Voice clip of MDP T-shirt negotiations leaked to local media

A voice clip of a conversation has between Special Envoy to the President Ibrahim Zaki and a person named Anandhu, purportedly in the UK, has been leaked to the local media, concerning negotiations for the delivery of T-Shirts for the Maldivian Democratic Party ahead of the Presidential election.

In the voice clip that first appeared on the website of local radio station SunFM, Zaki and Anandhu speak about payment for the T-shirts ahead of the 2008 presidential elections.

The General Elections Act article number 70 states that “products or money” given by foreigners shall not be used by a Presidential Candidate or any person on behalf of a Presidential Candidate, and article 70[a] states that ”Products or money given by foreigners, foreign parties or foreign administrations shall not be used.”

Zaki told Minivan News that he had provided ”many T-shirts” to the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

”No foreign party has directly contributed the MDP, it all came to me and from the things I received I gave things that I felt like giving to MDP,” he said. ”The General Election Act prohibits political parties accepting offers from foreign parties.”

Elections Commissioner Fuad Thaufeeq did not respond to Minivan News at time of press, while Vice Commissioner’s phone was switched off.

Director General of the Elections Commission Mohamed Tholal said he was out of the country and was unable to comment.

The leaked conversation:

Anandhu: Yes, Zaki. On the 1st I will make the transfer. Now, I understand from you, from the email I got also, that I got to do it directly to Elements (?) Garment.

Zaki: Yes, because that makes things very easy for us. That means by wire transfer.

A: Ok, no problem. The rest, I mean you can count me. On the 1st it will be done by wire transfer, ok? And I will then send you an email on the 1st itself to say it’s done and chase it up with Elements Garments to make sure everything goes according to plan. But if I do it on the 1st, say we receive the funds on the 2nd, I mean, do you know the company very well? Does Mausoom know the company very well?

Z: Mausoom knows very well.

A: OK, tell Mausoom to tell then that the funds are coming. Prepare everything and as soon as they receive the funds they can just send it. Because what my fear is that by the time it comes to Male’ – I don’t know how long it will take.

Z: I think it will not take more than about five, six days.

A: Five, six days, ok. As of today, when do you envisage the date of the election will be? It will be around the 11th of September?

Z: Well, you know, the original contemplation of the government was to have the first round on the 20th of September and to have the second round on the 4th of October.

A: Then we have enough time. Because what my worry was, I didn’t want the t-shirts to get to you too late.

Z: Yeah, and in the meantime, an EU delegation came here a couple of days ago.

A: Yes, yes.

Z: And they met us and they said they’ve been talking to Gayoom also and talking to us. And they said their idea is that the 1st of September to the 30th is the month of Ramazan, the fasting month. So their suggestion is why don’t we have the first round on the 4th of October and the second round after two weeks.

A: It makes sense. I don’t know how you feel, but it makes sense. It gives you a bit more time to prepare.

Z: No, our reply was very simple. We cannot agree that the current regime can be extended more than the 11th of November.

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“Tolerance and passive acceptance of others is not enough”: UK High Commissioner Rankin

British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, John Rankin, has said that yesterday’s International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination marked an “opportunity for all of us to re-commit to defending and promoting fundamental equality.”

“We live in an age of diversity, where societies grow ever more complex each day. Diversity is not a choice – it is a reality that we live; a reality that makes it imperative that the prejudice and injustice of racial discrimination is purged from society,” Rankin said.

“Tolerance and passive acceptance of others is not enough. Racial discrimination is a breeding ground for tension and mistrust that can lead to conflict – a phenomenon we have witnessed, time and again, in history. Overcoming racism will lead to the evolution of a strong, dynamic and healthy society – the foundation for sustainable peace and development in the twenty-first century.”

He added that the first article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination reminds us of our collective responsibility for promoting and protecting this ideal.”

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Gasim and PA conspired to send two DRP MPs abroad, alleges MP Ali Azim

Ali Azim, Mid-Henveiru MP for the main opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP), has alleged that business tycoon and Maamigili MP Gasim Ibrahim along with DRP’s coalition partner People’s Alliance (PA) conspired to send two DRP MPs abroad ahead of today’s vote on ministerial appointees.

