Category: News in Brief

Nasheed’s wife seeks India’s help in assuring opposition leader’s safety

Former President Mohamed Nasheed’s wife Laila Ali has urged Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to free her husband from jail and assure his safety.

“I fear for his life in prison. This week I got some information from close friends that people in the cabinet as well as some retired and serving armed forces personnel are plotting to kill him in jail and make it look like he committed suicide,” she told India’s Economic Times today.

The opposition leader was sentenced to 13 years in jail on March 13 over the military’s detention of Criminal Court Chief Judge Abdulla Mohamed in 2012.

He is being kept at Dhoonidhoo Island Remand Center until a special “prison apartment” is built in Maafushi jail, Home Minister Umar Naseer has said.

The former First Lady called Nasheed’s trial a “total sham” and requested India to intervene to restore the rule of law in the Maldives.

“I do not know what it will take PM Modi to do it but my wish is that India helps in ensuring that my husband is freed unconditionally and that representative democracy is restored. How India does it is for the PM to decide,” she said.

Laila told local media on Thursday she had written to President Abdulla Yameen and former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom as well as the home minister and police commissioner seeking assurances of Nasheed’s safety.

“In my letter, I expressed my grave concern and told them my husband is in your care. You must give me assurance, in writing or by your actions, that he would not come under any physical or psychological harm.”

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Young man stabbed to death in Mundoo

A 29-year-old man was stabbed to death on Laamu Atoll Mundoo Island on Friday night.

According to local media, Ali Ziyadham was stabbed in his arms, thighs, back and neck. He was dead when he was brought to the Mundoo Health Center at 11:10pm.

“Currently, we have one suspect under arrest, we are working on finding others associated with the incident,” the Maldives Police Services said in a statement today.

Ziyadham has a criminal record of drug abuse and theft, the police said.

Mundoo residents told local media Ziyadham was murdered in a dispute over the distribution of moonshine.

 

 

 

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Child abuse suspect arrested in Fuvahmulah

A 37-year-old man has been arrested from Fuvahmulah Island on suspicion of child abuse on Friday.

According to the Maldives Police Services, an arrest warrant was issued after the Family and Child Protection Services Unit on Fuvahmulah reported a case of sexual abuse of a child.

“Since cases of child abuse are increasing, we advise all parents and guardians to pay special attention and protect innocent children from such harm. We also suggest that, even if you suspect anyone of such acts of harm, to do everything you can to protect the child and report it to the authorities,” the police urged.

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Parliament approves new Elections Commission member, ambassador to Pakistan

Parliament today approved President Abdulla Yameen’s nominees for a vacant seat on the Elections Commission (EC) and the new ambassador to Pakistan.

Former Human Rights Commission of Maldives President Ahmed Saleem was approved as the ambassador to Pakistan whilst Ahmed Akram was appointed to the EC.

Saleem had also served at the foreign ministry, the Maldives High Commission in Sri Lanka, and the Maldives’ permanent mission to the UN in New York.

Both nominees were approved unanimously with 53 votes in favour. Opposition MPs did not participate in the vote.

Akram was previously the deputy secretary-general of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and is reportedly related to the wife of the party’s former chairperson, MP ‘Reeko’ Moosa Manik, who was expelled from the party last year. Akram also quit the party last year.

President Yameen nominated Akram to the EC after the five-year term of a previous member expired in November.

Today’s sitting also proceeded amidst continuing protests on the People’s Majlis floor by opposition MDP MPs over the conviction of former President Mohamed Nasheed.

Preliminary debate on an amendment submitted to the constitution by government-aligned Maldives Development Alliance MP Ahmed Amir as well as voting on the president’s nominees took place amidst the opposition MPs’ protest.

Opposition MPs used whistles and megaphones to call for the release of the opposition leader.

Amir’s amendment meanwhile – which would require a three-quarters majority of the 85-member house to be passed – proposed removing clauses b) and c) from Article 231 of the Constitution.

The clauses stipulate that local councils shall be elected for a three-year term and that chairs and deputy chairs shall be elected through secret ballot by councillors.

The MP for Dhaal Kudahuvadhoo proposed specifying both the terms and process of electing chairs and deputy chairs in the Decentralisation Act.

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President Yameen in Saudi Arabia on state visit

President Abdulla Yameen and First Lady Fathimath Ibrahim today departed Malé on a  state visit to Saudi Arabia on the invitation of King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud.

The Saudi King received President Yameen and the First Lady on arrival at the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.

A state luncheon is to be hosted in honor of President Yameen, the President’s Office has said.

The President is to meet with Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister, Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister, Education Minister, Finance Minister, and Islamic Minister during his visit.

Maldives Development Alliance’s Leader MP Ahmed Siyam Siyam Mohamed, Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture Dr. Mohamed Shainee, and Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed accompanied the Maldives president.

King Salman assumed the Saudi throne after the King Abdulla Bin Abdulaziz al Saud died on January 23.

During a 2014 visit, then-Crown Prince Salman announced a US$1.2million grant for the construction of ten mosques. He also donated US$1million for the “Vaguf” fund and US$1.5 million for the health sector.

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Defence Ministry sacks ten aviation security officers

Citing budgetary constraints, the Defence Ministry sacked ten aviation security officers on Sunday

According to an Aviation Security Command (ASC) announcement, three Superintendents, four Corporals and three Staff Sergeants were made redundant.

