Tag: MNDF

Two MNDF officers accused of robbery return to work

Two Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) officers facing charges of robbing expatriates in uniform last year have returned to work following the conclusion of their investigation.

MNDF Spokesperson Colonel Abdul Raheem told newspaper Haveeru that the officers had been assigned duty and that their investigation was concluded.

The cases have now been forwarded to the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) to be tried at the Criminal Court. If either officer is found guilty, Raheem said the MNDF would take “strict action”.

On August 29 last year, police arrested the three MNDF officers accused of entering an expatriate residence in Male’ in army uniform and robbing the Bangladeshi workers with threats of violence.

The MNDF officers were identified as Lance Corporal Ali Ibrahim, 26, of Lhaviyani Hinnavaru Aaramuge, and Private Hussein Mahir, 23, of Laamu Mundhoo Finifenmaage. They were taken into custody with the stolen cash.

Following the arrests, the MNDF said it was “working with the police to take the harshest legal action possible” against the errant officers.

According to local media reports at the time, the three officers robbed expatriate workers living in Maafanu Pink Rose on Fareedhee Magu on a number of occasions during Ramadan last year.

Newspaper Haveeru reported that the uniformed officers entered the house on three consecutive nights and took Rf30,000 (US$1,945), Rf24,000 (US$1,556) and Rf12,000 (US$778) respectively.

The two officers were reportedly confronted by members of the public on the third night, who informed the police.

MNDF Spokesperson Colonel Abdul Raheem did not respond to Minivan News at time of press.

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Government silent over Maldives bankruptcy claims

The government has refused to comment on claims made in local media by leader of the coalition-aligned Jumhoree Party (JP) that the Maldives was now bankrupt and already unable to pay some civil servants.

JP Leader and MP Gasim Ibrahim claimed that despite government efforts, the Maldives was now bankrupt and unable to pay some civil servants after steady economic decline within the nation, according to newspaper Haveeru.

Just last month, Parliament’s Financial Committee revealed that expected revenue for 2012 had plunged 23 percent, whilst spending was set to increase by almost 24 percent.

President’s Office Spokesperson Abbas Adil Riza today said that he was unaware of the bankruptcy comments linked to Gasim and could not comment on the matter, referring Minivan News to Minister of Finance and Treasury Abdulla Jihad.

Both Jihad and Economic Development Minister Ahmed Mohamed were not responding to calls by Minivan News at the time of press.

Although the country’s Civil Service Commission (CSC) said that it had been involved in discussions with the Minister of Finance to try and overcome economic concerns, Chairman Mohamed Fahmy Hassan said that there had as yet been no issue with payments to staff.

“As of last month, all payments have been made in full, however it is the Finance Ministry who would know about the current situation,” he said.

Speaking to Minivan News on Saturday, Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) spokesperson Major Abdul Raheem said despite some reports circulating to the contrary, he was not aware of any problems with payments to military officers.

Spending review

In attempts to counter its present spending shortfall, the government has unveiled proposals such as a revision to the country’s import duties and Goods and Services Tax (GST) to alleviate its financial difficulties.

The proposals have come under criticism from former finance chiefs serving under the previous government, who allege that such changes “do not make sense”.

Whilst committed to reducing state expenditure, Jihad recently announced his aim to avoid cutting the salaries of civil servants in order to tackle the nation’s budget deficit, seeking to make savings in other areas of expenditure first.

“Civil servants are the lowest ranking of all government employees. We will try to cut all non-wage expenditure by 15 percent. Salaries will be considered after this,” he said at the time.

Despite this pledge, Jihad added that a review of public salaries was set to be conducted by a pay review board that would also focus on independent commissions in order to reach an agreement on the necessary reductions.

Civil Service salaries

Between 2004 and 2009, the country’s fiscal deficit increased exponentially on the back of a 400 percent increase in the government’s wage bill.

