Category: News in Brief

MP Yameen requests police protection

Parliamentarians including Mulaku MP Abdulla Yameen have requested police protection before the protests to be held tomorrow by religious organisations and the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

Police confirmed the requests but did not provide details, reports Haveeru.

Yameen was taken to the Presidential retreat of ‘Aarah’ “for his own protection” last July by Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) following a protest outside his house. Yameen had been released from house arrest after facing charges of corruption.

Police Commissioner Ahmed Faseeh today said security forces understood that “groups” – believed to be gangs – have been issuing threats to various people including MPs. These groups are expected to partake in tomorrow’s protest, Haveeru reports.

The police and armed forces have expressed concerns over the possibility of an outbreak of violence during tomorrow’s protest.

Police yesterday said they are monitoring the situation closely and will act accordingly.

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MMC appeals to protesters not to obstruct journalists

The Maldives Media Council (MMC) has called on protesters at tomorrow’s protest not to obstruct journalists or violate the press freedom.

MMC also said journalism was a national service like the work of the armed forces, and called on the armed forces to provide as much as opportunity for the press to take coverage of the protest.

MMC also called on journalists to be careful for own safety while reporting on the protest.

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Parliament supports dissolution of national shipping line

Parliament has endorsed a recommendation to dissolve the Maldives ailing national shipping line (MNSL).

The Finance Committee had originally recommended that MNSL be either privatised or dissolved.

In June, MNSL’s government-owned board also endorsed a proposal to discontinue operations and dissolve the company, allegedly to settle debts, reports Haveeru.

Sale of the company’s cargo ships was expected to settle MNSL’s US$8 million debts in three installments.

Parliament also approved Villufushi MP Riyaz Rasheed’s proposed amendment requiring the government to conduct feasibility studies before creating a new shipping line.

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Budget awaits Supreme Court ruling on unpaid salaries and allowances

The proposed 2012 State Budget has been reviewed by a parliamentary committee and does not include unpaid civil servants’ salaries and allowances.

Committee Vice Chair Hinnavaru MP Ibrahim ‘Ibu’ Mohamed Solih said inclusion of the unpaid salaries depends on a favorable Supreme Court ruling.

If the court rules in favor, a supplementary budget should be submitted for parliamentary approval within 30 days, Haveeru reports.

Inclusion prior to the ruling would render the current proposal “useless”, Solih said.

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) last month requested the committee to include the unpaid salaries and allowances (total value of Rf443,653,634.89) in the 2012 budget.

The Supreme Court is expected to publish its verdict soon.

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India to continue issuing dependent visa as family visa

The Indian government has recalled its earlier decision to cease issuing dependent visas to the families of Maldivian students studying in India, local newspaper Haveeru reports.

According to a Foreign Ministry official, a Maldivian student’s family will continue to receive the dependent visa as “family visa” until the revised visa agreement is signed by both countries.

The expired dependent visas can be renewed within two days by applying at the Maldivian consulate in Trivandrum.

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Man sends five-foot tall bill to hospital, after it lost the first

A local man has posted a five-foot tall bill to Laamu Gan Hospital, after the hospital claimed it lost the previous bill he sent, local news outlet Sun reported on Wednesday.

Masood Abdullah from Laamu atoll Mathimaradhoo island claimed that the South Central Health Services Corporation owes him Rf9600 (US$622) for two rooms he rented out to the corporation for 32 days at Rf300 per day, Sun reported.

According to him, the hospital requested he resubmit a bill claiming it was lost, when he asked to clear the payment.

“So this time I sent a bill which won’t be lost,” he was quoted as saying in Sun.

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Pakistani money fueling Maldivian extremists: The Hindu

The Maldives is bracing for another showdown between the traditional, democratic Maldivian Islamists and those who hold extreme views on Islam, writes R K Radhakrishnan for India’s The Hindu newspaper.

And, according to a top source, the Maldives believes there is Pakistani money helping the extremists.

