Tag: maldives

Island creation could counteract effect of sea level rise: Nature World News

“The creation of new islands could make up for the loss of land in the Maldives due to sea level rise, a study published in the journal Geology suggests,” reports Tamarra Kemsley for Nature World News.

“Regional island building consists of lagoons filling with sand taken from the surrounding coral reefs. As this happens, plant and animal life take root.

By studying the history and timing of this process throughout the area, researchers concluded that the continued accumulation of sand within the reefs found inside Maldivian atolls offer an opportunity for future island development.

Smaller reefs where the lagoons are nearly filled in, the study showed, are most likely to give way to islands — a process that could happen within 100 years if provided with enough sand.

The findings further suggested that these smaller islands could then grow into structures that could then be inhabited even as sea level rise reduces the land available on other islands.”

Read more

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Six protesters released on condition they don’t participate in protests for two months

The Criminal Court has released six persons arrested during the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) protest calling for presidential elections, on condition that they do not participate in protests for two months.

A police spokesperson today told Minivan News that, as of this morning nine protesters were in police custody.

”The court extended two person’s detention period to 15 days,” he said, adding that they were arrested on charges of objection to order and obstructing police duty.

In a statement issued last night (28 September) police said that a total 15 persons have been arrested following unrest in Male’ since September 23.

Police said three were arrested without any conditions, and that the court had extended the detention period of six persons.

Police Spokesperson said that last night seven others were arrested in addition to the 15 persons mention in the statement issued.

”15 is the total amount of persons that were arrested,” he said. ”Some of them have also been released without being taken to the court.”

MDP protesters took to the streets following an injunction issued by the Supreme Court regarding a case filed at the court by Jumhooree Party- led by unsuccessful first round candidate Gasim Ibrahim – to annul the poll on allegations that there had been major issues with the voter registration, and that the Elections Commission had changed votes.

After the Supreme Court issued the injunction, pro-MDP supporters have been protesting everyday near the Supreme Court and other areas of Male’.

MDP has also questioned the legitimacy of decisions made by the Supreme Court as certain judges on the bench have been accused of misdeeds, most notably Justice Ali Hameed who remaind subject to an ongoing investigations into leaked video tapes appearing to depict him engaging in sexual relations with foreign women.

Pairs of large white underpants – similar to those worn by the figure in the sex video – have become a common theme in the last week’s protests.

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Port workers strike to “send a message to the government”

The Maldives Ports Workers Union (MPWU) has taken strike action today following the Supreme Court’s decision – backed by the government – to postpone the second round of the presidential election.

“We are taking our constitutional right to give a message to the government,” said Ibrahim Khaleel, President of the Maldives Ports Workers Union.

Around 90 of the union’s 490 members opted not to come into work for today’s morning shift, though Khaleel pointed out that workers would return to work for the later shift.

“There is not much work there today, but next week we have a charter boat with more than 300 containers. If we are not given an election date, we will stop any future operations. We are just giving that message.”

“The ports union will do this again and again if they do not listen to us,” said Khaleel.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to give a verdict on its election annulment case today – filed by the Jumhooree Party (JP) after its defeat in the first round earlier this month.

After the Elections Commission expressed its intention to go ahead with the polls – scheduled for yesterday (September 28) – the court issued an order to security forces to halt proceedings by force if necessary.

Khaleel said a decision was made not to picket outside the ports today, alleging the port’s management “sent thugs” to attack union workers picketing the port earlier this year.

He argued that police protection had been requested on this prior occasion, but had not been forthcoming.

Both the MPWU and the Tourism Employees Association of Maldives (TEAM) joined forces in May this year to demand amendments to the recently enacted Freedom of Assembly Act.

Clause 24(7)b of the law prohibits any gatherings at the country’s ports, airports, or resorts, without police authorisation – a clause the unions have claimed effectively banned strike action.

After TEAM’s call for “prolonged strikes” last week should the presidential run-off be delayed, Minivan News has received reports of a number of politically motivated dismissals in some of the country’s resorts, in what some staff described as a “firing spree”.

Import dependency

Vice President of the Maldives National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI) Ishmael Asif warned of the likely impact such strikes could have on the country.

“As a country that relies heavily on imports for all of its needs,  a ports strike could have severe impacts on business in the country,” he warned.

As small island state with with a land mass of only 115 square miles, the Maldives has near-total dependency upon imports for basic foodstuffs and commodities, as well as goods used to supply the country’s luxury tourism industry which is indirectly responsible for 90 percent of the economy.

The country’s “excessive reliance on imports” was discussed in a recent government report into economic diversification, which noted that the country’s current account deficit had grown to US$600 million (27 percent of GDP) in year 2012.

“The import dependency continues to grow. The CIF [cost, insurance, and freight] value of merchandise imports has increased from us$120 million in 1990 to us$1.5 billion in 2012,” read the report.

It also noted that the country imported over 90 percent of foods in 2012 – worth US$318.9 million –  resulting in “huge implications for food security as well as inflation.”

Male’s port – managed and administered by the Maldives Ports Ltd (MPL) company – handled 580 ships in 2012, processing over one million tonnes of freight.

Current MPL CEO Mohamed Latheef told Minivan News today that he was unaware of any strike activity.

