Category: Politics

Religious extremists abducting youth for “irreligious acts,” says MDP

Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has alleged religious extremists have abducted and threatened young people for alleged impiety.

“The Maldivian Democratic Party has received information that some religious extremists have kidnapped young people claiming they had committed irreligious acts,” said the party.

“The extremists blindfolded the young people, took them to remote locations against their will, threatened them with sharp weapons, threatened them with death, issued sentences in a false trial, and are now implementing these sentences.”

The abductors then told the hostages they will be killed if any news of the abduction is shared with any other party.

The MDP said it believed “these dangerous acts of terrorism” are against the Maldives constitution, its laws, and Islamic Sharia, and are being committed by individuals for personal gain.

The party has called on the government to take immediate action.

Minivan News is waiting on a response from the Maldives Police Services and the President’s Office.

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City and Fini Park taken by Housing Ministry, council not informed

The Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure today brought City Park and Fini Park under its jurisdiction, although Malé City Council has said they were not informed of this decision.

In a pressed statement released to the media, the ministry said the two parks were taken in accordance with a cabinet decision made on March 25, and requesting that those who conducted any transaction regarding the parks inform the ministry of the details before June 26.

While the ministry has said the parks were taken due to the council’s violation of the original handover agreement, the city council has denied this allegation.

Both the parks were developed in by Malé City Council in 2012 with cafeteria services under a public-private partnership.

City park has two food outlets while Fini park has one run by private parties. The council earlier revealed that private parties develop and maintain the parks in return to forty percent of the lands being leased for them to do business.

The city council today said they were not informed about  that the parks being taken over by the ministry. The press statement issued by the ministry was also not published on its website.

Speaking to Minivan News today Mayor Mohamed Shihab said that they were asked to hand over the two parks along with other lands, but that the process of transferring documents and the official handover was not yet complete.

“We are not aware of that. Their [the ministry’s] procedure for transferring lands seem to be taking over with police assistance,” said the mayor, noting there were still contracts between the private parties and the council regarding those lands.

In a separate statement, the ministry has also announced that eight other areas have been taken under its jurisdiction – including the Artificial Beach, Block 211, Usfasgandu, lands at the south west harbor, Dharubaaruge convention centre, Sultan Park, and Maafannu Buru.

President Mohamed Nasheed’s administration handed over several lands previously owned by the government to local councils under the 2011 ‘Regulation on handing over state-owned lands falling under the jurisdiction of local councils to the councils” – part of the landmark Decentralisation Act of 2010.

The regulation allow the cabinet to take back land in order to implement the government’s economic, social, and national security related policies. This provision has also been backed by a Civil Court ruling in May 2014, the verdict of which also declared that third party agreements thus affected will result in government compensation for the tenant.

The Housing Ministry appropriation of council lands began with the controversial power transfer of 7 February 2012, and has since  led to several conflicts with the council – the most recent being the ministry’s forceful take over of Dharubaaruge in May.

The council has described the ministry’s efforts as an organised attempt to discredit the council, and to destroy the decentralisation system.

“When taking back lands [from the city council] is among the very the first decisions of the cabinet, it can also be seen as a revenge against people living in Malé, and people from all over the country who are living in the city,” Deputy Mayor Shifa Mohamed told Minivan News following the Dharubaaruge takeover.

“I dont think Malé citizens deserve this spirit of revenge from the government for voting for the MDP,” she added.

Mayor Shihab recently expressed his view that the only lands which were expected to remain with the council after the ministry takeovers are completed would to be city’s streets and its graveyards.

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Ecocare concerned about implementation of ray protection regulations

Environmental NGO Ecocare has expressed concerns about the implementation of government regulations to protect all species of rays, citing a lack of enforcement mechanisms.

“While we welcome the government’s decision to protect rays, we have to say that simply ‘protecting’ it via a regulation is not sufficient,” said Spokesperson Maeed Mohamed Zahir.

“For example, turtles and sharks are also protected as per official records. However, the reality is that they are still hunted even today. Turtle and shark meat are widely available in some atolls as a delicacy. There is no point in announcing regulations if it cannot be enforced,” continued Zahir.

The Maldivian Manta Ray Project, the Manta Trust, and Save Our Seas Foundation released a statement on June 5 announcing that the Maldives government has officially added all species of ray to its protected species list.

“After the successful defeat of shark finning in recent years, the announcement of full legal protection for all ray species sets the Maldives as a leader country in marine conservation and marks another crucial step toward the global protection of these magnificent, yet vulnerable species,” said Maldivian Manta Ray Project Manager Niv Froman.

