Police have arrested a man on charges of sexually abusing a 13 year old girl with disabilities.
The arrested man is a 25-year-old male – reportedly a friend of the victim’s family.
Both the victim and the arrested man are from the island of Gaafaru in Kaafu Atoll.
While confirming the arrest, police declined to provide further details on the case.
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(0)The Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure has contracted the Maldives Road Development Corporation to build nine main roads in the island of Fonadhoo in Laamu Atoll.
The project is estimated to cost MVR47 million (US$3 million) which is funded for in the state budget.
The roads are to be built with tar, while the first phase will see the construction of pavements in all nine roads.
As per the agreement, the project is to be completed within 18 months after the work commences.
(0)Dislikes(0)Netherlands based maritime infrastructure company Royal Boskalis Westminster is committing “serious environmental crimes” in the Maldives, a local environmental group has said.
The company – claimed to have the world’s largest dredging fleet – has come under fire for mining sand from the country’s only UNESCO biosphere reserve in Baa Atoll.
It also failed to build a barrier to prevent excess dredge soil from spilling onto the reef in Baa Atoll Eydhaushi Island – a move that could cause serious damage to the fragile ecosystem.
“Boskalis has to leave the Maldives now,” Ecocare founder Maeed M. Zahir told Minivan News.
The US$ 37 million four-island reclamation project has reclaimed 20 hectares in Dhaalu Atoll Meedhoo Island in March and 33 hectares in Baa Atoll Eydhafushi Island last week. Work is ongoing on Kaafu Atoll Thulusdhoo Island while a date for reclamation in Dhaalu Atoll Kudahuvadhoo Island has not yet been set.
In the two islands where reclamation was completed houses and vegetation on the shorelines were also covered in fine mixture of sand and salt due to the use of the “rainbow technique” which propels soil into the air.
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has previously said fine sand particles thrust into the air by the rainbow technique could cause lung and respiratory issues.
Housing Ministry complicit
Maeed accused the Housing Ministry of being complicit in Bosaklis’ violation of environmental regulations, noting the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) had issued several warnings ordering the company to stop unsafe dredging.
“The Housing Ministry’s failure to stop the project means the ministry is pushing Boskalis. By the time, the EPA warnings arrive, the damage is already done,” he said.
Minister of Environment and Energy Thoriq Ibrahim told Minivan News the EPA is investigating the case.
According to Maeed, the EPA had said it will impose a fine on Boskalis, but the agency has failed to do so. He called for the EPA to be removed from the Environment Ministry’s remit and given greater powers as an independent body to prevent violations in the future.
Boskalis began dredging in Meedhoo in March, but the EPA halted the project temporarily for failure to follow procedures recommended in an environmental impact assessment report.
Instead of using pipelines to transport dredged sand to the shore, Bosaklis dredgers propelled sand and salt through the air covering houses and vegetation on the shoreline in debris.
Housing Minister Mohamed Muizz told local media at the time that safety measures would be followed in the future.
However, Boskalis used the same techniques in Baa Atoll Eydhafushi Island, and furthermore, dredged sand from the UNESCO biosphere reserve and transported it to Thulusdhoo Island in Kaafu Atoll for ongoing land reclamation.
Eydhafushi residents spotted a Boskalis dredger carrying sand away from the island this weekend, and raised the issue with the EPA.
Eydhafushi Island Councillor Mohamed Riza said the company had not sought permission from the local government to mine sand from the atoll.
Baa Atoll was declared a biosphere reserve in June 2011. It is the first of it’s kind in the Maldives.
President Abdulla Yameen inaugurated the Thuludhoo reclamation project this morning.
(0)Dislikes(0)With additional reporting by Daniel Bosley
The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) has noted the increase of child participation in serious crimes, stating that children coerced or forced into committing such crimes should not be prosecuted.
“It has come to our notice that children are taking part in serious crimes of late. As children are persons who are sometimes unable to reflect on their situations and judge wrong from right, the number of children who realise they are committing a crime will be few,” the commission said.
The HRCM described it as “unacceptable that some adults are coercing children to commit crimes so that they can remain safely in the background and free of legal repercussions while it is the children who are prosecuted for these crimes.”