The year’s 2007 to 2009 included the most significant largesse as the World Bank found wage expenditure to have increased from Rf 2 billion to almost Rf 5 billion even as revenues began to recede.

According to statistics from the Civil Service Commission (CSC), the number of permanent civil servants has more than halved between 2006 and June 2011.  There has been some contention in the past, however, that the transfer of many civil servants to state owned companies under the previous government masked the true figures.

The Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) published figures for May that estimated the government will spend Rf2.6billion (US$168 million) on salaries and wages in 2012.

Maldives Bankrupt?

JP Leader Gasim – himself a former finance minister – claimed the Maldives had already been bankrupted after steady economic declines in recent years. He said that the evidence of the country’s troubled economy may not be immediately apparent, but would be seen in the “near future” as the state lacked the “necessary finance” to settle debts, according to Haveeru.

Gasim was reported as saying that “pointing fingers and blaming others” would not provide the country with an economic solution, calling instead for parliament to pass bills to alleviate the economic situation. The nature of these bills were not specified in local media.

Gasim’s phone was today switched off, while JP presidential candidate Ibrahim Didi was not responding to calls.

However speaking to local media, the JP leader added that the “actions of some” had negatively impacted on the nation’s economy, pointing to what he claimed were calls for a boycott of the Maldivian tourism industry.

Gasim, Maldives Vice President Waheed Deen and Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) MP Abdulla Jabir are among a number of figures associated with the present coalition government that are included in a list of resort owners included in the Maldives Tourism Advisory (MTA).

The advisory, established by the Friends of Maldives NGO, has a website utilising a ‘traffic light’ system recommending guests avoid resorts alleged by the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) to be directly linked in bringing about February’s controversial transfer of power.

Travel associations in the country have in turn criticised the MTA, expressing “serious concern” over what it alleged was a “concerted international campaign against several of the country’s resort operators.

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Reformed CNI ready to begin work from Thursday: President’s Office

The government has said the reformed Commission of National Inquiry (CNI) will be in a position to officially begin its work from Thursday (June 21) with the arrival to the country of an as-yet unnamed Singaporean judge chosen to co-chair the body.

The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) continues to allege the government is working to delay reforms to the CNI that have been backed by the Commonwealth, however the government has claimed the commission would start work upon the judge’s arrival.

President’s Office spokesperson Abbas Adil Riza told Minivan News that the entire panel would be in place to begin its work following the arrival of the judge, adding that there had been “no delays” in revising the CNI in line with Commonwealth and international concerns about its impartiality.

“As it stands right now, President Waheed has met with (Former president Nasheed’s nominee) Ahmed ‘Gahaa’ Saeed, who will be taking up his position on the panel from Sunday (June 17). He will then have access to the CNI’s findings other and information,” he said. “On June 21, the Singaporean judge will be arriving and work will then start.”

The CNI was established by President Mohamed Waheed Hassan to investigate the controversial transfer of power that took place on February 7. The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) claimed that Nasheed was forced out of office in a coup d’etat.

The composition of the panel has since been revised to include a representative of former President Mohamed Nasheed and a retired Singaporean judge, as well as international monitors from both the Commonwealth and UN.

Riza added that the government had been in touch with the Commonwealth regarding the latest developments and said the intergovernmental organisation was “satisfied” with the work being undertaken.

He added that the commission, including the original three member panel of Chair Ismail Shafeeu, Defence Minister under former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Dr Ibrahim Yasir and Dr Ali Fawaz Shareef were all ready to begin work.

However, following a tense, but largely peaceful demonstration by MDP supporters yesterday – led by former President Mohamed Nasheed – the party claimed that the government was working to try and “deceive” the international community over commitments to conduct its work.  The CNI was expected to have been reformed by June 15.

“Cat and mouse game”

MDP Spokesperson and MP Hamid Abdul Ghafoor alleged today that the president had been playing a “cat and mouse game” with the composition of a reformed CNI.  He added that uncertainty remained over whether the three previous CNI members would continue on in their position, or if replacements would be needed.