The Maldives has the largest recorded population of reef mantas, reports the Manta Ray Project, noting that the country has had a ban on the export of ray products since 1995.

“As an island nation, the Maldives long realised the importance of a healthy and balanced marine ecosystem. Hosting the world’s largest manta ray population, this country attracts thousands of tourists every year seeking the lifetime experience of swimming with these gentle giants,” said Froman.

Ecocare’s Zahir, however, suggested that the lack of an independent oversight body would further contribute to the ineffectiveness of species protection in the country.

He alleged that the sole monitoring body – the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – is a department reporting to the Ministry of Environment and hence has no say over government actions.

“The EPA has its hands tied when it comes to criticising government action. There isn’t even a committee in the parliament which is mandated to oversee environmental protection. The biggest problem we face is the lack of a strong enforcing mechanism”.

Maeed further argued that mechanisms currently exist “only in name” and prove to be ineffective in practice, noting that the police force’s Environmental Protection Unit (EPU) currently has a staff of just one.

The unit was formed last year to investigate and punish violations of laws relating to biodiversity and littering after similar complaints from civil society regarding implementation.

A police spokesperson – while not confirming the number of staff at the EPU – said that regardless of the number of staff in the unit, all police officers will provide support when necessary.

“We want to make it clear that we are not mandated to monitor whether persons follow the regulations when it comes to environmental protection. That is the job of solely the EPA and the Environment Ministry,” explained the spokesman.

“Our unit is only called into action when and if the EPA reports any criminal activity related to the environment,” he explained.

Environmental Consultant Moosa Athfal echoed Ecocare’s concerns, arguing that more feasible solutions might be considered.

“While protection of rays is a commendable act, the question is can the Environment Ministry monitor it? There are a countless number of rays in our seas. It would not be wrong to term the action as impossible, given the country’s current mechanisms,” said Athfal.

“If it can’t be implemented, then it is a pointless regulation. The best form of solution at present would be to provide relevant training to dive guides, who can then monitor such activity,” Athfal stated.

President’s Office Spokesperson Ibrahim Muaz Ali directed queries on the matter to the Environment Minsiter Thoriq Ibrahim, who was not responding to calls at the time of press.

The Environment Ministry’s Assistant Director Ilham Mohamed stated that she is unaware of a government decision to protect rays, while the EPA Director Ibrahim Naeem’s phone was not responding to calls at the time of publication.

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Bill submitted to raise disability benefits to MVR5,000

Adhaalath Party MP Anara Naeem has submitted an amendment to the Disability Act to raise the monthly allowance provided by the state to persons with special needs from MVR2,000 (US$150) to MVR5,000 (US$324).

The stated purpose of the amendment bill (Dhivehi) is to provide financial assistance to families with persons with special needs to seek medical treatment overseas.

While treatment for disabled persons was covered in the government’s ‘Aasandha’ health insurance scheme, the MP for Makunudhoo stated that securing Aasandha in hospitals abroad was difficult for families.

The first reading of the bill took place at today’s sitting of parliament, after which it will be tabled for preliminary debate.

According to local media, Anara has also submitted a petition to parliament for raising the benefits, which has been signed by 54 MPs.

The Disabilities Act (Dhivehi) was passed in July 2010 to provide financial assistance and protect the rights of persons with special needs whilst a national registry was compiled in 2011 with more than 4,000 active members.

Subsidising

The President’s Office meanwhile announced yesterday that the government would cover advance payments for 15 flats in Hulhumalé allocated for children with special needs.

President’s Office Spokesperson Ibrahim Muaz Ali told local media that at MVR18,500 (US$1,199) per apartment, the total cost would be MVR277,500 (US$17,996).

“The government has decided to provide speech therapy, developmental physiotherapy, and occupational therapy both at Vilimalé Health Centre which is being developed as a hospital, and at Dhamanaveshi [in Vilimalé]. It has also decided to provide special seating services for children with disabilities at IGMH,” he was quoted as saying by Sun Online.

In March, the government raised the old age pensions from MVR2,300 to MVR5,000 a month to fulfil a campaign pledge by President Abdulla Yameen and the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives.

National inquiry

In May, hundreds of people gave testimony to the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives’ (HRCM) “National Inquiry on Access to Education for Children with Disabilities.”

Parents spoke of the state’s failure to provide medical services and education to children with special needs whilst private services were costly. A single diagnostic assessment costs MVR5,000 and an hour of therapy costs MVR500, neither of which are covered by the ‘Aasandha.’