Last Christmas, trouble erupted after a restaurant decorated itself for Christmas. Under Maldivian law, no religion barring Islam can be publicly practised. The buntings were pulled down in no time but as news spread, protesters filed into the capital, Male, and ended up fighting pitched battles with the police. Tourism during the season took a serious knock after the protests.

The religious extremists, growing in numbers despite international efforts to preserve the Maldivian brand of tolerant Islam, have called for a protest on December 23. The Opposition has backed the protests. One official told The Hindu that the protesters had received support from both Pakistan and the former Maldivian President, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.

Against the backdrop of religious protests over the past few weeks, and the vandalism of SAARC monuments, the government has made it clear that it will stand up to the attempts to push the country into the hands of fanatics.

Press Secretary Mohamed Zuhair said on Monday: “Former President Gayoom, the Adhaalath Party and religious extremists are whipping up hatred, intolerance and xenophobia for political purposes. They hope to topple the government from the streets because they can’t defeat it through the ballot box.”

But not all agree with the government view. Vocal protestors who have occupied every fora, including the Internet insist that the protest is to inform people and force the government to “reverse every un-Islamic thing” done, “stop trying to bring freedom of religion, gay rights and also dealing with Israel.” One writer, venting on the Minivan News website, told Mr. Nasheed: “Choose honest people who fear Allah (swt) and has no love for Israel. Also tell the U.N. that our current constitution is perfect the way it is and we do not need a non-Muslim coming to tell us how to live when they cannot solve their own problems in the UN. From what I last recall, United Nation is still not a democracy.”

Full story

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Committee to review HRCM nomination

A temporary committee will review President Mohamed Nasheed’s nomination of Ahmed Tholal of Henveiru Adduge for deputy human rights commissioner. Parliament endorsed the committee today with 66 out of 68 votes.

The President made the nomination on Sunday.

The committee includes Dhidhoo MP Ahmed Sameer, Machangoalhi-North MP Mohamed Rasheed, Madaveli MP Mohamed Nazim, Kela MP Dr Abdulla Mausoom, Hithadhoo-South MP Hassan Latheef, Velidhoo MP Ali Mohamed, and Maavashu MP Abdul Aziz Jamaal Abu Bakr.

The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) has been without a deputy president for over a year. On October 4, 2010 Parliament unanimously approved Mariyam Azra as HRCM President but rejected the President’s nominee Jeehan Mahmoud by ten votes.

A coalition of local NGOs called the vacant posts “an immense obstacle to the effective functioning of the commission” at the time.

MPs said they opposed Mahmoud’s nomination for reasons of gender equality.

DRP Deputy Leader Ilham Ahmed told Minivan at the time that while he considered the people appointed for HRCM as capable, the role of President and Vice President “should include a male.”

“Even if you look at it from a religious perspective or from the perspective of good policy, there should be a male in either post,’’ he said.

Independent MP for Kudahuvadhoo, Ahmed Amir, said it was “against human rights” to have two females in the roles of President and Vice President.

“It is the woman who calls for equality most of the time,’’ Amir said, regarding the case.

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Kamadhoo boduberu group Yamak wins Baa Atoll challenge

Baa atoll Kamadhoo Yamak boduberu group won the Baa Atoll Youth Boduberu Challenge last Saturday, organised by Four Seasons in partnership with boduberu group Varutha and Villa Television (VTV).

Six islands from Baa atoll took part in the competition, including Dhonfanu, Maalhos, Kihaadhoo, Eydhafushi and Dharavandhoo. Varutha held workshops for atoll youth in preparation for the competition.

The competition celebrated Baa Atoll’s designation as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve earlier this year.

Yamak group won the competition with 876 points and were awarded Rf10,000. Four Seasons donated and additional Rf100,000 to the island for a community project, yet to be selected, Haveeru reports.

The Youth Ministry donated Rf30,000 of musical equipment to Yamak group in appreciation of and support for its talent and interest in traditional activities.

Four Seasons announced that it plans to extent the competition to Noonu, Raa and Lhaviyani atoll boduberu groups next year.

Yamak said it will put its winnings towards building a stage on Kamadhoo, and will work with island residents to devise an appropriate community project.

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