Tag: maldives

Maldivian journalists told that China will not interfere with Maldives’ sovereignty

Maldivian journalists in China have been told that the country will not interfere in the domestic affairs of the Maldives.

Meeting with Maldivian journalists, Director of the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Asian Department Xin Wang said that a lot had been planned between the two nations.

“China is just helping the Maldives pull itself up. It will be Maldives that makes the final decision on everything relevant to this development,” Haveeru reported Xin as saying.

President Abdulla Yameen announced earlier this month that increased ties with China were part of a policy of looking east. Criticising the interference of “Western colonial powers”, Yameen noted that working with China does not bring the same challenges.

Source: Haveeru

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Malé City Council close to shut-down after police confiscate documents and server system

Nearly all services at Malé City Council have come to a halt after police confiscated important documents and several hard drives, including the server system necessary for daily operation.

Police searched and confiscated the council’s office last night (November 26) after a search warrant was issued by the Criminal Court on request from the Maldives Police Service regarding a corruption case against council staff members.

The warrant, signed by the Criminal Court Chief Judge Abdulla Mohamed, said that “some council staff had shared and gained unlawful advantages from some PDF files sent to the council by Maldives Land and Survey Authority.”

The survey authority and the land registration project fall under the authority of the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure.

The council has denied receiving any such files from the ministry or any other authority, stating that the council had previously provided information to the housing ministry and if any information had been sent back it would have originated from the council.

Council members told the media today that it was concerns it would be unable to prepare Friday prayer sermons, and that the waste management section might come to a halt as a direct result of the Police confiscating the server.

Deputy Mayor Shifa Mohamed said the council is now unable to receive any payments, expressing fears that human resources would be unable to pay the council’s 1000 employees this month.

Malé City Mayor Mohamed Shahib said that the MPS also confiscated information gathered by the council to write up a study on providing alternative methods to solve the housing issue faced by the city.

Council vs government

Maafannu Hulhangu constituency councillor Shamau Shareef said the incident is one of many intended to intimidate the council and to prevent it from providing the services to the people of Malé.

Shifa has previously suggested that the government was plotting to ‘destroy decentralisation’ after the housing ministry seized numerous plots of land from the council including two parks, artificial beach, carnival area, south harbour area, Usfasgandu, Dharubaaruge, and land near the T-Jetty.

Last month, she complained that poor allocation of funds for road development projects under the council as one of the main reasons behind the severe floodings on the western side of the capital island during heavy downpours.

Shamau said today that the council had no choice but to resort to “begging” the Maldives Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC) to assist it setting up flood control pumps which promise a temporary solution to the problem.

October also saw masked individuals wielding machetes uprooting over thirty council owned areca palm trees on the sides of the capital’s main thoroughfare road Majeedhee Magu.

Following a further disagreement over the replanting of the vandalised trees, the cabinet announced it had removed the council’s jurisdiction over the city’s roads.

The roads are now under the control of the housing ministry and the Maldives Road Development Corporation (MRDC) which has started cleaning the drains, bringing some alleviation to the flooding.

Former President Mohamed Nasheed alleged police involvement in the chopping down of the palm trees while naming several Special Operations (SO) officers after the MCC requested the public to submit any information about the issue.

Shamau also stressed the poor fund allocation towards the road development projects in Malé which only has a mere MVR 3.4 million (US$ 220,00) while pointing out that a new elevator at the president’s office has been budgeted MVR 3 million (US$ 200,000).



Related to this story

Government plotting to “destroy decentralization,” says Malé Deputy Mayor

City and Fini Park taken by Housing Ministry, council not informed

Newly planted areca palms uprooted on housing ministry orders

Can decentralisation take root in the Maldives?

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President Yameen calls on SAARC to make its voice heard

President Abdulla Yameen has called upon the SAARC nations to “walk the talk” and make their voice heard on the international stage.

“As a region, SAARC has the right, and surely has the might, to make it one of the most powerful regions in the world. Yet we continue to be led, rather than lead,” Yameen told the inaugural session of the 18th SAARC Summit in Kathmandu.

