Week in review: August 17-24

August 17-24, 2013

The Maldives hit the international headlines this week as the High Court brought an end to the case of a 15 year old sentenced to flogging for pre-marital sex. The court overturned the girl’s sentence, judging her to have been unfit for trial. This, however, did not satisfy global human rights groups, with Avaaz continuing to take aim at the “appalling state” of women’s right in the Maldives. Local authorities, including the president and the attorney general, argued that the final outcome proved the current legal system works.

After having negotiated additional training for the police service, Police Commissioner Abdulla Riyaz returned from Turkey to controversy as he retweeted a letter urging officers to “say no” to presidential candidate Mohamed Nasheed in next month’s elections. The Police Integrity Commission is now investigating the issue. The police force’s preparations for the polls began to take shape, with the announcement of Operation Blue Waves which will include the posting of additional officers throughout the atolls

As next month’s election drew closer, the Election Commission continued to receive much unwelcome attention – from internet hackers to political parties – with EC head Fuwad Thowfeek claiming that the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) had requested access to the commission’s IT software. PPM head and former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom gave his view that the EC is unprepared, while Thowfeek continued to express supreme confidence. Civil society actors criticised any attempts to discredit the commission. PPM candidate  – Abdulla Yameen – returned from visiting the Indian Prime Minister, telling supporters that he had warned Manmohan Singh of the real extremism in the Maldives; encroachment upon people’s rights.

The country’s independent institutions had a difficult week. Judicial Services Commission (JSC) members would like to debate a no-confidence motion against its head while parliament failed to appoint presidential candidate Ibrahim Gasim’s successor to the watchdog. Although the Civil Service Commission (CSC) finally succeeded in appointing a new chairperson, one of Dr Mohamed Latheef’s first tasks was to write to President Waheed asking for help with his predecessor. Contrary to the opinion of the  Dr Latheef and the People’s Majlis, Mohamed Fahmy Hassan and four of the country’s seven Supreme Court Judges feel it is Fahmy who is still in charge of the civil service.

President Waheed argued on state television that the Maldives must stop treating its vice-presidents like “spare parts”. While campaigning, he assured residents of Noonu Atoll that state developments would recommence next year due to his administration’s reduction of the previous government’s debt. The government announced the construction of 300 flats, though these will be for military personnel only.

The Maldivian Democratic Party’s (MDP) vice presidential candidate this week talked to Minivan News about yellow policies while its leader was accused of black magic by the Adhaalath Party (AP). Senior MDP politicians were this week facing arguably more serious drug and alcohol charges. The prosecution of Hussein Humam – charged with the murder of MP Dr Afrasheem Ali – continued, with police officers testifying to having seenincriminating messages on the suspect’s phone.

Elsewhere this week, leaked documents from the Grant Thornton investigation revealed the benefactors of dubious lending practices at the Bank of Maldives (BML), while the Anti Corruption Commission admitted it was looking into the business dealings of two cabinet ministers. Finally, Minivan’s Neil Merrett investigated the country’s art and creativity with the group behind ‘Space Parade’.