Category: News in Brief

Nasheed faces “uphill battle” if he doesn’t win in first round: The Hindu

“As campaigning for presidential elections in the Maldives came to a close ahead of Saturday’s polls, the question is if former President Mohamed Nasheed will win conclusively in the first round,” writes R.K. Radakrishnan for the Hindu.

“Mr. Nasheed, and his supporters in the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) have no doubt that voters will give him the 50-per-cent-plus votes mandated in the Constitution for a victory in the first round. “I will meet you on 8th ,” he said.

The MDP organised two massive rallies in about a week to prove the point that Mr. Nasheed’s support base has only grown in the 18 months since he was ousted.

Friday’s concluding rally, in Majeedhee Magu, the main commercial street of Male, was a treat to watch. Mr. Nasheed walked the length of the street, waving to people, soliciting their votes.”

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Maldives top SAFF group, draw India in semis

The Maldives secured top spot in their South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship group, playing out a nil-nil draw yesterday in Kathmandhu.

With both sides assured of a place in the semi-finals going into yesterday’s game, key players were rested, including the tournament’s top scorer Ali Ashfaq. His contribution to the Maldives impressive goalscoring thus far – 18 goals in two games, with 2 conceded – meant that his side topped the group at the final whistle.

The Maldives goalscoring prowess may come back to haunt them, however, as top ranked side India were unable to finish top of their own group, thereby setting up an encounter with their neighbours to the south in the next round.

India lost to hosts Nepal on Thursday (September 5), setting up their clash with the Maldives on Monday (September 9), with Nepal facing Afghanistan on Sunday.

The final will be played on Wednesday (September 11)

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Maldives election another chance at unity: Associated Press

“The Maldives — more than 1,100 islands scattered across the Indian Ocean — are sharply divided along political lines. The first democratically elected president insists his former deputy helped force him out in a coup d’etat,” writes Krishnan Francis for the Associated Press.

“And the brother of the longtime dictator of the country, where widespread unemployment exists alongside some of the world’s most expensive beach resorts, now wants to be president himself.

Few hope that Saturday’s presidential elections will soothe the divisions that have inflamed the archipelago since last year, when former President Mohamed Nasheed resigned amid a standoff with security forces and widespread protests.

‘‘Even families are divided and some are not on talking terms,’’ said Mohamed Visham, editor of local English daily Haveeru. He said the new leader will have to shift attention away from the political divide and toward issues like economic development and infrastructure.

The Maldives had its first democratic presidential elections just five years ago, after 30 years of dictatorship under Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. Most of its public institutions, from the police to the public service commission and the courts, are widely seen as political partisan, and it is believed that most government workers continue to support Gayoom.”

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We will win Male’ City majority, claims PPM MP

The Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has expressed confidence it will secure a majority of the popular vote in Male’ during the presidential election scheduled for tomorrow (September 7).

In a press conference held Thursday (September 5), Party Spokesperson MP Ahmed Mahloof said that both the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and PPM dominated popular support among voters in the capital.

However, he claimed that the MDP would not be able to compete with the PPM in terms of voter support in the capital.

The opposition MDP, led by the former President Mohamed Nasheed, has meanwhile predicted that the party will receive 25,000 votes from Male’ during tomorrow’s vote.  The MDP has said it’s predictions were based on Elections Commission (EC) statistics that confirmed it to be the largest political party in the country – both in terms of party membership and parliamentary representation.

Speaking during a campaign rally last week, former President Nasheed said that although the party had received 11,000 votes in the first round of 2008 presidential election and 16,000 in the subsequent run-off election weeks later, he “very much expects to get 25,000 votes from Male this time.”

The former president had contended that the figures were based on the party’s door-to-door campaigns, during which the party representatives had visited almost all the households in Male City.

However, Mahloof dismissed Nasheed’s prediction.

“[MDP] won’t get the result they expect from the elections. However, they will be our closest competitor. MDP will have a close contest with our party. Even from my constituency I can see that. MDP is our strongest competitor. Gasim Ibrahim will also get slight portion of the vote and even President Mohamed Waheed Hassan will get two or three votes,” he said.

Mahloof predicted said that PPM will win the presidential election from a run-off election, but was positioned to obtain at least a minimum of 44 percent of the popular vote while the MDP garnered the second largest number of votes.

Should no candidate be able to obtain the required ’50 percent plus one vote’ to secure a first round election victory, a run-off election is expected to be held within 20 days from the first round.

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President’s Office declares September 8 public holiday

The government has declared Sunday (September 8) will be a public holiday. The decision was made at the request of the Elections Commission (EC) in order to take into account the presidential polls being held across the country on September 7, the President’s Office has said.

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Two arrested for giving death threats to police officer

Police have arrested two men on the island of Naifaru in Lhaviyani Atoll on suspicion of giving death threats to a police officer.

According to police, the two men – aged 28 and 30 – allegedly threatened the officer while he was inside a restaurant on the island.

Police said that the 28 year-old suspect has a previous record for participating in an illegal gathering, encouraging others to participate in an illegal gathering and a drug related offense.  The 30 year-old suspect meanwhile has a record for using forged US dollars, robbery and drug related charges, according to the police.

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Two expats stabbed in Male’

Police have said that two expats were stabbed in Male’ last night in two different incidents.

The first incident occurred at about 7:50pm near Galolhu Madharusa – a 16 year-old minor was arrested in connection with the case.

Police said that a passing by police officer stopped the 16 year-old and arrested him while he was fleeing the area after attacking the expat.

The nationality of the victim was not revealed in the case.

The second incident occurred at about 10:15pm near the Ekuveni track area. Police said a 36 year-old Bangladeshi man was victimized in the attack. No arrests were made in connection with this incident.

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Three arrested in connection with assault in Laamu Atoll

Police have arrested two men and a minor in connection with a case where a group of men attacked a man inside a tea shop on the island of Gan in Laamu Atoll.

Police said the persons arrested were aged 22, 19, and 16.

According to police, the three persons went inside a tea shop yesterday (3 September 2013) and attacked the man at around 5:30 pm.

Police said no major injuries were caused in the attack.

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Maldives secure semi-final place with win over Bhutan

Goals continued to flow for the Maldives yesterday, putting 8 past Bhutan in their second group match in this year’s South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) championship.

Captain and all-time tournament leading scorer Ali Ashfaq scored another four goals after a double hat-trick against Sri Lanka on Monday (September 2). The 10-0 victory was also a record high scoring match in the SAFF championship.

Bhutan were able to reply with two goals, even leading the game at one point before the Maldives resumed their impressive goal-scoring form. In a repeat of Monday’s game, the opposition were reduced to ten men when goalkeeper In addition to Ashfaq’s four, Ali Fasir scored two and Mohamed Umair and Ali Umar bagged one each.

The Maldives now leads Group B, ahead of top ranked side Afghanistan, who have also won both of their group matches. The two side face off tomorrow (September 6), although both are now assured of a place in the semi-finals, scheduled for the start of next week.

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