“This region accounts for one-quarter of the world’s population, yet as a region we hold limited sway, have limited say and we have not been heard enough, in the power rooms of the world.”

Despite the association’s charter calling for meetings at least once a year, the two-day summit is the first to be convened since 2011, when the Maldives hosted the event in Addu City.

Following the meeting of SAARC leaders at the inauguration of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in May – dubbed the ‘mini SAARC summit’ by the Indian media – led to the reactivation  of the meetings.

Since assuming office, Modi has actively pursued regional cooperation, with his ‘neighbourhood first’ policy being applauded by President Yameen today.

“We are inspired, Excellency, by your various initiatives, in this short period of time, towards strengthening regional relationships including the ‘neighbourhood first’ policy. These are steps in the right direction, a signal of the renewed activism with which India is facing SAARC,” said Yameen.

Other initiatives of the Modi government have included a firmer commitment to improving ties within Asia – dubbed the ‘Look East’ policy.

At home, President Yameen has also recently declared a foreign policy shift to the East after accusing “Western colonial powers” of attempting to interfere with the sovereignty of the Maldives.

During the same speech on Republic Day (November 11) Yameen noted that the rapidly growing ties with China did not involve “any such compulsion”.

China’s increased involvement in the region appears to have invoked the concern of India, who reacted firmly to rebut suggestions made by the Maldives’ foreign minister this month that India had discussed joining China’s New Silk Road project.

India was also reported to have rebuffed suggestions from Pakistan during this week’s summit to promote China from its current observer status within SAARC.

“As far as we are concerned, we need to first deepen cooperation among Saarc (members) before we try and move horizontally,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin told media.

Continuing his speech this morning, President Yameen repeated his view that trade and commerce were the key to peace and prosperity within the region.

“SAARC must attune itself to the realities of the day and seize the opportunities that are presented to us. We must not be left behind.”

Yameen also stated that, despite being one of the regions to be worst affected by climate change, “we continue to be complacent in taking action as a group”.

He pointed out that, as the next chair of the Alliance of Small Island States, the Maldives would expect support from its friends.

“I ask you, should we not demand for what we want? Should we not stand up for what we believe? Dare we not speak up for what is right for our people? Is it not time, Excellencies, that we stand up to receive our share, raise our voice, in the international arena?”


Related to this story

Trade and commerce “magic wand” for achieving SAARC’s goals: President Yameen

President Yameen slams “Western colonial powers,” declares foreign policy shift to East

Maldives accepts India’s leadership role, says President Yameen

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High Court concludes hearings into Criminal Court’s rejection of Thinadhoo terrorism cases

The High Court today concluded hearings into an appeal by Prosecutor General’s (PG) Office requesting the repealing of a Criminal Court decision to throw out charges of terrorism against 89 individuals from Gaaf Dhaal Thinadhoo Island.

Criminal Court Chief Judge Abdulla Mohamed had dismissed the charges, claiming the PG’s Office was refusing to cooperate with the trial after state prosecutors’ failure to turn up to a trial scheduled for 10am on Saturday, November 22.

PG Muhthaz Mushin has requested the High Court to rule the Criminal Court’s dismissal of the case through a letter as unlawful and to order the terrorism trials to continue.

The 89 defendants faced terrorism charges for allegedly setting fire to the island’s police station, court building, and several police vehicles during nationwide unrest on February 8, 2012 in the wake of former President Mohamed Nasheed’s controversial resignation the previous day.

State prosecutor Shaudha Shameem challenged the Criminal Court’s decision claiming state prosecutors had telephoned and informed the court in advance that they would not be able to attend the hearing on Saturday, November 22.

She contended the Criminal Court had attempted to handover summons to court outside work hours on November 22, Thursday.

But state prosecutors refused to accept summons, as Saturday is not a working day, and because the court had initially scheduled hearings for November 23 instead of November 22, she continued.

Shaudha argued that the Criminal Court could only throw out charges in a courtroom in the presence of the plaintiff and defendant, and claimed Judge Abdulla had failed to follow due procedures in dismissing the case.

