President meets with major human rights NGOs in Geneva

President Mohamed Nasheed met with officials from major human rights NGOs in Geneva as part of his European tour.

The meeting was attended by Mark Thompson from the Association for the Prevention of Torture; Julie De Reveiro from Human Rights Watch; Jan Borgen from Amnesty International; Wilbur Taylor from International Commission of Jurists; and Mohamed Mustapha Kabbaj from Nord-Sud XXI, a Swiss-based NGO aiming to “provide a voice…to people not normally represented in international forums”.

The meeting focused mainly on extending NGO support in the Maldives and strengthening the role of civil society in their respective areas, especially those dealing with protecting and promoting human rights.

President Nasheed said the country was undergoing major changes and said strengthening the role of civil society in Maldives is a priority for the government.

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President meets Vice President of Swiss Confederation

President Mohamed Nasheed met with Vice President of the Swiss Confederation, Mortiz Leunberger, yesterday afternoon at the Federal House in Bern.

The meeting focused on establishing stronger bilateral relations between the two countries and possible areas of further cooperation.

President Nasheed noted that there is already a well established relationship in the tourism sector.

The president also expressed his interest in working with Switzerland to secure a legally binding agreement at COP16 climate change summit in Mexico later this year.

President Nasheed thanked Vice President Leunberger for Switzerland’s support in a Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) waste management project in the Maldives, and hoped this would be the first of many Swiss-Maldives development initiatives.

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US Ambassador speaks on the current government’s practices

US Ambassador to the Maldives Patricia Butenis has said that because the current government is open to listening to the international community the country is improving, reports Miadhu.

Butenis said she understands the challenges the government is facing. She added that the previous government had not showed as much commitment as the current government in addressing major issues.

The ambassador said however the current government needs to address some issues urgently, specifically copyright laws, labour rights, and standarising current laws and regulations with international practices.

Vice President Dr Mohamed Waheed also met with Butenis yesterday morning at the President’s Office.

They spoke about strengthening bilateral relations between the US and Maldives, and discussed the upcoming Donor Conference (Maldives Partnership Forum) which is to be held at the end of March.

Dr Waheed thanked the ambassador for facilitating the Investment Incentive Agreement (IIA) signed yesterday by Ambassador Butenis and Minister for Economic Development Mohamed Rasheed.

The IIA will allow preferential investment opportunities for US firms wanting to finance projects in the Maldives.

Ambassador Butenis expressed interest in expanding the American Corner at the National Library.

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Science society hosts talk on manta rays

The Maldives Science Society in affiliation with Aqua Dreams Imagine (ADI) hosted a talk by Anne-Marie Kitchen-Wheeler on manta rays in the Maldives at Hiriyaa School.

The talk attracted around 120 people, mostly keen high school students eager to hear about the manta rays the Maldives is famous for.

After first visiting the Maldives in 1983 as a tourist, Anne-Marie has since dedicated her life to these creatures, conducting research for her PhD at the University of Newcastle in the UK alongside her work as a dive instructor. With over 4,000 dives in the name of research, she has spent almost half a year underwater.

Anne-Marie explained that mantas have evolved and adapted to their environment over 400 million years, and certain species can grow up to almost seven metres in length – the size of a London double-decker bus. However the Maldives mostly attracts smaller mantas, she explained.

“A typical day of a manta will begin hanging around 150 metres deep at dawn, to catch the plankton that has risen during the night,” she told the audience, adding that mantas don’t need to sleep.

“Early to mid-morning the mantas visit cleaning stations (where juvenile wrasse pick parasites and dead skin from the manta’s surface) and enjoy a massage. In the afternoon they snack, and in the evening they travel to deeper waters to continue feeding.”

Mantas are often confused with sting rays, but mantas do not sting and have a barb-less tail. In fact many mantas can be seen with their tails bitten off, typically by sharks.

The markings on the manta’s underside between the gill slits act as a fingerprint used for the identification of different individuals.

Anne-Marie explained that the Maldives offers one of the best chances in the world to see a manta in the wild, with groups of up to 200 individuals gathering to feed at certain times of year. The result is a huge attraction for tourists and big business for the dive industry.

Research suggests the populations are currently healthy, she noted. “Populations change year to year, but no general declines have been observed,” she said.

However mantas only reproduce every 2-3 years, and the single birth gestation takes 12 months. This means they need protection as an entire population can be wiped out by one year of continued fishing.

“The situation currently OK in Maldives though, as mantas are not fished and tourism brings in a very high price,” she said.

For the best chance of getting up close to a manta divers should swim low, she explained. Mantas are territorial and swim vertically belly-to-belly to size each other up, and the smallest one swims away low. By swimming low, divers can show they pose no territorial threat.

Kate Wilson is a marine biologist with the Environmental Protection Agency.

Photo by Lisa Allison

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More threats published against journalist, science envoy and First Lady

Further death threats against Maldivian journalists have been published on a popular extremist blog, this time calling for the beheading of Ahmed ‘Sappe’ Moosa,  the President’s Envoy for Science and Technology and editor of the Dhivehi Observer (DO), and blogger/journalist Ismail Khilath ‘Hilath’ Rasheed “for writing articles which flaunt religion”.