The MPWU staged a small strike last year after it alleged the MPL had removed the workers’ television after they had used it to watch the Maldivian Democratic Party aligned Raajje TV. MPL claimed the disagreement was a misunderstanding.

That strike received high-profile backing from the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF).

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Comment: When you’re voteless in the Maldives, resistance is not futile

This article first appeared on Dhivehi Sitee. Republished with permission.

Saturday dawned as crisp, sunny and beautiful as any other day in the Maldives. The clear blue skies belied the dark cloud that descended over a majority of the country’s population after the beleaguered Elections Commission announced shortly before midnight on Friday that the Supreme Court, and other allied state institutions, had left it with no choice but to call off the second round.

What the Elections Commission has been forced to call off is hope — the expectation that democracy will be restored in the Maldives on 11 November 2013.

For 19 long months, a majority of Maldivians have dedicated most of their lives to winning back democracy from the authoritarian gang that came to power on 7 February 2012. The fight has been all-consuming and has affected every single Maldivian one way or another.

In the immediate aftermath of the coup came the violent confrontations with the security forces. Hundreds were beaten up, arbitrarily arrested, detained without charge, and ordered to obey, or else. Basic human rights—freedom of assembly and expression—were rolled back. Foreign ties were broken coldly, with little care for international norms or the inevitable consequences. The economy suffered blow after blow, leading to bankruptcy with little hope for recovery in the foreseeable future.

Working with unscrupulous ‘religious scholars’, intense nationalism was promoted in parallel with virulent xenophobia against any foreign actor that promoted democracy. Ties with autocratic regimes were fostered, along with relations with international gangsters known for drug trafficking and money laundering. National assets were sold off and deals made with unscrupulous foreign governments that spoke democracy but acted with nothing but their own national interest in mind. Unexplained murders, gang-related crimes, drug abuse and sexual offences increased exponentially.

The international community’s decision to condone the coup and endorse it as ‘a legitimate transfer of power’ was a major blow, but not enough to kill the Maldivian people’s desire for democratic governance. In the face of intense pressure from the international community to obey, to put stability before rights, to follow ‘the democratic process’, combined with brutal force by domestic authorities, the street protests could not be sustained. But supporters of democracy did not give up. Led by Mohamed Nasheed and the Maldivian Democratic Party, Maldivians channeled their frustrated hopes into campaigning for a democratic election instead of protesting on the streets.

MDP’s presidential campaign has been an exemplary democratic exercise – the ‘costed and budgeted’ manifesto it brought out in August this year is the embodiment of a majority of Maldivians’ hopes and dreams for the future. It is based on views and opinions gathered from people on every inhabited island and it envisions a future in which the Maldivian people will, at long last, be empowered to work for their own socio-economic progress under a government that a majority of them have elected of their own free choice. Of course, it is naive to think that every desire would be fulfilled, but at least everyone was asked what they wanted, everyone had a say, and everyone could take ownership of their own future. No such bottom-up exercise has ever been conducted in the long authoritarian history of the Maldives.

On 7 September, 88 percent of the electorate turned out to vote. 45.45 percent of them voted for Mohamed Nasheed, 25.35 percent for Abdulla Yameen, 24.07 percent for Gasim Ibrahim, and 5.13 percent for Mohamed Waheed. Nasheed did not get the 50 percent plus one needed for an outright win, but the Maldivian map, from north to south, was all yellow at the end of voting that day. Most people in all atolls bar two want a democratic government led by Nasheed.

The authoritarians know this, always did. Plan B was there from the start – let them have their vote if they must, but the results will always be ours, as we want it. Over a thousand observers, local and foreign, verified the election as free and fair. Except for minor errors, expected in any election anywhere in the world, it went without a hitch. Only 25 percent of the Maldivian people want Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s autocratic rule to continue. That’s when the stubborn septuagenarian called in all the stops and brought into full play the dregs of dictatorship that continued to infect Maldivian democracy throughout the three years or so it lasted.

Gayoom has played his old house-boy Gasim well. Taking full advantage of Gasim’s indignation about not having received the votes he paid for, Gayoom has dictated most of the Supreme Court bench – the most corrupt of the many corrupt state institutions – to rule in Gasim’s favour, bringing the Maldives to where it is today: a constitutional vacuum into which Gayoom can effortlessly step in and ‘rescue’ us from ourselves. If Gasim thinks that Gayoom will let him take the president’s oath on November 11, he is an even bigger fool than he has repeatedly shown himself to be.

The Supreme Court did not just issue an injunction against the second round, it also ordered the security forces to act against anyone who tries to go ahead with the polls. One can only imagine the elation of the baton-happy coup-Police Commissioner Abdulla Riyaz who immediately deployed his forces to the Elections Commission, sealing the Commissioner and staff off from interaction with anyone local or foreign.

Efforts for mediation by the international community were not just prevented by the police, but strongly criticised by Gayoom’s minions. With his daughter at the helm of foreign relations as the State Minister of Foreign Affairs, it summoned India’s High Commissioner for a good telling-off for attempting to help disenfranchised Maldivians. The government has not stopped spurning the international community since, and will not stop until it becomes clear to everybody – at long last – that Gayoom and his followers will not allow democracy in the Maldives, whatever it takes.

