The sly sale of MACL while the electorate is preoccupied is about to become the biggest looting of state assets in Maldivian history, orchestrated by a man none of us elected and 95 percent have rejected less than a month ago, writes Afran Areef.
“I have never spoken about [about a military takeover]. I believe governments should be changed through a vote of the people. I would never do such a thing. It is against all democratic principles,” Defence Minister retired Colonel Mohamed Nazim told Minivan News.
Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has this week said there could be no doubt that the murder of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) MP Dr Afrasheem Ali was a politically motivated attack, while calling for justice to be expedited against his alleged attackers.
If the United States was honestly interested in tackling the rapid radicalisation of the Maldivian society instead of its own counter-terrorism efforts in the region, it would have taken steps to understand the root causes and nature of extremism in the Maldives, writes Dr Azra Naseem.
Ground handling staff told Minivan News that Condor Flight DE 3327, Air India Flight AI 264, Hainan Airline Flight HU 7952, Singapore Airline Flight SQ 461, and British Airways Flight BA 2042 faced delays of 30-45 minutes in departure.
Air traffic controllers in the Maldives say they are building up to a full work stoppage over ongoing grievances and safety concerns left unaddressed by the current government. Such strikes could lead to delays and disruption of flights to the luxury tourism destination, that welcomes almost one million tourists a year.
Police have forwarded cases of four additional individuals to the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) for their alleged involvement in the murder of MP Dr Afrasheem Ali last year – taking the total number of suspects facing charges over the attack to seven.
A total of 10 people were taken into police custody on 16 November 2012 after police raided and searched Hondaidhoo with a court warrant. Officers alleged they found large amounts of suspected drugs and alcohol upon searching the island.
What the Elections Commission has been forced to call off is hope — the expectation that democracy will be restored in the Maldives on 11 November 2013, writes Dr Azra Naseem. ” Nobody can govern us without our consent. It is within our power not to give it.”