She noted that the Criminal Court had previously consulted state prosecutors in scheduling hearings given their busy work schedule.

Two of the 89 facing terrorism charges intervened in the case. with their lawyers – Ibrahim Riffath and Hisaan Hussein – saying the Criminal Court had followed due process by informing the PG’s Office of the November 22 hearing via a letter on the afternoon of November 20.

Hisaan said a presiding judge is authorised to dismiss charges if the plaintiff fails to abide by the judge’s orders, and said a judge has the discretion to decide on the validity of reasons provided for failure to attend hearings.

State prosecutors must not receive special exemptions, she contended.

Meanwhile, Riffath suggested the PG’s Office was lax in cooperating with the trial, pointing out the state had only been able to provide witness testimony during two of the eight hearings.

The High Court bench has said it will issue a verdict in the next hearing. A date for the verdict has not yet been set.

Muhthaz has since resubmitted the cases to the Criminal Court twice. The court rejected the cases on Monday claiming it had no guarantee of cooperation from the PG office.

The PG office submitted cases again yesterday with a letter pledging full cooperation.

Defence lawyers have previously criticised Judge Abdulla’s earlier decisions during the hearings.

Last week, the chief judge ordered 55 of the 89 defendants be held in detention pending the outcome of the trials, claiming the accused were intimidating witnesses. All have subsequently been released.

Defence lawyers have described the judge’s decision to hold the accused in custody as “most unusual” as the identities of state witnesses were not disclosed and had their voices disguised in order to protect their identity.

Around 80 people from Addu City are also currently facing terrorism charges in relation to unrest in the southernmost atoll on February 8.


Related to this story


PG to appeal Criminal Court’s dismissal of terrorism cases

Criminal Court rejects Thinadhoo terrorism cases

55 Thinadhoo arson suspects detained until end of trial

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Millionaire’s dream and Maldivian’s reality can coexist in tourism industry: Nasheed

The Maldives’ economy can sustainably and inclusively enhance development through the tourism industry, former President Mohamed Nasheed has told the Asia-Pacific Business Forum.

“The millionaire’s dream, and the Maldivian’s reality can co-exist and create a sustainable development model,” Nasheed told the forum in Colombo.

Describing the success of the guest house tourism model, he told stakeholders from the 53 member states that the exclusive one-island one-resort model has failed to benefit small island communities sufficiently.

“This model worked well for some. It worked for the resort owners and tour operators. And it worked for the central government, who profited handsomely from leasing islands for resort development. But had limited impact on the average Maldivian.”

The success of the tourism industry – dependant on 109 resorts – has seen the country’s per capita GDP double since 2001, now contributing around 35 percent to direct revenue.

Following alterations to tourism policy during Nasheed’s time in office (2008 – 2012) guest houses on inhabited islands have increased almost ten fold over the past five years.

While efforts to further develop the model are continuing with the Addu City guesthouse project, the government has introduced its own integrated resort development concept with a pilot project in Laamu atoll.

The government has touted the project as way to “responsibly diversify” the tourism product while protecting the industry’s high-end luxury image, though critics have questioned the benefit to smaller communities.

Giving the keynote speech at the three-day forum in Colombo, Nasheed said that the success of guest houses had demonstrated that they could bring sustainable businesses to the islands.

“By exploring new policy options – and dealing with key issues such as accessibility, waste or energy – we can build stronger, more sustainable, more inclusive economies,” he said.

He noted that the “ultimate guarantor of success”, however, remained the response to climate change.

“Often, climate change adaptation is the single biggest budget item in small island states. And on current projections that is not expected to get any smaller. So we should support ambitious action internationally, but we can also pursue cleaner development at home.”

Describing the technology of the fossil fuel industry as “Victorian”, Nasheed said that carbon neutrality was possible – as demonstrated by the growing use of solar power in the Maldives, as well as renewable technologies in other small island states.

“The sun is not just for the tourists to enjoy. It is also our biggest energy resource,” he added. “The ocean that surrounds our islands and the sun that shines on us is the future of our survival.”

The government has recently announced a five-year target to generate 30 percent of electricity used during daylight hours in the 196 inhabited islands of the Maldives from renewable energy sources.