Ghafoor claimed the government had been responsible for several delays to deadlines set by the Commonwealth to enact changes to the CNI.

“One month on from May 16, we have seen the government delay the appointment of a representative for [former] President Nasheed, now it seems another twenty days could be needed to resolve this current mess,” he said. “This whole saga suggests the president wishes to deceive the international community over the CNI in the hope interest will be lost in the idea of backing early elections. I do not think the MDP is in the mood to tolerate this.”

Hamid added that despite the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group’s (CMAG) having scheduled its next meeting for September, he expected for the Maldives’ political situation and the CNI to be on the agenda of a teleconference held by the group on Wednesday (June 20). CMAG, which is the Commonwealth’s human rights arm, has taken an active role in calling for revisions to the CNI, as well as backing early elections to be held in the country during 2012.

MDP uncertainty

While the government has today said that Ismail Shafeeu will continue to serve as co-chair on the CNI with Dr Ibrahim Yasir and Dr Ali Fawaz Shareef also retaining their positions, the MDP claimed there was uncertainty over what role they may play.

Pointing to the publication this month of a ‘timeline’ of events by the former three-member CNI panel for “finding public opinion” on the transfer of power, Hamid pointed to comments previously made by the panel’s members that their work had now been completed.

The 282-point Dhivehi ‘timeline’ document does not feature any input from the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), who contested the panel’s impartiality prior to the re-composition. The report begins its findings on the day police attempted to summon Chief Judge of the Criminal Court, to the day the controversial transfer of power took place. The panel conducted interviews with assorted non-MDP participants, however the report does not source its findings.

The MDP have maintained that with the former CNI’s mandate having expired last month, uncertainty remained over whether the panel’s original three members were committed to the revised body or not.

The party has repeatedly called for Shafeeu to be removed, citing his connection to Gayoom, leader of government-aligned Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM). Dr Waheed had previously confirmed he has no intention of changing Shafeeu or two other members during the scheduled reformation.

Nasheed criticisms

Speaking to reporters at Male’ City Hall after voting in the MDP’s internal elections today, former President Mohamed Nasheed said that the government did not wish to reconstitute the CNI despite President Mohamed Waheed’s insistence that the reformed CNI would be able to begin proceedings mid-June.

Responding to questions from the press, Nasheed noted that it was halfway through June and it was still unclear whether former CNI members Dr Ibrahim Yasir, Ali Fawaz and Ismail Shafeeu would remain on the reconstituted commission.

Nasheed accused the government of “deliberately” delaying the reconstitution of the CNI. He added that CMAG was expected to hold a session on the Maldives’ political situation next Wednesday.

“CMAG gave additional time to the Maldivian government to complete the work it asked to be done by May 17,” he explained. “But [the Waheed administration] hasn’t done it. They haven’t constituted the commission.”

Friday demonstration

Nasheed at MDP protestAside from the work of the CNI, MDP supporters yesterday continued calls for President Waheed’s resignation and early elections during a protest around the capital that police say resulted in one protester being taken into custody for throwing a bottle at security forces.

The MDP has been protesting around Male’ every Friday during the last few months – with varying numbers of participants – to voice criticisms over the legitimacy of the current government, which it contends came to power in a “coup d’etat”.  Former President Nasheed took part in yesterday’s demonstration, which the party claimed saw tense stand off with security forces, despite only one participant being taken into custody.

Hamid said yesterday’s protest also made a point of criticising the “arbitrary arrest” of Chief Superintendent Mohamed Hameed on Thursday, owing to his contribution to the MDP’s own report (Dhivehi) into February’s transfer of power.

Asked whether the high-profile publication of potentially sensitive information in the report could be construable as a criminal offence for those involved, Hamid contended that such as assumption was “based on the grounds that the present government is legitimate.”