“Crimes involving children must be fairly investigated, and those who coerce the children to commit those crimes must be duly prosecuted and brought to justice,” the statement continued.
The participation of young people in Malé’s prominent gang culture has been well documented, as have the links between organised crime and powerful local politicians and businessmen.
Police Commissioner Hussain Waheed also noted the increase in child offenders, stating that theft, assault, drug abuse, and mugging were the most common crimes into which children are coerced.
Waheed spoke of the importance of organising a national level movement to bring an end to children being forced to participate in criminal activity.
The HRCM called upon parents to be mindful and for the relevant state authorities to raise the rights of the child as their highest priority.
The commission’s statement – released on the occasion of Children’s Day – followed the government’s introduction of regulation enabling the reintroduction of the death penalty last month, which allows for the sentencing of juvenile offenders once they turn 18.
Urging repeal of the new regulations, the spokesman for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ravina Shamdasani, has said that such “deeply regrettable” practices contravened international law.
“We urge the Government to retain its moratorium on the use of the death penalty in all circumstances, particularly in cases that involve juvenile offenders and to work towards abolishing the practice altogether,” said Shamdasani.
(0)Dislikes(0)The Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) will undertake a membership drive, former president and leader of ruling party Maumoon Abdul Gayoom announced on Saturday.
At a meeting with the incumbent and newly elected PPM parliamentarians, Gayoom asserted that it was vital to further strengthen the party in order to ensure that it remains in government. He stated that the best way to do so is to increase the general membership.
He announced that the party has selected a ‘task force’ to undertake the work of increasing membership, and that work has already commenced in several atolls.
(0)Dislikes(0)A clean up project took place yesterday (May 10) in the Maldvies Baa Atoll – the Maldives’ first certified UNESCO biosphere reserve.
The clean up of Hanifaru Island and Hanifu reef maintenance was carried out by a large group of volunteers from within the reserve – including local councillors, police officers, and resort workers.
Baa Atoll was officially launched as a Biosphere Reserve in June 2012 by former President Dr Mohamed Waheed.
Obtaining the status of UNESCO biosphere resulted in significnant funding for the atoll, with the UNDP handing over a cheque for US$250,000 as a contribution to the fund at the opening ceremony.
Tourist resorts in Baa Atoll, including Soneva Fushi, Coco Palm, Four Seasons, and Anantara and several other resorts have also pledged donations.
The Baa Atoll Conservation Fund will be used to finance projects to conserve the environment in the atoll as well to support livelihood activities.
The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) coordinates a world network of over 500 biospheres, which are designated as areas of conservation and innovative sustainable development.
In a recent statement from the Biosphere Reserve Office, the organisers extended their gratitude to everyone who helped with the clean up, assuring that together they can achieve the common goal of managing the reserve.
Participants in the cleanup of Hanifaru included those from the atoll council, Eydhafushi Island Council, Baa Atoll Education Centre, the Maldives Police Services, and Baa Atoll Hospital. The Hanifaru reef cleanup and maintenance was undertaken by Four Seasons, Seamarc, Reathbeach Resort, Dusit Thani, Seasplash, and Kihaad Maldives.
(0)Dislikes(0)India’s Army Chief General Bikram Singh has offered to build a dockyard worth MVR 7.7 billion (US$ 500 million) in the Maldives in his ongoing visit, Indian media has reported.
According to the Deccan Herald, China had already offered to develop the Uthuru Thilafalhu lagoon in the archipelago’s north.
Reclamation work is already underway in the area. Once completed, it will serve as the Maldivian Coastguard’s primary operations base and will provide a much-needed berthing space to naval ships and ocean liners.
India’s Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh, during a visit to the Maldives in February, visited the Uthuru Thilafalhu project site. Minivan News understands discussions are underway on Indian investment in the project, but it is not clear if a decision has yet been made.
In recent months, India has been steadily increasing defense cooperation with the Maldives including the gifting of two ‘Dhruv’ Advanced Lightweight Helicopters (ALH) and development of the military hospital Senahiya.
Ties with India came under strain during President Dr Mohamed Waheed’s administration in the aftermath of Indian infrastructure giant GMR’s abrupt eviction. The company had won a concession agreement to develop the main airport.