According to the HRCM, statistic from 2009 indicate that, out of 2250 children with disabilities, only 230 were attending schools at the time.

Citing a 2010 report by the HRCM and the UNDP, the US State Department’s 2013 Human Rights Report on the Maldives noted that “most schools accepted only children with very limited to moderate disabilities and not those with more serious disabilities.”

“Children with disabilities had virtually no access or transition to secondary-level education. Only three psychiatrists, two of them foreign, worked in the country, and they primarily worked on drug rehabilitation. No mental health care was available in Male. There also was a lack of quality residential care,” the report stated.

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Jamiyatul Salaf calls on government to reconsider UN peacekeeping deal

Local Islamic NGO Jamiyatul Salaf has called on the government to reconsider the decision to have Maldivian troops participate in the United Nations peacekeeping force.

“Jamiyyatul Salaf rejects this and express grave our concern over this matter to the Maldivian citizens,” said the group.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Salaf called on the Maldivian authorities to “fear Allah and be more concerned about the Muslim Ummah”, requesting President Abdulla Yameen, the People’s Majlis, and the minister of defence reconsider the decision to place “Maldivian Muslims soldiers” among “dubious UN forces”.

Following the signing of an MOU between the Maldives and the UN last week, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that a small contingent of military observers and infantry personnel will be deployed over the next two years.

“Given that history has proved with certainty that armies taking part in the UN forces have to act against Muslims, and that a Maldivian Muslim army is also part of the UN force, taking part in action against Muslims even in that capacity cannot be acceptable under any circumstance,” read the Salaf statement.

“It would be highlighted as harmful and dangerous days in the Maldivian Islamic history. Therefore, this should not even be allowed under Maldivian laws,” said the NGO, arguing that wars against Muslims around the world are waged without any reasonable grounds and that infidels are using biological weapons against Muslims.

Noting that the first priority of the Maldives should be its sovereignty and Islamic unity, Salaf suggested that Maldivians have recently experienced how “CMAG, the Commonwealth, and other infidel organisations and nations” have tried to change truths and “assisted falsehoods” in their ways of justice.

After the controversial transfer of presidential power in February 2012, the Maldives was suspended from the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) – the Commonwealth’s democracy and human rights arm.

CMAG also drew criticism from the government after expressing concerns in delays to the 2013 presidential election, declaring its belief that first round had been credible after the result was annulled by the Supreme Court.

“In addition to this, it would not be impossible for the country become a target of dangerous and horrifying attacks from within and without as a result of this [taking part in the UN forces],” the NGO continued, warning anyone who dies fighting on the side of infidels in a war against Muslims would be considered an apostate and should be treated as a non-Muslim in every way.

In what seemed to be a reference to recent police investigations into Maldivians fighting in the Syrian civil war, Salaf said that, for fear of international disapproval, Maldivians are not being allowed to train themselves in foreign countries for obligatory Jihad against infidels who are fighting against Muslims.

The group remarked that it would be unfair to allow Maldivian Muslims to fight in the ranks of infidels against fellow Muslims.

Reports emerged last month of two Maldivian citizens being killed while fighting pro-government forces in Syria, with the government refusing to make any official comment on the jihadis as police begin investigations.

Salaf’s disapproval of the participation in UN operations was also expressed when President Mohamed Nasheed’s administration first announced the decision in 2011.

Nasheed’s government at the time stated that it was “important for the Maldives to contribute to the efforts of these international agencies and institutions to ensure that every country, every society and every individual has the opportunity to live in peace and security.”

The parliamentary approval for Maldivian participation in UN peacekeeping missions was granted in October 2011 with 56 votes in favour, five abstentions and 11 votes against.

The Maldives National Defence Force said the participation of the Maldives’ troops would be decided upon by the government.

President’s Office spokesperson today told Minivan News that there has been no change in the government’s stand on the issue.

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Vice president continues search for investors during China visit

President Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed has attended the 9th China-South Asia Business Forum during his official visit to China, reiterating the government’s focus on increasing foreign investments and strengthening the economy.

Speaking at the event, Jameel stated that his government prioritised economic transformation, youth empowerment, and domestic security, read a statement on the official President’s Office website.

He further spoke of the government’s aim to encourage foreign investment and capital in order to implement the Yameen administration’s economic development programmes and projects.

President Abdulla Yameen has promised a number of ‘mega projects’ during his term, pledging legislation to create a more welcoming investor climate, and organising a landmark investment forum in Singapore in April in order to find potential foreign investors.