Following an MDP national council resolution passed on February 8, 2011 the party agreed treat the transfer of power as an illegitimate act masterminded by members of the coalition government and mutinous sections of the police and Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).

“All the democratic changes that have been fought for in recent years we are now seeing slip away” he said.

Present at the protest yesterday, Hamid said the demonstrations were in the large part peaceful, even when members of the security forces marched through the gathered crowd.

“I suspect that this may have been done to try and incite the crowd so people might try and attack them,” he said. “A lot of people present did attempt to claw at the security forces, but they managed to pass through the crowd.”

With the former president in attendance at the time, Hamid added that supporters also wanted to keep Nasheed away from security officers, though he stressed that he did not believe police were coming for him.

Hamid also contended that the country’s security forces appeared to be in “disarray” at present, with protesters claiming that some officers were already not receiving salaries due to “bounced cheques”.

“The security forces had hoses, but no one was able or willing to use them on the crowd,” he added.

MNDF response

MNDF spokesperson Major Abdul Raheem said that the military was tasked yesterday specifically to protect a so-called “green zone” in Male’, that includes important structures and areas like the President’s residence and military headquarters.

“There was nothing special about yesterday’s operations. If there are any concerns about illegal activities police can come to us and ask for assistance,” he said.

Major Raheem also denied that there had been any difficulties in providing salaries to MNDF officers.

“I have received no information that payments have not been made to officers,” he added.

“Peaceful” and “calm”

Speaking to Minivan News today, police Spokesperson Sub-Inspector Hassan Haneef that the protests had proceeded in a generally “peaceful” and “calm” manner.

“One person involved in the protest was taken into custody for throwing a bottle, but  they were later released,” he said.

Haneef added that although water hoses were present as a potential means to control crowds, the decision had been taken by police not to use such measures.

“Operationally, we will prepare all the equipment we believe will be necessary [during protests],” he said. “However, the decision was taken that action such as hoses were not needed yesterday.”

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Four police, two army officers arrested on suspicion of robbing expatriates

Four police and two army officers along with two Bangladeshi nationals were taken into custody last week in connection with the robbery of a group of expatriate workers on June 8.

According to a statement by police on Thursday, the arrests were made in a special operation conducted jointly by police and the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) after reports of expatriate workers being “intimidated and robbed at their residences by a large group.”

“During the investigation after the suspects were taken into custody, the men confessed to police interrogators of having robbed a large amount of cash and expensive items from foreigners on a number of different occasions,” the police statement revealed.

The statement added that the case was accorded “a very high priority” due to the involvement of sworn police officers, assuring that action would be taken under the Police Act against those found guilty of committing crimes in uniform.

Police are meanwhile searching for one more suspect in connection with the robberies.

Local daily Haveeru reported that the group of police and army officers robbed expatriates from a residence near the State Bank of India at 5.30am on June 8.

The newspaper claimed that the suspects in custody included a member of the police investigative team and a Special Operations (S.O) officer.

A police officer was sentenced to nine months imprisonment previously after being found guilty of robbing expatriates in uniform. Meanwhile in September 2011, three MNDF officers were arrested on charges of entering an expatriate residence in uniform and robbing a group of Bangladeshi workers with threats of violence.

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Three police and an MNDF officer arrested for robbing expatriate workers

Police have arrested three police officers and a Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) officer after they allegedly robbed a large amount of cash from expatriate workers in a house near the State Bank of India (SBI) in Male’s Heniveru ward.

Newspaper Haveeru reported that one police officer was a member of the police investigations team, while another was a Special Operations (SO) officer.

Haveeru reported that the men entered the house and attacked and threatened the expatriate workers on Friday night around 9:00pm.

Two of the police officers were in uniform during the incident, according to Haveeru.

The paper reported that two police officers met one of the expatriates on the road and robbed him of his mobile phone, before heading towards the house the workers were living in.