Waheed went on to strengthen military ties with China, sparking Indian concern over “a Chinese policy to throw a ‘string of pearls’ – or a circle of influence – around India.”
Speaking during an official trip to India earlier this year, new President Abdulla Yameen stated that while the Maldives has “close ties” with China, “nothing will precede ties with India, which are far more precious”.
“While we have had a slight rough patch with India, the time of good relations far outweigh the rough patches we had. I suppose it is easy for us to be on the right track again,” Yameen said, referring to the airport dispute.
Singh’s visit is the first by a serving Indian Defense Chief since General Deepak Kapoor’s visit in February 2010.
An Indian High Commission press release on Tuesday said Singh’s three day visit – set to conclude today – will “further enhance bilateral defense cooperation.”
“India’s commitment to Maldives defense has been growing with each passing year. Both countries have inter-linked mutual security interests which need to be protected for the safety and security of the South Asian region and the Indian Ocean,” the statement said.
During his visit, Singh met with President Yameen, Defense Minister Mohamed Nazim and the Maldivian Chief of Defense Forces Ahmed Shiyam.
Singh also discussed the possibility of supplying fast-attack craft, amphibious landing craft and small arms from New Delhi, reported the Deccan Herald.
Another potential project is to train 40-60 officers of the Maldivian National Defence Force (MNDF) in Indian training establishments, the article continued.
“All such topics were discussed. But we will reveal details at a later time,” said MNDF Deputy Spokesperson Captain Ali Ihusaan, when asked for a comment on reports by Indian news sources.
Chinese investments including a US$54 million for an IT infrastructure project sparked Indian concern in 2013, with Indian Ministry of Communications and IT saying Beijing’s state owned companies must be “kept at bay.”
According to Indian media, the ministry – in an internal government note – suggested “substantial investment in the Maldives on similar projects [as being planned by China] ensuring that the traffic between India and the Maldives is handled through the equipment installed and commissioned in the Maldives by India.”
(0)Dislikes(0)The Public Health Unit (PHU) has warned Baa Atoll Eydhafushi Island residents against drinking or cooking with rainwater following a “black rain” shower on Tuesday.
Similar incidents of black colored rain were reported in Meemu Atoll Kolhufushi Island in 2011, and Haa Dhaal Atoll Kulhudhuffushi Island in 2006.
In 2013 there were further reports on Haa Dhaal Atoll Nolhivaram Island and Haa Dhaal Atoll Kurimbi Island, and in Dhaalu Atoll Meedhoo Island.
However, little seems to be known about the health implications of this occurrence. Islanders have speculated the phenomenon maybe acid rain.
“We advise people not to use the water for drinking or cooking, but they might be able to give it to their plants,” a Health Protection Agency (HPA) official told Minivan News.
The HPA said they have not observed any negative health effects from black rain yet.
Islanders are heavily dependent on rainwater for cooking and drinking, but many are now turning to store-bought mineral water as reserves run low in the dry season.
Senior Community Health Officer at Baa Atoll Hospital Sidqi Abdulla told Minivan News islanders were not concerned about threats posed by polluted water to their water supplies as the black rain was only seen on some parts of the island.
“This is the first time we’ve seen black rain in Eydhafushi,” he said.
However, he noted increased water insecurity in the island due to intrusion of saltwater into groundwater.
Although state officials have yet to confirm the reason for the black rain, research carried out by University of California’s Professor Veerabhadran Ramanathan indicates there is ten times more pollutants in the air mass north of the Maldives compared with the south.
The Cloud Aerosol Radiative Forcing Dynamics Experiment (CARDEX) carried out in 2012 suggests that soot and carbon from India are captured in ‘brown clouds,’ which drift over the North of the archipelago.
This pollutant layer, he argues, is an insidious mixture of soot, sulphates, nitrates and ash, Ramanathan has said.
Only the southern tip of the long island chain enjoys clean air coming all the way from Antarctica.
“The stunning part of the experiment was this pollutant layer which was three kilometre thick, cut down the sunlight reaching the ocean by more than 10%,” Ramanathan said in a BBC interview.
(0)Dislikes(1)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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