The truth of the matter is, and has been since 7 February 2012, is that there will be no election in the Maldives as long as Nasheed, the champion of the Maldivian democratic movement, is in the running. So the focus has now returned to the farcical prosecution of Nasheed, through the very courts that have proved again and again that they are neither independent nor respectful of the ‘judicial process’. The machinations are fully underway to annul the first round and put Nasheed behind bars before calling fresh elections, if there are to be any. Reports say Gayoom himself is planning to run if and when new elections are held, his ‘economist’ brother having failed to live up to family expectations by not being able to garner much support.

Having lived under Gayoom for most of their lives, a majority of Maldivians remain oblivious to the fact that indefinitely delaying the elections is a robbery of their fundamental right to vote, and not just that of MDP members or supporters of Nasheed. Their gloating about the cancellation of the election is both sad and sickening. They will do everything in their power to help bring Gayoom, and their own enslavement, back to life.

For the rest of Maldivians, the only choice left is to refuse to obey. Power, contrary to popular belief, is not something that can be taken away by force. It can only be given away, by the people, if we so decide.

Resisting a full-fledged authoritarian reversal has been a long hard slog that has taken a heavy emotional, financial and social toll on all of us. Sustaining the resistance will be difficult, and all out civil disobedience would be even harder; but do it we must, if we are to be in control of our own destiny. What we must keep in mind is: nobody can govern us without our consent. It is within our power not to give it.

Dr Azra Naseem has a PhD in International Relations

All comment pieces are the sole view of the author and do not reflect the editorial policy of Minivan News. If you would like to write an opinion piece, please send proposals to [email protected]

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CMAG expresses “concern at developments” in the Maldives following first round of polling

The Commonwealth’s human rights and democracy arm has “expressed concern at developments” in the Maldives following the first round of elections.

The Supreme Court last week suspended the run-off election indefinitely after the third-placed candidate with 24.07 percent, Gasim Ibrahim, demanded the vote be annulled alleging widespread electoral fraud and declared “God Willing, Gasim will be President on November 11″.

The party of second-placed candidate Abdulla Yameen – the Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) which attained 25.35 percent of the vote behind front-runner Mohamed Nasheed’s 45.45 percent – backed Gasim’s court case. Attorney General Azima Shukoor – formerly Yameen’s lawyer – also intervened against the Elections Commission (EC). A verdict is expected at the next hearing.

The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) on Friday meanwhile noted that its election observation team had determined the September 7 polls were “a credible electoral process and met the standards for democratic elections to which Maldives has committed itself.”

“Ministers further noted that national and other international observers had concluded that the 7 September election was competently administered, and that the Maldivian people had been free to express their will through the ballot,” CMAG stated.

“In this context, CMAG Ministers expressed concern at developments since the declaration of results of the first round poll, with one unsuccessful party having filed a case with the Supreme Court to annul the first round of the election because of alleged electoral fraud, and the Supreme Court subsequently issuing an injunction to delay the second round of the election until a court ruling is delivered in that case,” the statement read.

“Noting that, under the Constitution of Maldives, a new President is required to be sworn in by 11 November 2013, CMAG Ministers urged all those concerned to ensure that the second round of the election is held at the earliest possible date so that this constitutional requirement is met,” the statement added.

Following CMAG’s meeting in New York on Friday, Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird joined Maldivian pro-democracy demonstrators outside the Australian consulate.

Following the Supreme Court’s indefinite suspension of the election last week, Baird in a statement had warned the delay was “troublesome and can only lead to more instability”, and pushed for the Maldives to be put on CMAG’s formal agenda.

Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird with Maldivian demonstrators

Government responds

The Maldivian Foreign Ministry meanwhile put out a statement noting “media speculation” that the Maldives could be placed on the group’s agenda.

“The current political situation in the Maldives is one in which the Government is upholding constitutional supremacy, and the rule of law. Therefore, questions about placing the Maldives on the formal agenda of the CMAG are nothing more than speculations and have no basis,” the statement read.

Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Mariyam Shakeela represented the Maldives at the CMAG meeting, “and advocated on the need for reforming the Group in order to make the body a more effective and credible one that can help, not hamper, democracy consolidation in the Commonwealth member countries,” the statement read.

“The Minister also highlighted on the need for the CMAG to take matters in proper context, and not to over-react on delicate situations in member countries,” it added.

Following the meeting, Minister Shakeela “expressed pleasure about the deliberations and noted that as a member of the CMAG, the Maldives believes that the Group’s credibility can only be maintained if careful, considered, and impartial decisions are made on critical issues of importance relating to members of the Commonwealth.”

Deputy Leader of Gasim’s Jumhooree Party, Dr Ibrahim Didi, was meanwhile quoted in Sun Online as calling on CMAG not to “enslave or threaten” the Maldives.

“We are ready to leave the Commonwealth if necessary,” Sun reported Didi as saying.

“Some Maldivians think we will starve if we leave the Commonwealth. But this won’t happen. Some people think it is a big organisation and that if they cut assistance we will starve. The Commonwealth have only given us a few diploma courses,” he stated.