The vice president further stated that corporate China has shown interest in engaging in infrastructure development projects in the Maldives. He assured Chinese investors that the government would do all possible to ensure a “flexible and efficient investment climate”.

To this end, the government last week introduced legislation to create special economic zones (SEZ) in strategic locations, with Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed – also present on the China trip – suggesting that the move might help the country end its reliance on tourism.

Jameel noted that China has been the number one tourism market for the Maldives since 2010, predicting that the number of Chinese arrivals – accounting for one in every four tourists in 2014 – will continue to grow.

During the trip, Jameel has also attended the 2nd China-South Asia Expo, where he repeated his belief that foreign investment is crucial for economic growth, private sector development and wealth creation.

“Our government firmly believes that broad based, private sector-led growth is essential to achieving faster development progress and to transform the economy from where it is today,” he is quoted as saying.

The details of some of the ‘mega projects’ were explained to the Chinese audience, with Jameel discussing the  ‘iHavan’ project – a regional development project in the northern atolls, potential oil and gas exploration projects, and plans to redevelop the Ibrahim Nasir International Airport.

Last month, the Maldives Airports Company (MACL) signed an agreement with China’s state-owned engineering and construction company, Synohydro, to build a US$9 million parking apron at the Ibrahim Nasir International Airport.

In addition to the forums, Jameel also paid a visit to the Governor of Yunnan Province, H E Mr Li Jiheng.

At the meeting, discussions were held with regard to areas where the countries could increase cooperation, with the governor pledging to work with the Maldives to strengthen cooperation in a number of fields including renewable energy, science and technology, tourism, connectivity, economy and trade.

He further discussed the strengthening of bilateral ties with Vice Premier of China H E Wang Yang.

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PPM denies using presidential residence for party functions

Functions of the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) held at the official presidential residence Muleeage are not funded from the state budget, President Abdulla Yameen has said.

Speaking to the press at a PPM event in Muleeage on Thursday night (June 5), President Yameen reportedly said he did not believe using the official residence for meetings or party activities amounted to misuse of state resources.

The president’s remarks followed Auditor General Niyaz Ibrahim’s insistance last week that state property could not be used for party activities.

Niyaz told local media that Muleeage could only be used either for functions held by the president or the first lady in their official capacity or for meeting invited guests.

Recent signing ceremonies to welcome high-profile new members to the ruling party – most recently Independent MP Abdulla Khaleel and Environment Minister Thoriq Ibrahim – have been held in Muleeage.

President Yameen told reporters Thursday night that while he respected the auditor general’s opinion he did not believe using Muleeage for party functions was a problem.

“No money from the government’s budget or Muleeage budget is spent for any work done here. If there’s a tea or anything else here, we make the expenses outside the budget. So this is not a resource that is consumed,” Yameen was quoted as saying by newspaper Haveeru.

Yameen said he meets members of the public as well as MPs at Muleeage, adding that meeting MPs at the President’s Office to discuss parliamentary affairs would be “too official.”

“If expenses are not made from the government budget, it would be best if the place [Muleeage] is not made too much of an issue,” he suggested.

After assuming office in November, President Yameen had announced that he would continue to live in his private residence. However, the budget allocated for the official residence was increased by MVR2 million (US$130,208) in the state budget for 2014 – rising to MVR19.1 million (US$1.2 million).

In April this year, parliament approved amendments to to the law governing renumeration and benefits for the president and vice president making it mandatory for the state to cover expenses of the pair’s private residences should either choose not to live in the official residences.

“Biased and misleading”

Meanwhile, the PPM also put out a press statement last week contending that the auditor general’s remarks were biased, misleading and politically motivated.

“This party’s activities have not been held in the president’s official residence Muleeage so far,” the party claimed.

The party also contended that the president holding meetings in Muleeage with various individuals could not be considered “a political party activity.”

Alleging that a number of party activities and functions – without the participation of the president – had been held in Muleeage during the administration of former President Mohamed Nasheed, the PPM noted that “the auditor general had not said anything about it” at the time.

The press release went on to criticise the auditor general for not objecting to political party activities allegedly held at the Malé City Council premises as well as the use of the Dharubaaruge convention centre by protesters of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) in the wake of the controversial transfer of power in February 2012.

“Therefore, as this party believes that the interviews given by the auditor general to the media saying that the president’s official residence is being used for this party’s activities were biased and political, we express deep concern about the matter,” the press release stated.

The statement concluded by calling on the auditor general not to make statements without “properly considering the truth of the matter.”

