Category: News in Brief

Religion not a political tool: President

President Mohamed Nasheed has said the government will never make use of religion as a political tool, and that religious affairs are carried out with the guidance of religious scholars.

The President made his remarks during the foundation laying ceremony of Haa Alifu Maarandhoo Friday Mosque on December 5.

Speaking at the ceremony, the President further stated that the government aims to strengthen religious faith among the people, and that strong faith is crucial to improved national development.

The President met with the Kelaa Island Council to discuss ways to better decentralise island government. During his trip, he also met with councils from Ihavandhoo, Maarandhoo and Thakandhoo islands to discuss health care.

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Government proposes raise in police, MNDF salaries

A proposal to raise police and armed forces salaries by 40 percent in 2012 has been submitted to Parliament today by the government.

Mulaku MP Abdulla Yameen, also Parliamentary Group Leader of opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), criticised the government for decreasing civil servant salaries while increasing those of police and armed forces.

The raise was allegedly included in the proposed Rf14 billion budget which was submitted to Parliament last week, Haveeru reports.

Yameen allegedly learned of the proposal from the budget review committee rather than the budget itself, reports Haveeru.

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has meanwhile requested parliament to include any unpaid civil servants’ salaries and allowances in the 2012 budget without conditions.

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Gang stabs 27 year-old man

A 27 year-old man is recovering in hospital after being stabbed in a gang attack in Male’ last night.

Police Sub-Inspector Ahmed Shiyam told newspaper Haveeru that the man suffered several wounds to different parts of his body.

Haveeru reported ADK hospital as stating that the man was stabbed three times in the back and his chest.

The ADK Hospital also told the paper that his face was hit by an object and injured.

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Parliament schedules decision to reappoint Islamic Minister

Parliament has scheduled the decision on whether to reappoint Islamic Minister Dr Abdul Majeed Abdul Bari for the 19th of this month.

Bari was appointed to the position on October 9 by parliament for the third time. The last time he resigned following a request made by the Adhaalath Party after it severed its coalition agreement with the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

Dr Bari was first appointed to the government under the coalition agreement.

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Gahdhoo Island Court orders AG to appear

Gahdhoo Court on the island of Gahdhoo in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll sent a summons chit to Attorney General Abdulla Muiz, requesting that he produce himself to the island court.

According to the local media, the Gahdhoo Court Judge decided to summon Muiz after the AG’s Office did not send a representative from the AG in a case involving the office.

The judge claimed that AG Muiz was been guilty of contempt of court and requested the Prosecutor General to take action against him, and said that no exemption would be made if Muiz defied the summons.

The court has the authority sentence a person to up to three months for contempt of court.

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Hardcore criminal returns to Maldives on custodial condition

Ibrahim ‘Gabbarey’ Abdulla of Machangoalhi Night Villa, who has been identified by police as a “hardcore criminal”, has returned to the Maldives after medical treatment in India.

Abdulla, who has been arrested 14 times for robbery and gang violence, was charged with the murder of 21-year-old Ali Ishar in December 2007. Police had confiscated an axe, an empty liquor bottle, and a bloodied bandage and towel from Machangoalhi Night Villa as evidence, Haveeru reports.

Although Abdulla confessed to the crime, the Juvenile Court acquitted him on the grounds that it had not found evidence against him. He was a minor at the time.

Abdulla was returned on the condition that he be put back into custody upon arrival in the Maldives.

Abdulla was sent to India in April under a court permit and doctor’s recommendations for treatment of stab wounds to the head.

The duration of his stay in India was not specified, police have told Haveeru. In late August, however, Indian police arrested Abdulla for overstaying in Trivandrum.

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China steps forward at Durban

China has said it would accept a legally-binding climate deal that would become active after 2020, when current pledges expire.

The conditions include a renewal of carbon-cutting pledges by rich nations as specified under the Kyoto Protocol, as well as short- and long-term climate financing for poorer countries.

“The problem now is that we have to see whether we have conscientiously implemented the legal documents we already have agreement on. This is a very important issue for us,” said China’stop climate negotiator Xie Zhenhua through an official Chinese translator.

China earlier refused to sign the Kyoto Protocol, claiming that it was a developing country. The United States also did not sign for reasons including that an international agreement should include developing countries.

China is one of 194 nations currently participating in the UN Climate Conference in Durban, South Africa. The conference will conclude on Friday.

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Thieves cut ceiling to steal Rf 400,000 from MTCC safe

Police are investigating the theft of Rf 400,000 (US$26,000) from a safe in the office of the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC).

Police Sub-Inspector Ahmed Shiyam said it appeared a group of people had entered the MTCC office in the Hulhumale Ferry terminal in Male’ by forcing open the door, and then cutting a hole through the ceiling to the first floor where the safe was located.

The thieves then forced open the safe and took the money.

Shiyam said the thieves “most probably” had information as to where the safe was located and that there was a significant sum of money inside.

No arrests have yet been made.

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“2012 is going to be a duty free year”: President

President Mohamed Nasheed ratified amendments to the Export-Import Act of 1979 on Thursday, enacting a key piece of legislation in the government’s economic reform package intended to reduce and eliminate import duties for a wide range of goods from January 2012.

Under the amended Act, zero rate now applies to construction material, foodstuffs and machinery run of renewable energy.

In his weekly radio address on Friday, Nasheed said the budget submitted to parliament “will make 2012 a duty free year.”

As a result of the shift from indirect to direct taxes, Nasheed noted, government revenue from custom duties levied upon imported goods will drop by Rf700 million next year.

Economic forecasts predict that prices for some items would fall by 9 or 13 percent, he added.

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