Indian High Commissioner summoned

The Maldivian government has also summoned Indian High Commissioner Rajeev Shahare to express what Sun Online reported was “discontent” over the High Commissioner’s meeting with Elections Commissioner (EC) Fuwad Thowfeek on Friday.

Shahare met with Thowfeek at the EC shortly before the building was surround by police, carrying orders to take over the building and ballot papers should EC staff continue with preparations for holding Saturday’s scheduled election.

Sun reported a Foreign Ministry official as stating that Shahare met with officials at 7:00pm on Friday.

“We had a meeting with the Indian High Commissioner [Friday] night, but we cannot reveal details of the meeting,” Sun quoted the official as saying.

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Politics in paradise: Irufushi resort staff complain of political “firing spree”

Additional reporting by Neil Merrett

Staff at Irufushi Beach and Spa resort have expressed concern over a “firing spree” affecting staff members professing to support the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

The resort, which in May 2013 abruptly terminated its agreement with hotel giant Hilton leading to the overnight resignation of 30 employees, is owned by Maldivian Development Alliance (MDA) leader Ahmed ‘Sun’ Shiyam. MDA is the coalition partner of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), and is backing its candidate Abdulla Yameen in the presidential run-off.

According to staff at the resort, the management has been on a “firing spree” since the conclusion of the first round of elections, while some others have been suspended or warned of dismissal.

Minivan News obtained copies of three letters of termination, one dated September 19 and two dated September 26, instructing staff that their employment was “terminated with immediate effect”, and ordering them to collect their belongings and leave the island the same day. The letters did not give reason for the terminations.

Mohamed Rishwan, one of the first staff members who was fired from Irufushi, spoke to Minivan News about the “unfair circumstances surrounding [his] unexpected dismissal”.

Rishwan, who worked in the resort’s housekeeping department, was dismissed on September 26 and alleged the only response from the Human Resource Department to his request for a reason was “I don’t know. These were orders from the top management. Why do you need to support [MDP presidential candidate] Mohamed Nasheed?”.

“Our work and politics have been absolutely entangled by the current management. Staff at the resort are living in a constant state of fear of losing their jobs, despite performing at their best. The rumour is the HR Department plans to dismiss many others there who support MDP. Pressure increased after Nasheed won the majority of votes even on Irufushi in the first round,” Rishwan said.

According to results from Irufushi’s ballot box in the first round of voting on September 7,  59 staff on the resort voted for the MDP, 38 for the PPM, six for the JP and one for incumbent President Mohamed Waheed.

“When I demanded to meet the HR head after I was suddenly and unexpectedly dismissed, Shiyam’s brother met with us. He said there was no reason except that the resort no longer wanted us there. He then spent the rest of the meeting asking us why we supported Nasheed, promoting Yameen and his policies and trying to dissuade us from supporting MDP,” Rishwan continued.

“I told him I no longer wanted to live in fear, under such extreme political pressure, being discriminated against for political reasons. We were even harassed in the staff quarters by supporters of the opposite political ideology. The staff of Irufushi have been stripped of many constitutional rights and live under the repression of this new politicised management.

The Tourism Employees Association of the Maldives (TEAM) on Thursday committed its 5000 members to “prolonged” strike action should the election be delayed.

“The management have ordered all staff to register at the resort for voting. They’ve also said at staff briefings that all staff must vote for Yameen, and that no one should dare try implementing the workers’ strike that Nasheed spoke of,” Rishwan alleged.

“One colleague refused to register to vote at the resort, saying he will finish his duty and go to his nearby home island to vote citing that it was his constitutional right to do so. He was immediately fired. Some of my former colleagues are now saying that they will not dare cast a vote at all,” he said.

Another source, currently working at Irufushi, spoke on condition of anonymity of what he described as a repressive atmosphere among resort staff.

“Things are very difficult. I need to hold this job, so don’t name me. Shiyam is firing anyone he even suspects of supporting the MDP. Most of us are under what I would say is psychological trauma right now, afraid to speak our minds as there is so much pressure from above. We can’t all afford to lose our jobs, but is political affiliation any reason to be legally dismissed from a job?”

“MDA is forcing staff to sign up for their party, that’s the only path to job guarantee or promotion these days. They are also hiring groups of youth who live on this island but do nothing besides preparing campaign banners for the MDA coalition. I’ve been working here for many years, but I feel like a stranger here now with so many new, hostile faces. The sudden lack of usual liberties is very disheartening,” he said.

“There’s been at least five dismissals in the last week, and no one knows who is next. You see, this is our livelihood, how we support families. This is why everyone is bowing down to this repression, even if reluctantly, and attempting to hold our jobs.”

“Sun Shiyam has addressed all staff in extremely disrespectful, and even vulgar, terms. Let me quote what he said at a staff briefing: ‘You MDP lot are making ‘haram’ use of my money as your wages. You are not entitled to any of it. I will make sure I push out every single one of you MDP dogs from my resort. Mark my words.’ You see, this is the reason the staff are in fear. We need to let word out and let the world know,” another staff member told Minivan News.

“The management holds nightly staff gatherings where they slander Nasheed and praise Yameen. Staff are made to agree with all they say, or face dismissal within two days. They have said that they want 100 percent votes for Yameen from Irufushi in the second round, and that it is mandatory for all staff members to register to vote on Irufushi itself.”