However, the ASC had been hiring new officers as late as December. An announcement posted on the government gazette on November 20 called for applications for 13 aviation security officers. Interviews took place between December 17 – 21.

Following ex Defence Minister Mohamed Nazim’s January 20 dismissal, changes were brought to senior positions within the military.

Nazim is now in police custody, standing trial for smuggling weapons, after police discovered a pistol and three bullets during a midnight raid on January 18.

The retired Colonel claims weapons were planted at his home.

Prior to Nazim’s arrest on February 10, President Abdulla Yameen retired Vice Chief of Defense Forces Ahmed Mohamed and appointed Brigadier General Ahmed Shahid to the post.

Changes brought to military ranks in late January include the dismissal of Major Ahmed Faisal and Captain Ibrahim Naeem from the posts of head of the Special Protection Group (SPG) and Head of Armory, respectively.

Lieutenant Colonels Ahmed ‘Papa’ Fayaz and Abdul Rauf were appointed to head the SPG and Armory respectively.

Dozens of Maldives National Defence Force Officers (MNDF) officers were sacked during the disputed presidential elections of November 2013.

Nine soldiers including former head of military intelligence Brigadier General Ahmed Nilam, Brigadier General Abdulla Shamal, Captain Abdulla Muizz Musthafa and Sergeant Major Naushad Ali were dismissed in December 2013 after President Yameen assumed power.

Nilam and Muizz subsequently sued the state for unfair dismissal.

The Civil Court last Thursday threw out Nilam’s lawsuit, stating they were unable to summon Nilam to court as he had provided the wrong address on case documents.

Muizz’s case is ongoing.

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Dog kennels set up at Hulhulé Airport

Dog kennel

The Maldives Airports Company Pvt Ltd has completed a dog kennel to house 16 sniffer dogs at the Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (INIA) on Hulhulé Island.

MACL Managing Director Adil Moosa presented a ceremonial key to the compound to Home Minister Umar Naseer and Commissioner of Police Hussein Waheed on Tuesday.

“In addition to countering illicit drugs, the sniffer dogs are also capable of identifying explosives and forged bank notes. Training them in this regard will help the police in fighting crime,” Naseer said at the ceremony.

The compound – measuring 240 by 93 feet – would house the 16 dogs and contains two bathing facilities. The first dogs are to arrive on March 23, and includes puppies.

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Education Minister cuts short Raa Atoll trip amid protests

Education Minister Dr Aishath Shiham cut short a trip to Raa Atoll amid opposition protests over terrorism charges against former President Mohamed Nasheed.

When Dr Shiham arrived in Raa Atoll Ungoofaaru Island on March 13, Nasheed’s supporters staged a protest at the jetty calling for the opposition leader’s release.

According to Haveeru, a clash occurred between ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) supporters and Nasheed’s Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) supporters. Police dispersed the protesters.

The former president was sentenced to 13 years in jail at 23:15 pm that night over the military detention of Criminal Court Chief Judge Abdulla Mohamed.

Dr Shiham spent the night in Ungoofaaru, but left to Malé the next day without visiting Hulhudhuffaru. Dhuvaafaru, Maakurathu and Rasmadhoo Islands.

The minister had visited ten islands to examine the education systems before her visit to Ungoofaaru.

The President of Hulhudhuffaru Island Council Aahir Hussain told Haveeru students and faculty were disappointed by Dr Shiham’s decision to cancel the trip.

“Students and parents stayed up late for weeks to prepare for the minister’s visit. So everyone is quite upset when she cancelled,” he said.

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Ex Chief of Defence Forces ‘chaired military meeting’ ahead of Judge Abdulla’s arrest

Former Chief of Defence Forces Moosa Ali Jaleel chaired a military consultative council meeting requesting the military be brought to alert ahead of Judge Abdulla Mohamed’s arrest on January 16, 2012, a witness has said.

Jaleel, who was recently appointed as President Abdulla Yameen’s Defence Minister is charged with terrorism over the Criminal Court Chief Judge’s 22-day military detention, but had previously denied any involvement in the arrest, repeatedly stating he neither received nor gave any orders to arrest the judge.

However, then- Vice Chief of Defence Forces Farhath Shaheer last night told the Criminal Court that Jaleel had asked the council if the military alert status needed to be revised ahead of the judge’s arrest. Jaleel also told the council he was not seeking advice on the arrest, Farhath said.

Farhath said he does not remember if the minutes of the emergency meeting were recorded.

Former President Mohamed Nasheed was found guilty of terrorism over Judge Abdulla’s arrest on March 13, and sentenced to 13 years in jail. The trial has drawn international and domestic concern over apparent lack of due process.

Jaleel on March 7 led a ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) motorcycle rally calling for a swift sentence in Nasheed’s trial.

Jaleel previously told the Criminal Court the former Defence Minister Tholhath Ibrahim Kaleyfaanu and then-Malé Area Commander Brigadier General Ibrahim Mohamed Didi – currently opposition Maldivian Democratic Party MP for mid-Hithadhoo constituency – were in charge of the operation to arrest Judge Abdulla.

The pair are also on trial on terrorism charges along with former Colonel (Retired) Mohamed Ziyad.

Jaleel had told parliament’s Government Oversight Committee in January 2013 that former Defence Minister Tholhath Ibrahim Kaleyfaanu usurped the army chief’s powers through a strategic defence directive (SDD), which required area commanders to answer directly to the defence minister.

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