Tag: maldives news

China’s Sinohydro to build airport apron

China’s state-owned engineering and construction company, Synohydro, is to build a US$ 9 million parking apron at the Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (INIA).

The agreement was signed between the Maldives Airports Company (MACL) and Sinohydro on May 8.

MACL Managing Director ‘Bandhu’ Ibrahim Saleem said the new apron – to be built on the northern tip of the runway – will be 350 meters long and 75 meters wide. Four Boeing 777 airplanes can park on the apron.

The project is to be completed within 12 months.

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Thalassemia Society calls for equal and improved care

The Maldives Thalassemia Society has called on the government to provide medical care to all patients with the genetic blood disorder without discrimination and upgrade facilities at the Maldivian Blood Services (MCS)

The Maldives has the highest concentration of carriers for the disorder at 18 percent, and over 500 registered patients. Thalassemia causes severe anemia and requires life long blood transfusions and treatment.

Speaking at a ceremony at Nasandhura Palace Hotel last night, Abdul Muizz Hassan of the Thalassemia Society said individuals with the disorder living in the islands do not have access to proper treatment, while medical care facilities in Malé are run down and dilapidated.

“The building we go to seek treatment from is dilapidated, run down. We have to bear a lot of difficulties to seek treatment there. I plead with you, [we would like] for [the government] to provide us with treatment at a new building, so that we can go home satisfied,” he said.

Although medical care for Thalassemia patients had seen improvements over the years, the pace of development was too slow, he said,

“[B]ut our lives cannot wait on the [slow] speed at which [work] is being carried out. In order to save lives, medical care for us must be of the best quality. This care must be provided to all without any discrimination.”

Individuals living with thalassemia often undertake costly journeys to Malé or regional healthcare centers at great cost for blood transfusions, he noted.

Muizz also called for specialized doctors and urged the establishment of an international clinical protocol or medical guideline for Thalassemia patients.

According to the Ministry of Health, 26 new Thalassemia patients register for treatment every year.

Meanwhile. local television station Raajje TV said a 21-year-old female living with Thalassemia had been transfused with infected blood leading to lung complications and swollen veins. The woman is reported to suffer from diabetes as well.

Doctors at state owned Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) told the patient she was suffering from complications due to the diabetes and that the hospital could not offer her further treatment. It was only when the family went to Sri Lanka that they found out the cause of her symptoms was bacteria infected blood.

A family member told Minivan News today that the woman had sought treatment in Sri Lanka and is doing well now. The family declined to comment further.

In March, a pregnant woman was given HIV positive blood at IGMH leading to a public outcry over deteriorating health care services.  An Indian laboratory technician has been arrested over the case.

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Environment Minister pledges to minimize Maldives dependence on fossil fuels

Minister of Environment and Energy Thoriq Ibrahim has called for increased investment in clean energy in the Maldives and pledged to minimize the country’s dependence on fossil fuels.

The government is working on a low carbon development strategy to improve energy security and strengthen the economy, Thoriq told participants of a one-day workshop at the Nasandhura Palace Hotel this morning.

The Environment Minister’s announcement comes at a time when President Abdulla Yameen has called for investment in oil exploration in the country.

Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture Dr Mohamed Shainee told Minivan News in late April that at least one investor is scheduled to visit the Maldives for discussions on exploration. Shainee had assured potential investors of presence of oil in the Maldives at a recent investment forum in Singapore.

However, Thoriq today expressed concern over “the vulnerability of the Maldivian economy due to high dependence on fossil fuels.”

The country spends 30 percent of its GDP on importing fossil fuels, he said. In 2012, the Maldives had spent US$ 486 million on oil imports, and the figure is estimated to increase to US$ 700 million by 2020.

Lying just a meter above sea level, the Maldives is among the world’s most vulnerable countries to climate change impacts such as sea level rise, ocean acidification and extreme weather events.

Thoriq has previously said the government will convert 30 percent of daily peak electrical load to renewable energy.

“Maldives is committed to introduce cost-effective renewable energy as part of a diverse, low carbon and secure energy mix in our low carbon development. We are determined and actively working towards making 30 percent of daily peak electrical load of all populated islands to renewable energy within next five years,” he said in a statement on April 14.

The workshop at Nasandhura was held to present an assessment – carried out by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) – on the potential of low carbon development in the Maldives. Minivan News was unable to obtain the document from the Environment Ministry at the time of press.