Police Spokesperson Sub-Inspector Hassan Haneef today confirmed to Minivan News that a robbery was reported to police on Friday night.

Haneef said he could not confirm whether police officers and a MNDF officer were involved in the robbery.

‘’There were Maldivians involved in it,’’ he said, adding that this was all the information that he could share regarding the case at the moment.

Online newspaper Manadhoolive has also reported the same incident.

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MNDF to take action against officers found to have “violated laws” on Feb 7: Defence Minister

Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) officers who are found to have violated the laws and regulation during the events leading to the controversial transfer of powers on February 7, will face disciplinary action, Defence Minister Ahmed Nazim has said.

Hours before former President Mohamed Nasheed’s resignation on February 7, uniformed police and 60-70 officers from the MNDF were seen by reporters and recorded siding with opposition protesters, and attacking the MNDF headquarters.

Video footage also shows rogue police, military officers and civilians, armed with stones and wooden sticks storming the state broadcaster’s compound prior to Nasheed’s resignation, using a firearm or some kind of explosive to break down the gates – later claimed to be a riot gun, in the former Commission of National Inquiry (CNI’s) preemptive report.

Nasheed’s party accuses police and MNDF officers of taking bribes from the then- opposition to oust Nasheed from power in a premeditated coup d’état, and have continued to vociferously challenge the legitimacy of the new coalition government of Dr Mohamed Waheed.

Both police and MNDF have meanwhile dismissed the allegations and refrained from commenting on their role in the alleged coup until the CNI completes its investigation into the February 7 events.

Disciplinary action

However, at a press conference on Sunday morning, Defense Minister confirmed an “internal inquiry” was conducted within MNDF to find information on February 7 events.

“I believed it is of great importance to find information about why the sequence of events which occurred inside MNDF took place – Because then only we can correct anything that has to be corrected based on the findings.” Nazim observed.

He noted final report complied following the internal inquiry is with him and it will not be made public as it is an internal matter and it may “influence” the CNI’s ongoing investigation.

When Minivan News asked whether any actions are to be taken against MNDF officers who were found to have violated the law on February 7 during the inquiry, Nazim responded: “Necessary disciplinary measures will be taken by us for any action committed by MNDF personnel, found to have violated the laws and regulations of the  MNDF.”

However, so far, no such measures have been taken.

“We have an internal disciplinary committee. The committee will discuss and provide me with the steps that can be taken. Further action will proceed based on the recommendations,” said Nazim, who himself is facing accusations of being at the centre of organising the alleged coup.

Defense Minister Nazim’s involvement

Nazim today acknowledged that he is a “target” of allegations and repeated that he did not wish to further comment on the subject until the CNI concludes investigation.

However he continued to lambast the MDP’s report, calling it “an imaginary story”.

Recalling his victory in the civil suit filed against MDP government after he was sacked from the military, Nazim further encouraged officers – whose names and pictures have been published in the report – to file defamation suits against the MDP.

In a recently published MDP report on the February 7 events, ex-colonel Mohamed Nazim and ex-deputy commissioner Abdulla Riyaz (now Commissioner of police) have been accused of recruiting police and army officers to join the opposition’s protest.

Meanwhile, the  timeline released by the government’s three-member Inquiry Commission also states that between 8:00am to 9:00am “some of the military who had come out of the building [MNDF head quarters] joined with the police, who were calling for the president’s resignation outside the headquarters at the time.”

The report further says that it was Nazim and Riyaz who entered MNDF headquarters as the violence escalated outside, and proposed Nasheed “should resign without any condition”.

“We told them these are non-negotiable conditions. These are not things up for further discussion. We assure the beloved Maldivians, military and police who are with us that, God willing, these things will happen this way by the deadline we have set for 1:30 today.” Nazim publicly announced on the morning of February 7, after coming out of the headquaters.

