man injured in collision with ambulance

A 25 year-old man is seriously injured after colliding with an ambulance Saturday morning at the cross section of Orchid Magu and Chandaanee Magu.

According to police, the ambulance was driving with its siren sounding en route to an emergency pickup.

The man sustained injuries to his head, face and arms in the collision and was taken to Indira Gandi Memorial Hospital for treatment.

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