Other speakers at this week’s forum include Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Vice President of Hitachi Yasuo Tanabe, and Vice President of the KMSD Asian Development Bank Bondu N. Lohani.

The forum – first held in 2004 – aims this year to discover opportunities for enhancing interregional connectivity and investment within the context of inclusive and sustainable development.


Related to this story

Government launches guest house island project

How will guest house islands benefit the community?

Addu City Council reveals plans to develop 2000 guesthouse beds

Q&A: Minister of Tourism Ahmed Adeeb

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High Court to rule on Majlis reappointment of auditor general

The High Court has today accepted a complaint lodged by former Auditor General (AG) Niyaz Ibrahim challenging the appointment of his replacement.

Niyaz was dismissed from his job when President Abdulla Yameen on Monday approved Hassan Ziyath as the new AG hours after 59 MPs voted in his favour.

The ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) had pushed through a surprise amendment to the Audit Act on October 29 requiring the AG be reappointed within 30 days.

Niyaz’s lawyer Ibrahim Riffath told Minivan News Niyaz could not be dismissed half way through his seven year term through an amendment to the Audit Act.

“Article 215 of the Constitution clearly sets the AG’s term to seven years. Niyaz was appointed in May 2011. Further, Article 218 states the AG’s position only becomes vacant if the incumbent resigns or through a no confidence vote by the People’s Majlis,” he explained.

“The Majlis will have to amend the constitution to dismiss him by any other means.”

Niyaz has also requested that the High Court issue an injunction on the enforcement of the new amendment.

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PG submits Thinadhoo terrorism cases for the second time

Prosecutor General Muhthaz Muhsin has submitted terrorism charges against 89 individuals from Gaaf Dhaal Thinadhoo Island for the second time.

Criminal Court Chief Judge Abdulla first threw out the Thinadhoo cases on Saturday (November 22) after state prosecutors failed to attend a hearing scheduled for 10am.

Mushin resubmitted the cases yesterday, but the Judge Abdulla refused to accept the cases claiming he was uncertain if state prosecutors would cooperate with the trial.

The PG office submitted a letter assuring Judge Abdulla of their cooperation, and has appealed his decision to reject the case at the High Court.

The 89 are accused of setting fire to government buildings on Thinadhoo following former President Mohamed Nasheed’s ouster in February 2012.

Judge Abdulla had last week ordered 55 of the 89 defendants be held in detention pending the outcome of the trials, claiming the accused were intimidating witnesses. All have since been released.

Nasheed has called on Muhsin to respect the judge’s decision stating: “Abdulla Mohamed has decided the case is invalid. When the prosecutor general submits the same cases to his desk again saying he has the power and authority of the state, that is an affront to the rule of law and courts.”

The former president also said that the military’s detention of the judge during his tenure was “wrong”.

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Niyaz challenges auditor general reappointment clause at High Court

Former Auditor General (AG) Niyaz Ibrahim has requested the High Court to declare the People’s Majlis’ decision to reappoint the AG as unconstitutional.

President Abdulla Yameen yesterday approved Hassan Ziyath as the new AG hours after 59 MPs voted in his favor. The ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) had pushed through a surprise amendment to the Audit Act on October 29 requiring the AG be reappointed within 30 days.

Speaking to Minivan News, Niyaz’s lawyer Ibrahim Riffath said Niyaz could not be dismissed half way through his seven year term through an amendment to the Audit Act.

“Article 215 of the Constitution clearly sets the AG’s term to seven years. Niyaz was appointed in May 2011. Further, Article 218 states the AG’s position only becomes vacant if the incumbent resigns or through a no confidence vote by the People’s Majlis,” he explained.

“The Majlis will have to amend the constitution to dismiss him by any other means.”

Niyaz has also requested that the High Court issue an injunction on the enforcement of the new amendment.

According to Riffath, the High Court is yet to make a decision on accepting the case as the matter had been lodged at the Supreme Court as a public interest litigation matter.

The Supreme Court this evening rejected the case. The High Court now has no legal barriers in examining the case, Riffath said.