Reports of the threats were published this afternoon on the website of newspaper Haveeru. Rasheed, who was the subject of similar threats published on Muraasil.com last week, is known for being highly critical of Islamic fundamentalism, while Moosa’s UK-based publication has historically been highly antagonistic towards the former government.

“Next time there is the possibility of you making bold headlines on newspapers after your heads roll if you are caught during an outing [for a drink],” the threat read, according to a translation on Rasheed’s blog.

The threat’s author, an extremist blogger known as Jibue, also called for attacks on First Lady Laila Ali “and others who work in Male’, as it will be quite easy to target them as well.”

Rasheed explained that high profile Maldivian women who have chosen not to wear the head dress or buruga, such as Laila and MDP MP Mariya Didi, were frequently called upon to do so “to set an example” by the country’s more religiously conservative bloggers.

He noted that while he was unsure of Jihue’s identity, “other extremist bloggers seem to know and welcome him, and link to his website.”

The situation was “really dangerous”, Rasheed suggested. “There is no reason or common sense – they think they are struggling against this secularist liberal juggernaut and it’s making them paranoid. I think they are feeling cornered, because more and more people are speaking out [against] them. It’s really dangerous and I think anything is possible.”

Rasheed claimed he had considered closing his blog “many times” but said “close friends have advised me against it. It would be really easy for me to live a quiet and private life – I want to run away from this case. I will not go out tonight,” he said.

Sub-inspector Shiyam from the Maldives Police Service confirmed that while the threats had not been officially reported, “police have received information and are looking into the matter.”

Spokesman for the President’s Office Mohamed Zuhair said any such threats were of concern, “religious or otherwise”, and the government was monitoring the situation.

However he observed that during the election campaign it was common for some officials “to receive texts saying things like ‘We will bleed you till you die.’ But I didn’t notice a rise in third-degree murders – most of it is rhetoric,” Zuhair said.

State Minister of Islamic Affairs Sheikh Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed said such threats from “radicals” were “very bad and have to stop.”

“I call on these groups to stop [issuing threats] and think how they can solve problems through dialogue,” he said.

The Maldives Journalists’ Association (MJA) issued a press statement condemning threats against reporters, urging the government “to take necessary actions against people who issue such threats against journalists.”

“This Association calls on the government to stop the actions of extremists, which contradict with the vast scope of human rights in Islam, and their violation of press freedom,” the MJA said.

Meanwhile Ibn Khattab from IslamMaldives, a website calling for “the establishment of an Islamic State”, observed in a letter to Minivan News that “I doubt that there are many people who have not been threatened in one way or the other online, but we don’t make a big fuss about it.”

“One particular [blogger] by the name of Shadowrunner repeatedly threatens to kill and exterminate others and Hilath has no issue with publishing these comments,” Khattab noted.

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Letter on threats

Salam Alakium,

It is no surprise that the secularist media is pushing the death threats against the liar, Hilath Rasheed.

Really, does anyone think that anonymous threats on the internet are deserving of such coverage?

I doubt that there are many people who have not been threatened in one way or the other online, but we don’t make a big fuss about it as we are not all publicity seeking people with agendas.

I would also question how biased this media outlet is as you never reported the many death threats which are published on Hilaths blog against others.

One particular idiot by the name of Shadowrunner repeatedly threatens to kill and exterminate others and Hilath has no issue with publishing these comments and seems to see nothing wrong with them. Oh how the hypocrisy becomes apparent.

Ibn Khattab, IslamMaldives

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DhiTV and Haveeru staff attacked

Four men forcibly entered DhiTV studios and attacked five senior officials at the station this afternoon, shortly after the the station aired a report on its 2 o’clock news claiming that Ibrahim Nafiz, ‘Chika’, has been released to house arrest.

Nafiz was sentenced to five years imprisonment in July 2008 for possession of a sword. Although the state also prosecuted Nafiz for alleged drug trafficking, the charges could not be proven at court and were dismissed.

Sub-inspector Ahmed Shiyam confirmed that police had received a report of the incident this afternoon and could not divulge further information while the investigation was ongoing.

DhiTV CEO Yousuf Navaal said the station did not wish to provide any information regarding the incident as he feared it would aggravate the situation.

Haveeru employee stabbed

Three hours after the alleged gang attack on DhiTV, a Haveeru employee was stabbed in the back.

Abdul Razzag Adam, 39, who works at the printing department, was knifed outside the Haveeru office building while he was on his cycle.

According to a family member, Razzag is in a critical condition and is currently undergoing treatment at  Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).

Meanwhile, although police have sent four officers to DhiTV, Naval said the attack on a Haveeru employee had shown that individual employees cannot be protected at all times.

Navaal said DhiTV had decided not to run the story again in its news tonight.

‘Until we receive assurance [of our safety] that we can report this type of news, we will not cover it anymore,’ he said.

Sub-inspector Shiyam said it was “difficult to say” whether the two attacks were connected at this stage of the investigation.