“In fact, we’ve been told that if Yameen doesn’t win 100 percent, they will see what percentage Nasheed gets, and fire an equal percentage of staff based on who they suspect might have cast those votes. Most of us are now saying we will just cast invalid votes, or just not vote at all,” he said.

“Shiyam took over this resort in what the staff refers to as another coup d’etat at the resort level. Since then we have been gradually stripped of rights we are legally entitled to as citizens of the Maldives.”

Resort response

General Manager of Irufushi Beach and Spa Resort, Abdulla Thamheed, rejected allegations that the resort had fired staff members for politically-motivated reasons.

He said that after Sun Travel and Tours took over the site following the company’s decision to terminate its agreement with Hilton in May, a number of staff members had been fired for “not sharing the resort’s values”.

“These people were not on the same page with the company, so we have gone our separate ways,” he said.

Thamheed said the resort had not been affected by calls for strike action by tourism workers over the indefinite suspension of the run-off election.

He also questioned the motivation of any Maldivian seeking to damage the country’s luxury tourism industry, stating that most staff members had families they needed to support.

“No one is interested in striking [on the resort],” he said.

Before answering questions on the allegations of politically-motivated sackings at the resort, Thamheed requested he be quoted on the record as expressing concerns over “why a white European” was allowed to working at a Maldives-based publication such as Minivan News.

“The fact you are a white European doesn’t mean you can come to a third world country and break into our privacy,” he told Minivan News. “You are a white European and a failure in the UK. I have managed many five star resorts and met journalists from newspapers like the Sunday Times and the Daily Telegraph,” he said.

Upon confirming the reporter’s nationality as a UK citizen, Thamheed expressed his view that the journalist was a stereotypical reminder of the Maldives’ colonial past.  Asked to clarify his comment, he accepted that the Maldives itself had not been colonised by the UK.

“You see yourself as an imperialistic and colonial person, who believes they have imperial superiority over us. No one will give you a job outside this country,” Thamheed said.

He added that although his comments were “not personal”, but questioned Minivan News’ ethics as a news organisation and said the reporter could not be called a journalist for producing what he believed was “biased, one-sided propaganda”.

Thamheed went on to state that as a white European in the Maldives, the Minivan News reporter would not have sought to contact someone for a story in their own country during evening time.

“I have met many top journalists from newspapers like the Sunday Times and the Telegraph. Do you really think this is how journalists are supposed to behave?” he said.

Thamheed requested that his words be remembered by the journalist and quoted directly in this article.

“I don’t think you will be able to sleep tonight,” he said. “I am very happy I have spoken to you.”

MDA leader, MP and Irufushi owner Ahmed ‘Sun’ Shiyam was not responding to calls at time of press.

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President Waheed inaugurates Hanimaadhoo Island road project

President Dr Mohamed Waheed has today laid the first paving stone in the road development project for Hanimaadhoo island of South Thiladhummathi atoll.

During the opening ceremony, Waheed noted that the project – the first of its kind in the island, would be finished in four or five months and would make commuting easier for locals. He also spoke of the ongoing work into a sewerage system on the island.

Yesterday, the President’s Office reported the Waheed had visited Kulhudhuffushi Island to officially open the newly completed 1.7km Ameenee Magu.

Local media reported that the President’s Office had cited the “current situation in the country over the presidential elections” as the reason for the cancellation of his engagements at the UN General Assembly in New York.

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Polling day cancelled in the Maldives – “Irreparable damage to the state”, says EC

The Elections Commission (EC) was last night surrounded by special operations police with orders to take over the building and ballot papers and arrest officials, should it continue preparations for today’s scheduled presidential run-off election.

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), which had urged its supporters to vote on the day, marched on the Supreme Court and was blocked by police and pepper-sprayed. Many resort workers also indicated they intended to go on “prolonged” strike should the polls be delayed.

The besieged EC finally declared last night that it was unable to hold today’s planned polls due to a lack of cooperation from the government, including from the police, Education Ministry, Finance Ministry and Home Ministry.

The commission also said its members and staff had received death threats and threats of arson attacks on ballot boxes should it go ahead with the election. It issued the following statement:

As article 111(a) of the constitution of the Republic of the Maldives states that if no candidate receives over 50 percent of the vote, a run-off election must be held within twenty one days after the first election, this commission announced on September 14, 2013 that the second round of the 2013 presidential election shall be held on September 28, 2013 and made all preparations necessary to hold the election on that date.

However, of the state institutions whose assistance the Elections Commission requires to hold the election, the Ministry of Education took restrictive measures and said it would not provide premises to place ballot boxes and release employees who work as election officials, the Ministry of Home Affairs said it would not offer cooperation and threatened to arrest commission members, and the Ministry of Finance Treasury said it would not release funds and imposed restrictive measures. Further, the Maldives Police Service said it would not cooperate and ceased providing security requested by the commission for the second round of the election. And Assistant Commissioner of Police Hassan Habeeb called the chair of the Elections Commission on the night of September 26, 2013 and warned that [police] would not allow the election to take place.