“This is a very sensitive issue. I hope the High Court expedites a verdict. If the amendment is unconstitutional, as we believe it to be, then the legality of the current auditor general’s actions are questionable.”

Yameen’s appointment of Ziyath for the post has raised controversy as his brother, Abdulla Ziyath was recently implicated in a US$6million corruption scandal alongside tourism minister Ahmed Adeeb.

Niyaz had revealed the corrupt transactions in a special audit report a day after PPM MPs pushed through the Audit Act amendment.

The audit report accused Abdulla Ziyath, the Managing Director of state owned Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) of illegally pushing through loans worth US$6million from state funds to two private companies owned by Adeeb’s family members.

Adeeb has denied allegations, and accused Niyaz of colluding with MP and former Deputy Speaker of parliament Ahmed Nazim in releasing the audit report. Adeeb suggested Nazim had a personal vendetta against him following his refusal to support Nazim for the Majlis Speakership in May.

The Criminal Court on October 26 withheld Nazim’s passport on allegations of blackmail.

Hassan Ziyath yesterday received cross party support from ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM), its allies the Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) and Jumhooree Party, as well as the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

MDP MPs including ‘Reeko’ Moosa Manik, Ahmed Marzooq, ‘Rukuma’ Mohamed Abdul Kareem and Ibrahim ‘Mavota’ Shareef voted in favor despite the party previously claiming the amendment was unconstitutional.

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Two MNDF officers and a policeman arrested in Malé drug bust

The Maldives Police Services has arrested two officers of the Maldives National Defense Forces (MNDF) and a policeman in a drug bust this morning.

Speaking to the press today, Drug Enforcement Department’s (DED) Head Superintendent Ahmed Shifan said three individuals were arrested at Avista café in Malé on suspicion of drug trafficking.

Following the arrest, the police conducted a search of Sinamalé apartment 12-03, and found 18 bullets of suspected heroin and tools to pack narcotics. A fourth man was arrested at the apartment.

The police officer arrested in the case is 28 years of age while the two MNDF officers are 24 years of age and 28 years of age.

A further two men were arrested on charges of drug trafficking in Malé this week. They were caught on the stairway of Galholu Mithuru in Malé with 27 pieces of cellophane and 23 packets thought to contain illegal drugs.

There has been a spike in the number of police officers arrested in drug busts this year.

In March, the police arrested a police sergeant in a drug bust involving 24 kg of heroin. The MVR36 million haul is the largest from a police operation in the country’s history. Four Maldivians, three Bangladeshis and 11 Pakistanis were also taken into custody.

Police later revealed that the officer had used a local money transfer service to send money to an Iranian agent.

Local media reported in August that the officer was among three Maldivian suspects released from custody after the Prosecutor General’s Office decided there was insufficient evidence for prosecution.

On November 11, a police officer and eight others were arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking from Lhaviyani Atoll Hinnavaru Island.

According to the police, 16 bullet-sized rubber packets of “a substance suspected to be drugs,” 241 bullet-sized rubber packets of heroin, and 145 packets of hash oil were seized during an operation conducted by the DED in Hinnavaru.

A police officer and two others were also arrested in a drug bust in Addu City in October.

Speaking at a conference of police division and atoll commanders on October 22, Home Minister Umar Naseer said criminal gangs in the atolls were attempting to infiltrate the police by forging personal relationships with police officers stationed in their islands.

Gangs attempt to “penetrate” police stations in order to gather information to carry out criminal activities, he said.

Naseer said complaints have been received from various islands about offenders quickly learning of a crime being reported to the police.

Information was thus “leaking” from within the police, he added.

“So some people hesitate to share information with some police stations. This is very regrettable,” he said.

Commanders in the atolls should ensure that police officers do not fraternise with known criminals or suspected drug dealers, Naseer urged.

Naseer said he had received complaints from various islands about police officers spending time with suspected drug dealers when they were off-duty.

Commanders should be aware of who their subordinate officers “go to coffees or picnics with,” he advised, which should be controlled to ensure the “credibility of the police force on that island or atoll.”

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