According to a press release, the assessment will help the government “make an informed contribution to climate negotiations ongoing or the new climate agreement set to be agreed in Paris in 2015.”

An official from the Environment Ministry told Minivan News that the Maldives policy on climate change has not yet been set, but said that a draft is currently under review. He said the climate change draft policy framework consists of five goals; sustainable financing, low carbon development, adaptation and opportunities, advocacy and awareness, and sustainable development.

Thoriq has previously said the Maldives will call for global temperature rise to be limited to 1.5 degrees Celcius.

In 2009, Global leaders recognized “the scientific view that the increase in global temperature should be below two degrees Celsius” to combat climate change.

Earlier this week, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon warned that too many stakeholders are still “sitting on the fence”, as he challenged participants at a climate conference in Abu Dhabi to make bold political decisions to combat climate change.

“Change is in the air. I challenge you to be part of that change – to be at the head of the race,” he encouraged.

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24 year old man arrested for sexually abusing and assaulting a minor

An individual has been taken into custody in Gaaf Dhaal Atoll Hoadehdhoo Island for sexually exploiting and assaulting a 16 year old female minor.

Police reported that the individual, who was arrested on May 1, was a 24 year old male. He was taken in regarding a case first filed in 2013, which stated that he had sexually exploited the victim and assaulted her with a sharp object.

The individual has been remanded in custody for a period of 15 days from May 2 under the orders of the Thinadhoo Magistrate Court for investigation.

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114 criminal hearings cancelled as state prosecutors refuse to attend court for third day

The Criminal Court has cancelled hearings in 114 criminal cases as state prosecutors refused to attend trials for a third day.

State prosecutors claim they are now “in a legal void” in the absence of a Prosecutor General (PG) or a deputy PG. Former PG Ahmed Muizz resigned in November shortly ahead of a no confidence motion at parliament, while Deputy PG Hussein Shameem resigned on Monday citing the Criminal Court’s “obstruction” of criminal justice.

Attorney General Mohamed Anil has said Assistant Prosecutor General Ahmed Hameed Fahmy must take over the responsibilities of the PG.

The leadership vacuum at the PG office “halts the criminal justice system and endangers public peace,” Anil said in a six page legal opinion sent to President Abdulla Yameen. The PG office must continue with its responsibilities in order to uphold the rule of law, he added.

Meanwhile, the Hithadhoo Court in Addu City is conducting criminal trials and issuing verdicts in the absence of a state prosecutor. Court officials told local media that the court did not accept the justification of absence put forth by PG office lawyers.

President Abdulla Yameen called Deputy Prosecutor General Hussein Shameem’s resignation “irresponsible” and said criminal cases must proceed at the courts.

Although Shameem has called on the executive and People’s Majlis to approve a PG immediately, Yameen said he would only submit a new nominee to the newly elected 18th parliament which is set to convene on May 28.

Yameen’s Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) holds a majority in the new parliament. The current Majlis, dominated by the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), had rejected Yameen’s nephew Maumoon Hameed for the position in March.

The President’s Office has put out a third call for applicants claiming the number of applicants had been low during the second call. Shameem had expressed interest in the position both times. Local media speculates a third call will allow Hameed to resubmit his application.

Chief Justice Ahmed Faiz Hussain said criminal cases can continue even with the leadership vacuum at the PG.

“The Constitution does not recognize the post of a Deputy Prosecutor General. What the Constitution accepts is a Prosecutor General. About four months have passed since we last had a Prosecutor General. That issue has been already reviewed. The situation has not changed,” Faiz said, referring to a Supreme Court order on February 18.

The order was issued in response to the Criminal Court’s refusal in January to proceed with all criminal trials in the absence of a PG, and refusal to begin new trials in February.

The Criminal Court released a statement today announcing that it will abide by the Supreme Court order and continue conducting cases.

In a resignation statement, Shameem said he was unable to fulfill his duties due to the Criminal Court’s failure to prosecute foreigners involved in drug trafficking, delays in issuing rulings on drug related offenses and “unreasonable obstacles” in filing cases at the court.

“These issues obstruct the proper functioning of the criminal justice system. I am deeply saddened to note the extreme delay on the part of those who have the power to address these issues,” he said.

PG Office Spokesperson Hussain Nashid was not responding to calls at the time of press.