Furthermore, we note with regret that some political parties have threatened to set ballot boxes on fire and death threats have been made against Elections Commission members, staff, and officials involved in the voting process. As a result, Elections Commission members and staff have been plunged into a state of fear. The commission believes that this would also cause irreparable damages to the general public, the Elections Commission and the state.

The Supreme Court order 06/SC-SJ/2013 (September 26, 2013) instructed and ordered the security forces of the Maldives under article 237 of the constitution to immediately put a stop to any preparations by the Election Commission for voting in the second round of the presidential election held on September 7, 2013. And police have now closed the Elections Commission office to deny entry to members, staff and any outside parties.

As article 170(a) of the constitution which states the responsibilities and powers of the Elections Commission stipulates that it is the legal responsibility of this commission to ensure the proper exercise of the right to vote and [ensure that] all elections and public referendums are conducted freely and fairly, without intimidation, aggression, undue influence or corruption, and since the commission does not believe such an atmosphere presently exists in the Maldives, we announce that voting in the second round of the presidential election scheduled for September 28, 2013 has been postponed.

The election was suspended indefinitely by a Supreme Court order on Monday night (September 23), a decision that sparked global concern from international actors.

The court opened again at midnight on Thursday (September 26) after the EC indicated that it would go ahead with the polls as constitutionally mandated, and six out of seven justices ordered security forces to forcibly halt any election preparations.

Local legal experts have questioned the court’s authority to go against the constitution.

The stand-off ended late last night after the EC conceded that it would be unable to conduct the election without government support.

Police stated last night that they would allow EC staff to return to the building, but continued to cordon the area: “The decision to delay the second round of the elections made by the Commission might result in a negative reaction by individuals or groups who do not support the decision,” read a statement.

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8:20pm Protest crowd thins to around 200 people. MDP vice presidential candidate Mustafa Lutfi just voted in the demonstration’s faux-ballot box.

6:15pm Crowd at MDP reported to have grown to 400 people.

6:10pm Jumhoree Party (JP) Policy Secretary Mohamed Ajmal has said the party remains confident a new elected head of state will still be inaugurated on November 11, even if the Supreme Court decides to null the first round vote held on September 7.

Ajmal said that the JP was now waiting to see if the the Supreme Court decides to annul the election, in which it narrowly finished in third place, based on the party’s allegations of voter irregularities, before it looks to begin to re-start campaigning.

“We will always follow principals of law and don’t want to see fighting or instability in the country,” he said.

On the basis of recent concerns from international governments and local NGOs at the delayed vote, Ajmal said he the JP shared the PPM and MDP’s concerns about having an election as soon as possible.

“We would want election during the course of next month,” he said.

6:05pm Sun Online reports that a PPM campaign office in Male’ was vandalised by a group of people early on Saturday morning.

According to Sun, windows and a television in the office were broken, and the walls splattered with paint.

An MDP office was also reported vandalised, with a glass front door smashed.

6:00pm Protesters have set up a desk in the middle of fareedhee magu with a plastic ballot box that people are voting into.


5:50pm – Haveeru reports police as stating that eight of the 10 MDP protesters arrested during yesterday’s protests remain in police custody.

Minivan News saw at least two demonstrators dragged through police lines and arrested, including DRP MP Mohamed ‘Colonel’ Nasheed. A Haveeru journalist was also arrested and reportedly taken to the Dhoonidhoo prison island, before being released four hours later.

5:45pm Protesters posting ballots into a cardboard ballot box described the Maldives as “Afghanistan, only the clothing is different.”

“We have no human rights. We don’t want tourists to come,we don’t want their dollars, it all goes to the businessmen & so called scholars that lead this coup,” another protester told Minivan News.

5:35pm TEAM Secretary General Mauroof Zaki confirms to Minivan News that two employees from Sun Travel’s Iru Fushi resort have been dismissed today.

5:32pm With the UK, EU, UN, US, Commonwealth, India, Canada and Australia all having expressed alarm this week over the Maldives’ sudden suspension of the second round of its ongoing presidential election, Tourism Minister Adheeb has downplayed suggestions tourism could be negatively impacted as a result.

Adheeb pointed to the Maldives government’s representation at the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) where the country explained its stance on the election delay.

“Our position was explained and taken well [by CMAG]. The real situation can be twisted. One party in the election has raised concerns about the voting process. A candidate has the right to go to the courts to address grievances,” he said.

“Even in the US, there has been a situation where the results of a presidential election were brought before the court.”

Adheeb called for media to provided what he called responsible reporting on the delayed vote in the Maldives.

5:28pm In an interview with Minivan News earlier today, Tourism Minister Adheeb raised concerns of international media coverage of proposed strike action predicting “travel misery” for UK tourists travelling to resorts, believing such reports were irresponsible.

He questioned media reports suggesting that there would not be workers to hand tourists cocktails as a result of strikes, arguing that reports were inaccurate and damaging to the nation’s reputation.

The comments were made after the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) launched the celebrations for World Tourism Day 2013 at the Kurumba Maldives resort yesterday (September 27).

5:23pm MDP protest now up to 200 people on Orchid Magu, shouting to police “Where is the underwear” (in reference to Justice Ali Hameed), and “Where is my ballot paper?”

5:00pm Tourism Employees Association of the Maldives (TEAM) Secretary General Mauroof Zakir was not responding to calls from Minivan News to confirm allegations in social media of resort staff being fired for political reasons.