Azim told newspaper Haveeru that the two additional votes would have sufficed to reject Home Minister Hassan Afeef and Transport Minister Adhil Saleem.

The two MPs in question are Ilham Ahmed of the DRP’s Gayoom faction and Velidhoo MP Ali Mohamed.

Azim claimed that DRP’s efforts to bring back the two MPs in time for the vote were unsuccessful.

“Ilham is definitely a member of Zaeem [Maumoon’s] faction,” he said. “It is regrettable that Ilham was not present for a vote on a person that has directly targeted the Zaeem on many occasions. We hope the Zaeem will condemn this.”

In 2009, Home Minister Hassan Afeef, former parliamentary group leader of the now-ruling Maldivian Democratic Party, was found guilty of defaming the former President by claiming that Gayoom had embezzled US$80 million from tsunami relief aid.

PA Deputy Leader Ahmed Nazim denied the DRP’s accusations, claiming that it was DRP Leader Ahmed Thasmeen Ali that sent away the Velidhoo MP as agreed upon in an alleged secret meeting with President Mohamed Nasheed over the weekend.

DRP Deputy Leader Ilham meanwhile explained that he was in Sri Lanka accompanying his seriously ill six-year old who remains in critical condition at the ICU, adding that he was counselled by former President Gayoom as well as Gasim Ibahim to remain with his family.

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Villigili ballot box recount reveals 49 votes invalidated erroneously

A recount by the Elections Commission (EC) of one ballot box in Gaaf Alif Villigili as ordered by the High Court last week has revealed that 49 votes were erroneously invalidated, reports SunFM.

The case was filed at the High Court by island council candidate Anbaree Anwar Moosa, who was placed eighth with two votes short. Seven councillors were elected to the Villigili island council.

However, Anwar Moosa did not receive any votes from the validated 49 votes.

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Etihad Airways to launch daily flights Male’-Abu Dhabi

Etihad Airways has said it will launch daily return flights between Male’ and Abu Dhabi from November 1, using Airbus A320 aircraft.

The airline’s Chief Executive Officer James Hogan said that strong visitor numbers in the premium resort destination had prompted the airline to introduce the new route, subject to government approval, to coincide with the start of the busy European winter season.

“We expect the services will appeal to UAE leisure travellers, as well as customers from our major European markets, particularly with the strong connectivity options on offer and following the additional frequencies that will come online on a number of our key European routes this summer,” he said.

Overnight flights in both directions would allow travellers an extra day in the Maldives, he said.

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Singapore High Commissioner visits Nasheed

High Commissioner of Singapore to the Maldives Dr Chua Yong Hai has visited President Mohamed Nasheed and discussed further cooperation between the two countries.

President Nasheed said that Singapore was an important development partner to the Maldives, and that Maldivians “see Singapore as an exemplary state in all aspects.”

The pair discussed the 20 Singaporean students visiting the Maldives under a student exchange programme run by Singapore.

In a statement, the President’s Office noted that these visits “serve to further strengthen the bond between the peoples of both countries and broaden the worldview of students.”

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President appoints new Attorney General and Foreign Minister

President Mohamed Nasheed has moments ago appointed State Minister Ahmed Naseem, H. Hikifinifenmaage, as Foreign Minister, and Solicitor General Abdulla Muizz, Ma. Dawn Shine, as Attorney General.

The appointments come hours after parliament approved four out of five ministerial appointees, leaving the post of Attorney General vacant.

Housing Minister Mohamed Aslam had been acting Foreign Minister after parliament rejected the reappointment of former Foreign Minister Dr Ahmed Shaheed in November.

The pair were sworn in by High Court Judge Yousuf Hussein. After presenting letters of appointment, President Nasheed expressed confidence that the newest additions to the cabinet would receive parliamentary consent.

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Maldivian arrested in Hong Kong for murder of 64 year-old retired missionary

A 29 year-old Maldivian man identified as ‘Fareed’ has been arrested in Hong Kong for the alleged murder of a 64 year-old British woman.

The Hong Kong Standard reported that police discovered the body of Janet Gilson inside a sofa in a flat belonging to her niece, Julia Fareed, the estranged wife of the murder suspect.