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EPA against airport development on Farukolhu

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has rejected a proposal to develop an airport on an environmentally sensitive area in Farukolhu Island in northern Shaviyani Atoll.

“We believe the damage caused to such an environmentally sensitive area does not justify the project,” EPA’s Director General Ibrahim Naeem told Minivan News today.

Farukolhu has extensive mangroves and is a nesting ground for several species of birds. Sharks and rays frequent the island’s bay for breeding.

In June 2013, Minister of Tourism Ahmed Adeeb and recently dismissed Minister of Transport Ameen Ibrahim leased out the island to Araam Travels Pvt Ltd to establish an airport.

The project – to be completed within 15 months – would boost tourism in the area, Adeeb said. He identified lack of transport infrastructure to be the biggest obstacle to tourism in Shaviyani Atoll.

The company was awarded Gaaf Alif Atoll Innahera Island for resort development under a public-private partnership agreement to subsidize the airport venture.

The US$ 4 million project was to reclaim 1.8 hectares from the island’s mangrove sites to construct airport runway. Generators, desalination plants, sewerage and drainage facilities and a jetty were also planned.

The EPA rejected the proposal based on an environmental impact assessment. Araam Travels can appeal the EPA’s decision with Minister of Environment and Energy Thoriq Ibrahim.

If the minister upholds the EPA’s decision, the government may have to designate another island for airport development.

According to local media, a company owned by Health Minister Dr Mariyam Shakeela’s husband, Mohamed Ibrahim Didi, owns a stake in Araam Travels.

The EPA recently halted reclamation in Dhaal Atoll Meedhoo Island for violating environmental regulations.

Established in 2009, the EPA functions under the supervision of a governing board within the Ministry of Environment and Energy. The agency has published a list of protected areas and a separate list of ‘environmentally sensitive areas.’

Local environmental groups have spoken out against the dredging of a mangrove site in Haa Dhaal Atoll Kulhudhuffushi Island for airport development.

There are nine airports in the Maldives, of which five are domestic airports.

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Government submits bill on special economic zones

A bill on establishing special economic zones (SEZ) to attract foreign investment has been submitted to parliament on behalf of the government by Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) MP Ahmed Nihan.

The SEZ bill becomes the first piece of legislation to be proposed by President Abdulla Yameen’s administration to the 18th People’s Majlis, the newly-elected PPM parliamentary group leader tweeted on Thursday (June 5).

Speaking to reporters prior to departing to China on Wednesday night (June 4) to attend the Kunming Trade Fair, Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed explained that special economic zones would be established in the north, south and other “strategic locations.”

The SEZ bill is intended to expand the economy and could “bring an end to the dependence on tourism,” he said.

In addition to ports and light industries, Saeed said financial services and bunkering facilities would be made available at the zones.

“So the result of this would be the introduction of different industries to the Maldivian economy in addition to tourism,” he said, adding that the new enterprises could be more lucrative and beneficial than tourism.

Referring to the impact on the Maldives from the 2004 tsunami and the spread of the SARS virus, Saeed stressed the importance of diversification, as the Maldivian economy was vulnerable to external shocks due to the extreme dependence on the tourism industry.

He noted that economic development and job creation was the key focus of President Yameen’s election campaign.

The government conducted “a wide research” in drafting the bill, Saeed continued, and studied the practices of countries such as Dubai, South Korea, Mauritius, Cyprus, China, and Singapore.

The bill would “completely ensure investor protection,” he asserted.

Business-friendly laws were essential for attracting investors for mega-projects planned by the government, Saeed noted, such as the ‘iHavan’ transhipment port project.

The minister also expressed confidence that parliament would pass the bill without delay.

Vice President Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed meanwhile observed that the ruling party had a clear majority in parliament with a team of young MPs committed to the government’s economic agenda.

“Freeholds”

President Yameen had declared in April that the SEZ bill would become “a landmark law” that would strengthen the country’s foreign investment regime.

“What we would like to confirm for the foreign investors who come to the Maldives is that foreign investors should feel that Maldives is your second home here,” Yameen had said at a function in Hulhumale’.

The special economic zones would be “likened to cities in Dubai or the Emirates” and “the [business] environment we have in Singapore.”

The new law would enable investors to have “freeholds” in the country and allow investors “to engage in really, really long gestative projects,” Yameen said.

“We are embarking on an era of growth,” he said.

Other economic bills in the government’s legislative agenda include bills on foreign investment, insurance, consumer protection, corporate social responsibility and small claims as well as amendments to the Maldives Monetary Authority Act and the Pensions Act.

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