4:40pm Around 60 people at MDP protest. Around 20 police have cordoned off Orchid Magu as a handful of German tourists look on. The tourists explained to a Minivan News journalist that they were unaware of reasons for protest, but were a little concerned about the prospect of violence.

4:21pm The Villa hotels group, which is owned by Jumhoree Party (JP) presidential candidate and prominent businessman MP Gasim Ibrahim, told Minivan News that its numerous resort operations in the country were operating as normal.

A spokesperson for Paradise Island Resort and Spa in North Male’ Atoll said the property did not have any comment regarding strike action on the property, while Villa’s Sun Island Resort and Spa said there had not been any strike action on the site.

Meanwhile, Royal Island Resort and Spa said that “everything was normal” at the property, with recent political developments in the country having no impact on operations.

4:16pm MDP Spokesman Hamed Abdul Ghafoor has said that the “way forward” will be resolved by the party’s National Council at Dharubaaruge conference centre, at 2pm tomorrow.

Former Special Envoy to Nasheed Ibrahim Hussein Zaki has been placed in charge of compiling the ‘roadmap’.

When asked about the likely duration of today’s protest, Hamed said specific details were as yet “unclear”.

4:08pm During recently concluded MDP National Executive Committee, Mohamed Nasheed talked of a roadmap for progress.

3:35pm MDP are to protest outside of the STO trade center at four o’clock today.

3:30pm With major international media outlets reporting on “political chaos has tarnished the Maldives’ image as a tranquil holiday paradise”, Khaleel said that a failure to resolve the ongoing election dispute was likely to lead to long-term negative impacts on the industry.

“Maybe we will not see these impacts directly, but a mutual solution has to be found,” he added.

Khaleel said that international media would ultimately have an important role in any efforts to “improve” the Maldives’ image going forward.

“I would ask everyone to still come here and enjoy the tourism experience without involving themselves in domestic politics,” he said. “Domestic politics should not impact resorts, we need to keep politics and the economy separate.”

3:30pm The Maldives Journalist Association (MJA) have called on police to not prevent journalists from covering MDP protests against the delayed presidential election’s second round. MJA’s statement released today expressed concern about restrictions placed on local media and noted that several reports of imminent attacks on various media outlets have been received. Additionally, a Haveeru journalist was arrested while covering Friday’s MDP protest for allegedly disobeying police orders, however media personnel and witnesses refuted the claims. The journalist was taken to Dhoonidhoo detention facility and tested for narcotics before being released.

3:26pm Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) Mohamed Khaleel has told Minivan News that he had not been made aware at present of adverse impacts to the resort industry from proposed strikes called for across the country by groups like the The Tourism Employees Association of the Maldives (TEAM).

With the run-off vote scheduled for today delayed pending further hearings from the Supreme Court Khaleel said that industry stability was “no doubt” reliant on the country have an elected head of state sworn into office as soon as possible.

“I think we need to understand the reason for the delay,” he said of the Supreme Court case currently being heard over whether to annul the first round of voting held September 7.

“I don’t want to see the election voided, but there are concerns needing to be addressed.”

Local NGOs, foreign governments, and organisations including the Commonwealth and UN praising the conduct of the first round of the election.

3:23pm Social media reports MDP supporters will protest in Delhi, Trivandrum, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Madras, Chandigar, and Mysore India today at 5pm local time.

2:35pm

2:32pm A spokesperson for Sun Travel and Tours, which is owned and operated by local businessman and media magnate MP Ahmed Shiyam, said the company had observed “no unrest” at its resorts despite calls for strike action.

“I cannot comment on the situation at our individual properties, but in general, we do not allow staff to hold public political demonstrations on the property,” said the spokesperson.

The company operates two four star and two five star resorts in the country, including the Noonu Atoll-based Iru Fushi, where certain staff earlier this year alleged facing political harassment following Sun Travel’s decision to terminate a management agreement with multinational Hilton at the site.

MP Shiyam is the head of the Maldives Development Alliance (MDA), which is currently part of a coalition backing Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) presidential candidate Abdulla Yameen in the ongoing presidential election.

2:12pm Local NGO Transparency Maldives has released a statement today calling for all national actors, “especially the Supreme Court”, to respect the electoral process by upholding the constitution and electoral deadlines.

“Transparency Maldives did not receive any reports that suggest systematic fraud in its nationwide observation and no credible evidence that supports such allegations has been made public,” read the statement.

“Electoral disputes and tensions must be resolved in a speedy manner, and in addressing issues of national interest inclusiveness and acceptance of all relevant state and political actors are crucial for the long-term peace of the country.”

1:53pm Minivan News understands that that the National Executive Committee of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) is presently holding a meeting with a statement expected to be released shortly.

1:27pm A spokesperson for resort group Anantara, which operates four properties across the country, confirmed employees had today asked management for permission to hold a “peaceful gathering” in support of certain political parties.

Staff at Anantara Kihavah Villas had requested to conduct such a gathering in their uniforms, but were asked to wear their own clothing instead – which they agreed to, claimed a spokesperson for the company.

“However, the event, if it takes place at all, will be done during their break in between the working hours,” added the spokesperson, who said that all four of the company’s resorts were being operated as normal.”

