Category: News in Brief

UN to increase protection of right to free assembly

The United Nations Human Rights Council has unanimously adopted a resolution to appoint a Special Rapportuer to promote and protect the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association across the world.

Reports from the Foreign Ministry say the resolution was introduced to the 15th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva by the Maldivian delegation on behalf of the Czech Republic, Indonesia, Lithuania, Mexico, Nigeria and the United States.

Article 20 of the UN Declaration of Human Rights states that everyone has the right to peaceful assembly and association, and that no one should be compelled to belong to an association.

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Illegal timber trade in Laamu Atoll

The illegal sale of timber from large timber trees has resumed in Laamu Gan, two years after police put a stop to the activity, reports Haveeru.

An islander who wished to remain anonymous claimed that a boatload of timber was being sold for Rf30,000 (US$2,300).

Mathimaradhoo district Island Chief Abdul Raheem said that large trees lining the industrial roads of the large island were fast disappearing.

A small number of people from all three districts of the island were employed in the illegal trade, he added.

Deputy Province State Minister Hussein Umar said that complaints had been received and action would be taken to stop the environmentally harmful activity.

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New MTCC CEO appointed

President Mohamed Nasheed appointed Hussain Amru as the Chief Executive Officer of the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) last week.

Press Secretary Mohamed Zuhair told Haveeru that Amru was working on corporate issues as undersecretary at the president’s office and had completed higher education in the field.

In January this year, President Nasheed dismissed former Managing Director Mohamed “Nafa” Naseem from the post ostensibly for poor performance and failure to follow government policy on competitive markets.

Meanwhile, Thilafushi Corporation CEO Mohamed Zahir has been appointed Food and Security Coordinator at the Fisheries Ministry after the corporation’s board decided to replace Zahir.

In May this year, the board decided to appoint Ibrahim Riyaz, Dhiraagu Marketing Manager for Broadband and Data, as the new acting Managing Director of Thilafushi Corporation.

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HRCM leadership on parliament’s schedule for first sitting

Parliament has scheduled the endorsement of the President and Vice President of the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) for the first sitting of the next session this Monday.

President Mohamed Nasheed had nominated commission members Mariyam Azra as HRCM’s President an post and Aiminath Jeehaan as Vice President, however the matter was still in debate when the last session of parliament closed in August.

HRCM’s former President Ahmed Saleem last month condemned parliament’s inaction on the issue as “unforgivable”.

“It’s all because HRCM and human rights are not as important to the Majlis as taking their leave,” he told Minivan News.

“The Majlis is destroying this country and leaving the government incapable of doing anything.”

On Monday parliament will also vote on proposed amendments to the Finance Committee’s report on salaries, the Parole Bill, Bill on Importing Animals and Birds, the government’s amendment to the Decentralisation Bill and the Domestic Violence Bill.

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Aishath Azra was nominated as HRCM’s President. This has been corrected to Mariyam Azra.

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Indian teacher tied up after islanders mistake compass for crucifix

An Indian teacher on Foakaidhoo in Shaviyani Atoll has been rescued by authorities after islanders tied her up and attempted to throw her off the island for allegedly drawing a crucifix.

Haveeru reported that senior teacher at the island’s school Ibrahim Rasheed attempted to explain to the “devout Muslim” parents that the design drawn was a plus symbol marking north, south, east, and west directions on a map.

Following a joint investigation by the Parent-Teacher Association and school management, “they refused to accept the facts when their claim that the teacher had drawn a [crucifix] was explained,” Rasheed told Haveeru.

Students and parents protested outside the school on Wednesday evening, he said.

Meanwhile the teacher, who has worked at the school for three years, has been moved to Funadhoo.

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Civil servants salaries could be restored this year, says President

President Mohamed Nasheed has said the salary of civil servants could be restored before the end of this year.

In a statement from the President’s Office, Nasheed “thanked all civil servants for the great sacrifice they have made” and “expressed hope that civil service pay could be restored to the level before the reduction of 15 percent.”

Nasheed also said the government was hopeful reaching its target budget of Rf7 billion before the end of the year.

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Maldives would welcome Chinese resort investment, says Ambassador Latheef

The Maldives welcomes Chinese investment in the country’s resort industry, Maldives Ambassador to China Ahmed Latheef has told the Chinese newspaper Global Times.

Chinese visitors have eclipsed European arrivals as the country’s major tourism market this year, according to figures from the Maldives Tourism Ministry.

Latheef told the Global Times he welcomed investment from China in resorts to boost the development of local tourism, explaining that “the difficulty we have at the moment is that we do not have enough hotels or beds to cater to the growing market in China.”

“The Maldives and China have enjoyed excellent bilateral relations, and there are many areas that can be developed through Chinese involvement and engagement in the Maldives,” Latheef said. “We would welcome initiatives from Chinese investors in the development of tourist resorts.”

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Malnutrition impeding children’s growth

Malnutrition is the biggest impediment to the healthy growth of children here, the Health Ministry has said.

A 2009 survey by the Community Health and Disease Control Unit showed substantial percentages of children not achieving the expected height, strength or weight for their ages, reports Haveeru.

A programme was launched in seven atolls four years ago to monitor the growth of children who could not achieve the desired height as a result of malnutrition. The programme also includes teaching parents to make nutritious meals from locally sourced products.

Haveeru sources, however, noted that the programme had not had much impact.

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Houses to be built on Naifaru

Twenty five new houses are to be built on Naifaru under the government housing scheme. President Mohamed Nasheed launched the project on the island yesterday.

The government had pledged to build 10,000 housing units under the scheme.

Agreements were signed between the government and A Man Maldives Pvt Ltd, Amin Construction Pvt Ltd and Swift Engineering Pvt Ltd at a special ceremony yesterday. Under the terms of their contract, the builders are obliged to start work on their sites within 21 days.

All the new houses on Naifaru will be three-bedroom houses with two floors.

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