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Police complete first response to terrorism incidents training

The Maldives Police Services has completed a three-day training on first responses to terrorism this morning.

The programme held in partnership with the US State Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security trained 71 police officers.

A Sri Lankan counter-terrorism analyst told Indian Media last week that Maldives is a target of regional terrorists.

Rohan Gunaratna who heads the International Center for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR) at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University said a Sri Lankan national arrested in Chennai on suspicion on terrorist activities had been planning to launch attacks on locations in the Maldives, Sri Lanka and India.

Meanwhile, The Maldives government has said funds are being raised in the country to support terrorism abroad, a recent US State Department country report on terrorism said.

The report also noted growing concern since 2010 “about the activities of a small number of local violent extremists involved with transnational terrorist groups.”

“There has been particular concern that young Maldivians, including those within the penal system, may be at risk of becoming radicalized and joining violent Islamist extremist groups. Links have been made between Maldivians and violent extremists throughout the world,” the report stated.

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Boskalis begins Thulusdhoo reclamation

Netherland’s Boskalis International has begun a 33-hectare reclamation project on Thulusdhoo Island in Kaafu Atoll.

The MVR 570 million (US$ 37 million) four-island reclamation project has garnered controversy with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stating that environmental regulations were violated in the recent dredging on Baa Atoll Eydhafushi Island.

Excavators used a method called the rainbow technique which propels sand and seawater through the air in an arc covering houses on the shoreline in fine sand and seawater.

In March, the EPA also halted dredging on Dhaalu Atoll Meedhoo for failure to build a barrier to contain excess dredge soil from spilling into the ocean.

In addition to Thulusdhoo, Eydhafushi, and Meedho, Boskalis will also be reclaiming land in Dhaalu Atoll Kudahuvadhoo Island.

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Funds raised in Maldives to support terrorism abroad: State Department

The Maldivian government believes that funds are being raised in the country to support terrorism abroad, according to the US State Department’s 2013 country report on terrorism.

The report however noted the absence of “reliable information regarding the amounts involved.”

“While no official studies yet have been conducted, the Maldivian Central Bank believes that criminal proceeds mainly come from domestic sources, as a large percentage of Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) are related to Maldivians,” the report revealed.

“The Maldives Monetary Authority [MMA] reports that hawala systems (informal money transfer networks) are being used to transfer funds between the islands, although the extent to which these systems are used to launder money is still unclear.”

AML/CFT

While the government monitored “banks, the insurance sector, money remittance institutions and finance companies, and requires the collection of data for wire transfers,” the report noted that “financial institutions other than banks and intermediaries in the securities sector” were not subject to anti-money laundering/countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) obligations in 2013.

Consequently, insurance companies and intermediaries, finance companies, money remittance service providers, foreign exchange businesses, and credit card companies “operate outside the AML/CFT framework.”

Moreover, non-profit organisations were not required to file suspicious transaction reports while such organisations were neither monitored nor regulated “to prevent misuse and terrorist financing.”

The report added that the government does however monitor and regulate “alternative remittance services”.

The government meanwhile “did not report any efforts to seize terrorist assets in 2013.”

Capacity building of regulatory bodies – MMA and the Capital Market Development Authority – and law enforcement agencies such as the police, Anti-Corruption Commission, customs and immigration, was needed to counter money laundering and terrorist financing, according to the government.

AML/CFT legislation drafted by the MMA was passed by the People’s Majlis last month and ratified by President Abdulla Yameen on April 13.

The new law introduced rules governing financial transactions and the inflow and outflow of money from the Maldives.

The bill was expedited by parliament’s national security committee at the urging of a high-level delegation from the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG), which warned MPs of “negative consequences” of failure to enact the legislation.

The absence of legislation “makes Maldives very vulnerable to money laundering and terrorist financing,” APG Executive Secretary Dr Gordon Hook told MPs in February. The vulnerabilities were identified by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in a report prepared in 2011.

Radicalisation

The report further noted growing concern since 2010 “about the activities of a small number of local violent extremists involved with transnational terrorist groups”.

“There has been particular concern that young Maldivians, including those within the penal system, may be at risk of becoming radicalized and joining violent Islamist extremist groups. Links have been made between Maldivians and violent extremists throughout the world,” the report stated.