“It is business as usual and there are no effects on the guest experience.”

The company said that staff at its Anantara Veli, Anantara Dhigu and Naladhu Maldives resorts had been allowed to take pictures of themselves holding political paraphernalia such as banners or balloons, as long they were not wearing uniforms or displaying the resort group’s brand name.

1:00pm Tourism Minister Adheeb alleged that despite fears that strike action could do a lot of damage to the country’s tourism industry, calls by associations like TEAM had so far had a limited response from resort employees.

“So far TEAM has not got a good response [for calls to strike],” he said.

“Is it so far, so good, we are trying to mediate in these cases,” added Adheeb, who is also Deputy Leader of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).

The minister also questioned why strike action had not been targeted at other industries such as construction and fisheries in the country

12:56pm Tourism Minister Ahmed Adheeb today reiterated his belief that any strike action for “political reasons” at resort properties was illegal in the Maldives, while also criticising the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) for targeting the country’s lucrative travel industry.

“Making a protest at a resort is not the way to go,” he said today.

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Supreme Court election dispute throws Maldives into legal void

Maldivian lawyers have claimed the country has been thrown into a legal void by the dispute over whether to move ahead with run-off polls scheduled for today (September 28) in defiance of a Supreme Court order.

Speaking to Minivan News, former Attorney General Husnu Suood – who had represented the Elections Commission (EC) in the Supreme Court this week before being thrown out for ‘contempt of court’ – said the dispute had left the country’s ongoing democratic transition in “limbo”.

“I am of the view that all institutions have a duty to uphold the constitution,” he said in response to the EC’s efforts to hold voting within the time line established under Article 111 of the constitution.

“According to the constitution, the Supreme Court’s word is final only in respect of the interpretation of provisions of constitution and law. Here, the Supreme Court had not given an interpretation on Article 111. However, Judicature Act says that all state institutions must abide by the rulings made by courts.”

Meanwhile, lawyer Mohamed Shafaz Wajeed today told Minivan News that there was no clear argument for whether the Supreme Court could indefinitely delay voting beyond the scheduled deadline requested under Article 111 of the constitution.

“In terms of whether the Supreme Court could rule to postpone a constitutional date, such dates have not been met before,” he said of previous elections held in the country.

“At the same time, the Supreme Court itself has ruled that time should be considered of the essence unless there exists a state of war. So it could be argued for both sides,” said Shafaz.

Elections Commissioner Fuwad Thowfeek confirmed on Thursday (September 26) that the second round of the presidential election would be held as originally scheduled today in accordance with Article 111 of the constitution. Article 111 requires a vote to be held within 21 days of a first round poll.

Besieged by police on Friday night, the EC eventually declared that polling could not go ahead within the constitutionally mandated time frame due to a lack of cooperation from state institutions and security services.

Thowfeek’s initial decision to hold the vote was taken in defiance of a Supreme Court ruling issued Monday (September 23) ordering all state institutions to delay preparations for the poll until it reached a verdict in a case filed against the EC by the Jumhooree Party (JP).

However, the Supreme Court yesterday quoted Article 141 and Article 145 of the constitution – arguing that it remained the highest authority on the administration of justice in the Maldives, as well as the interpretation of the constitution, or any other matter dealt with by a court of law.

The Supreme Court case filed by the JP is ongoing, with a final verdict expected during the next hearing.

Constitution is supreme

Another local lawyer, who has practiced in the Maldives for the last five years, said the Supreme Court has on numerous occasions been found to have “flouted” provisions contained within the constitution relating to the scheduling of a number of elections held since 2008.

“It is the constitution in the Maldives that is supreme, and the Supreme Court has no basis to go against it,” the legal source explained.

The lawyer pointed to a Supreme Court verdict passed in January 2009 under Article 296 (a) of the constitution that parliamentary elections had to be held by February 15 that year unless prevented by an “act of God”.

The vote was eventually held in May of the same year.

According to the legal source, the legitimacy of any actions since taken within parliament were themselves constitutionally “questionable”.

However, the lawyer expressed his personal belief that the MDP should have awaited a final decision by the court in the case filed by the JP, after joining the case last week, fearing any attempts to hold an election “against the state” could have resulted in possible military intervention.

The source also reiterated concerns over the failure of watchdog body the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) to recognise Article 285 of the constitution, outlining standards for the appointment and qualification of judges, after the provision was discarded as “symbolic” by in 2010.

The source also pointed to recent controversy concerning ongoing investigations into leaked video tapes appearing to depict Supreme Court Justice Ali Hameed engaging in sexual relations with foreign women as another development undermining the apex court.

With Ali Hameed still remaining on the bench despite the ongoing investigation into his conduct, the legal source questioned the MDP’s decision to willingly join the case filed by the Jumhoree Party at the Supreme Court, rather than refusing to engage or validate the institution instead.

“Once you accept [the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction] you have to accept the verdict after joining the case,” the lawyer argued.

The legal source nonetheless did not rule out the Supreme Court “playing politics” and trying to provoke the MDP by failing to reach a conclusion ahead of the scheduled second round.

The source also raised questions over why the court had heard witness statements over three days rather than at a single hearing.

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