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Deputy Speaker of Parliament pleads not guilty to conspiracy to defraud

Deputy Speaker of Parliament Ahmed Nazim has pleaded not guilty to charges of fraud and embezzlement at the criminal court yesterday.
At yesterday’s hearing, State Prosecutor Abdullah Rabiu said Nazim was managing director at Namira Engineering when the company’s equipment and staff were used to create fake letterheads and submit proposals on behalf of unregistered companies for a bid worth US110,000 to provide 15,000 national flags for the former atolls ministry.
If found guilty, the MP for Meemu Atoll Dhiggaru and vice-president of the opposition People’s Alliance will be ordered to pay Rf1.4 million to the state and sentenced to between one to six years imprisonment.
Under article 131 of the penal code, an extra month will be added to the sentence for every additional Rf1,000 if the fraudulent transaction exceeds Rf100,000.
According to article 73 of the constitution, an MP convicted for over one year in jail will lose his seat in parliament.
Responding to the charges, Nazim’s lawyer Mohamed Saleem requested time to study the evidence and prepare a defense.
Web of corruption
In August last year, police concluded an investigation into alleged web of corruption revealed in the audit report of the former atolls ministry.
At a press conference in August, police said they had uncovered evidence that implicated former Atolls Minister Abdullah Hameed, Eydhafushi MP Ahmed ‘Redwave’ Saleem, former director of finance at the ministry, and Nazim in fraudulent and corrupt practices worth over US$260,000 (Mrf 3,446,950).
Police exhibited numerous quotations, agreements, tender documents, receipts, bank statements and forged cheques proving that Nazim received over US400,000 in the scam.
A hard disk seized during a raid of Nazim’s office in May allegedly contained copies of forged documents and bogus letter heads.
Police maintain that money was channelled through the scam to Deputy Speaker Nazim who laundered cash through Namira Engineering and Trading Pvt Ltd and other unregistered companies.
Police further alleged that MP Saleem actively assisted the scam in his then-position as a director of finance within the ministry, while Nazim’s wife Zeenath Abdullah had abused her position as a manager of the Bank of Maldives’ Villingili branch to deposit proceeds of the fraudulent conspiracy.
Police said Hameed played a key role in the fraud by handing out bids without public announcements, making advance payments using cheques against the state asset and finance regulations, approving bid documents for unregistered companies and discriminatory treatment of bid applicants.

Deputy Speaker of Parliament Ahmed Nazim has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to defraud the former ministry of atolls development.

At yesterday’s hearing, State Prosecutor Abdullah Rabiu said Nazim was managing Director of Namira Engineering and Trading Pvt Ltd when the company’s equipment and staff were used to create fake letterheads and submit proposals on behalf of unregistered companies.

One of the paper companies won a bid worth US$110,000 to provide 15,000 national flags for the former atolls ministry.

If found guilty, the MP for Meemu Atoll Dhiggaru and vice-president of the opposition People’s Alliance will be ordered to pay Rf1.4 million (US$108,900) to the state and sentenced to between one to six years of imprisonment.

Under provision 131 of the penal code, an extra month will be added to the jail sentence for every additional Rf1,000 if the fraudulent transaction exceeds Rf100,000.

According to article 73 of the constitution, an MP convicted for over one year in jail will lose his seat.

Responding to the charges, Nazim’s lawyer Mohamed Saleem requested time to study the evidence and prepare a defense.

Web of corruption

At a press conference in August last year, Chief Inspector Ismail Atheef said police had uncovered evidence that implicated former Atolls Minister Abdullah Hameed, Eydhafushi MP Ahmed “Redwave” Saleem, former director of finance at the ministry, and Nazim in fraudulent transactions worth over US$260,000 (Mrf 3,446,950).

Police exhibited numerous quotations, agreements, tender documents, receipts, bank statements and forged cheques proving that Nazim received over US$400,000 in the scam.

A hard disk seized during a raid of Nazim’s office in May allegedly contained copies of forged documents and bogus letter heads.

Police maintain that money was channelled through the scam to Nazim who laundered cash through Namira Engineering and other unregistered companies.

Police further alleged that MP Saleem actively assisted the scam in his then-position as director of finance at the ministry, while Nazim’s wife Zeenath Abdullah had abused her position as a manager of the Bank of Maldives’ Villingili branch to deposit proceeds of the fraudulent conspiracy.

Police said Hameed, brother of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, played a key role in the fraud by handing out bids without public announcements, making advance payments using cheques against the state asset and finance regulations, approving bid documents for unregistered companies and discriminatory treatment of bid applicants.

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Maldives to attend Moscow travel exhibition

The Maldives Tourism Promotion Board (MTPB) has announced the Maldives’ participation in the 17th Moscow International Exhibition Travel and Tourism Fair (MITT) beginning on 17 March, reports Miadhu.

MTPB has said it will promote the Maldives as one of the seven natural wonders of the world.

The fair, known as Russia’s number one travel exhibition, will be attended by tourism experts, members of the tourism industry and potential tourists.

The Russian market has been a growing and important market to the Maldives. The MTPB says Russian tourists look to take long holidays and approximately 40,000 Russian tourists visited the Maldives in 2009.

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