A counter-terrorism analyst previously involved in law enforcement told Minivan News today on the condition of anonymity that the most worrying aspect for the Maldives was the vulnerability of youth to radicalisation.

“Youth are vulnerable to organised crime as well, not just violent extremism,” he said, noting the absence of data or statistics as well as studies into radicalisation of youth.

On the efforts to counter violent extremism, the report noted that the government pursued counter-radicalisation initiatives last year.

“In 2013, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs conducted more than a dozen seminars and workshops on preventing violent extremism for religious leaders, educators, and local government officials,” the report stated.

While several people “possibly associated with violent extremism” were arrested during the year, the report noted that existing laws “severely limit” the prosecution of such cases.

As a result, it added, “the number of convictions was limited.”

The Maldives participated in the State Department’s Anti-Terrorism Assistance (ATA) programme while the US also provided training in “fraudulent travel document recognition” to over 100 immigration officers.

“Maldives has few laws that effectively control the movement of people and money in and out of the country. Due to its sprawling island geography and insufficient technological capabilities, the Maldivian Coast Guard currently cannot effectively patrol Maldivian waters,” the report observed.

The report also noted the installation of PISCES (Personal Identification Secure Comparison and Evaluation System) at the Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (INIA) as well as the Male’ seaport with US assistance in August 2013.

Meanwhile, earlier this week, the New Indian Express reported that a Sri Lankan arrested in Chennai on terrorism charges was also targeting locations in the Maldives.

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Deputy PG’s resignation “irresponsible,” says President Yameen

President Abdulla Yameen called Deputy Prosecutor General Hussein Shameem’s resignation “irresponsible” and said criminal cases must proceed at the courts.

Shameem resigned on Monday citing the Criminal Court’s “obstruction” of the criminal justice system. State prosecutors are refusing to attend court hearings in the absence of a Prosecutor General (PG) and deputy PG. The PG position has been vacant since November 2013.

Shameem has called on the executive and the People’s Majlis to immediately appoint a new Prosecutor General, but Yameen said he will only submit a new nominee to the newly elected 18th People’s Majlis. Yameen’s Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) holds a majority in the new parliament.

“Now that we have acquired majority seats, we are becoming more comfortable. God willing, we will be able to acquire a full majority in parliament. I do not have the confidence that we will be able to get the required 39 votes if we initiate a special meeting of the current parliament,” Yameen said.

The current Majlis is in recess and it’s term is set to expire on May 28. It had previously rejected Yameen’s nephew Maumoon Hameed for the position.

Yameen said the executive would put out a third call for applicants, claiming the President’s Office had not received enough applications during the second call.

Five individuals had expressed interest. They are Shameem, Tourism Minister under the MDP administration Mariyam Zulfa, Criminal Court Judge Muhuthaz Muhusin, lawyers Aishath Fazna Ahmed and Mohamed Shah. A third call will allow Hameed to submit an application once again.

Speaking to local media, Yameen said he does not accept Shameem’s resignation at a time when the state does not have a serving PG, and said criminal cases must proceed as long as the courts allow it.

“I do not understand it. I cannot accept it. So I think the best option is to go forward with the regular cases, except the major cases, even if there isn’t a Prosecutor General, as long as the courts allow it, isn’t it? I will be very pleased if things happen in this manner,” he told the newspaper Haveeru.

Chief Justice Ahmed Faiz Hussein has also said criminal cases must continue.

“The Constitution does not recognize the post of a Deputy Prosecutor General. What the Constitution accepts is a Prosecutor General. About four months have passed since we last had a Prosecutor General. That issue has been already reviewed. The situation has not changed,” Faiz said, referring to a Supreme Court order on February 18.

The order was issued in response to the Criminal Court’s refusal in January to proceed with all criminal trials in the absence of a PG, and refusal to begin new trials in February.

The Criminal Court released a statement today announcing that it will abide by the Supreme Court order and continue conducting cases.

In a resignation statement, Shameem said he was unable to fulfill his duties due to the Criminal Court’s failure to prosecute foreigners involved in drug trafficking, delays in issuing rulings on drug related offenses and “unreasonable obstacles” in filing cases at the court.

“These issues obstruct the proper functioning of the criminal justice system. I am deeply saddened to note the extreme delay on the part of those who have the power to address these issues,” he said.

PG Office Spokesperson Hussain Nashid was not responding to calls at the time of press.

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