The Standard reported that the suspect had a history of violence and had been banned from approaching his ex-wife following their divorce.

The South China Post reported that the couple met while she was working in the Maldives.

The suspect was arrested by police on Hong Kong pier after finding Gilson’s body during a second search of the flat after she went missing on March 15, 10 days after arriving in Hong Kong. The body was reported to have severe head injuries.

Local media in the UK reported that Gilson was a long-serving Major in the British branch of the Salvation Army, an international Christian institution with a quasi-military structure known for its charitable work and rehabilitation of alcoholics and drug addicts, and had worked for 40 years as a Christian missionary.

“She had stopped the missionary work but she was still active and in a very high position [in the Salvation Army],” Gilson’s neighbour in her home of Leigh-on-Sea told local media.

Gilson’s niece, who reportedly has a three year-old daughter, told the UK press that her murdered aunt “was like a second mother to me”.

The Maldives Foreign Ministry confirmed it had received information regarding the incident, and that the country’s embassy in Beijing was looking into the matter. No motive for the killing had been identified, the Ministry said.

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President appoints ministers after parliament approves four out of five ministerial appointees

President Mohamed Nasheed has appointed State Minister Ahmed Naseem as Foreign Minister and Solicitor General Abdulla Muizz as Attorney General hours after parliament approved four out of five ministerial appointees.

Housing Minister Mohamed Aslam had been acting Foreign Minister after parliament rejected the reappointment of former Foreign Minister Dr Ahmed Shaheed in November.

The new Ministers were sworn in by High Court Judge Yousuf Hussein. After presenting letters of appointment, Nasheed expressed confidence that the newest additions to the cabinet would receive parliamentary consent.

Earlier in the day, parliament approved four out of five ministerial appointees, rejecting the reappointment of Attorney General Dr Ahmed Ali Sawad for a second time.

Dr Sawad received 36 votes in favour and 37 against from the 73 MPs in attendance.

Home Minister Hassan Afeef and Transport Minister Adhil Saleem were narrowly approved in spite of the fractured main opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) declaring that it would impose a three-line whip to reject the two nominees.

Afeef and Saleem were approved after a few independent MPs along with Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP) MP Riyaz Rasheed and Republican Party MP Gasim Ibrahim sided with the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) – Saleem was approved with 39 votes in favour while Afeef received 37 votes from the 73 MPs present and voting.

Briefing press after yesterday’s DRP parliamentary group meeting, Majority Leader Ahmed Thasmeen Ali noted that Sawad had already been rejected once while Afeef “acted outside the law” during the transfer of powers to the newly elected local councils.

Thasmeen however announced that the party would give consent to Education Minister Shifa Mohamed and Tourism Minister Dr Mariyam Zulfa.

Shifa was approved with 66 votes in favour and six against while Dr Zulfa received 71 votes in favour and none against.

“Secret meeting”

Addressing accusations from the opposing DRP faction that Thasmeen secretly met President Nasheed over the weekend at Raa Atoll, the DRP Leader asserted that he was ready to meet the President at any time.

“Even if [the President] calls and asks for a meeting at [Raa Atoll] Alimatha tonight, I will go because he is the President of the Maldives,” Thasmeen told reporters outside parliament yesterday, attributing the allegations of collusion with the ruling party to an internal campaign to discredit his leadership.

“In truth, they are talking about this because they don’t have any other way to responsibly carry out political activities,” he claimed.

However, asked if the alleged meeting took place, Thasmeen replied “thank you very much” and walked away.

In November 2010, parliament rejected seven ministers reappointed by President Nasheed after the entire cabinet resigned in protest of alleged obstruction and vote-buying in the legislature.

President Nasheed appointed then-Political Advisor Hassan Afeef as Home Minister in December, replacing Mohamed Shihab, who was appointed Advisor on Political Affairs.

Shifa Mohamed was meanwhile promoted from Deputy Minister of Education to Minister in place of Dr Musthafa Luthfy, recently appointed Chancellor of the Maldives National University.

Both Afeef and Shifa were appointed on December 11 while AG Sawad was reappointed two days later.

Transport Minister Adil Saleem and Tourism Minister Dr Mariyam Zulfa took their oaths of office on November 7, 2010.

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