Asked on what grounds and on whose command he made a non-negotiable condition for Nasheed’s resignation, he commented: “The message I gave represented the sentiments of people outside. I gave their message on what they wanted.”

As some military officers were also seen outside with police and opposition protestors, Minivan News asked whether the message to unconditionally resign represented what that military officers wanted.

Nazim however replied, “We will know that after the investigation. We cannot blame any specific person.”

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MNDF threatens legal action over “imaginary” Ameen-Aslam coup report

The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) released a statement yesterday threatening legal action against “those who make false claims about the Maldivian military, issue reports, and act in ways that causes loss of public confidence in this institution.”

The MNDF statement follows the publication of a detailed investigative report by former ministers in the ousted Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) government: Environment Minister Mohamed Aslam and National Security Advisor Ameen Faisal (also former Defence Minister).

The Ameen-Aslam report alleged that military intelligence had learned of the then-opposition’s plan to topple the government by soliciting “about 500 police officers to protest at the Republic Square” and highlights “unlawful and criminal activity” of mutinying police officers in the events leading up to former President Mohamed Nasheed’s resignation “under duress” on February 7.

The MNDF statement strongly condemned and expressed concern with “those of a particular political ideology making false claims and issuing reports about the Maldivian military, inciting hatred among the beloved Maldivian people toward the military and causing loss of public confidence [in the institution].”

The military “would not hesitate to take necessary action within the bounds of law against any danger to national security,” the statement added.

President’s Office Spokesperson Abbas Adil Riza told Minivan News yesterday that the inclusion in the Ameen-Aslam report of the names of police and MNDF officers accused of involvement in the alleged coup was an “act of terrorism”.

“The report is illegal and an act of terrorism. They can’t reveal the names of officers of the security forces like that and threaten their families,” he said.

Asked if the government intended to take action against either the MDP or the co-authors of the report, Abbas said “the security services will decide on the matter.”

Speaking at a press conference this morning, Defence Minister Mohamed Nazim called on MNDF officers named in the report to sue for defamation.

Nazim said the officers had the right to clear their names and protect the dignity and reputation of their families, revealing that “internal discussions” were ongoing on the issue.

“The imaginary report released recently had names of some people in it,” he said. “I have told them to go to court and challenge it.”

He added that he would make a decision whether to sue the co-authors for defamation himself after due consideration.

Nazim was named in the report as “a coup leader” tasked with recruiting MNDF senior and middle-ranking officers to the cause of toppling Nasheed’s government.

The defence ministry would provide “any assistance we can” to the officers who intend to file defamation cases, Nazim said. Defamation was decriminalised in 2009 and made a civil offence with Rf5,000 (US$324) as compensation.

The MNDF statement meanwhile contended that the report was politically-motivated, contained baseless claims and was “irresponsible” in identifying individual officers accused of planning the coup.

The report’s naming of individuals in the military “achieves nothing apart from sullying the good name, reputation, honour and dignity of innocent people,” the statement read.

Ameen Faisal and Mohamed Aslam were unavailable for comment at time of press.

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HRCM’s report on Judge Abdulla case sent to PG

The Human Rights Commission of Maldives’ (HRCM) report into the detention of Chief Justice Abdulla Mohamed has been completed and forwarded to the Prosecutor General’s (PG) Office, Sun Online has reported.

“We received the report from HRCM after office hours yesterday. We are assessing the report now. We have requested them to send the statements and evidence in relation to this case,” an official at the PG’s official told Sun.

HRCM member Ahmed Abdul Kareem told Sun the decision on whether to disclose the report to the media had not yet been made.

The PG will now decide on how to proceed with the charges against former President Mohamed Nasheed in relation his role in detaining judge for 22 days at the Maldives National Defence Force’s (MNDF) training centre at Girifushi.

Judge Abdulla was arrested by the MNDF on January 16 this year, in compliance with a police request. The judge’s whereabouts were not revealed until January 18. He was released the day the presidency changed hands.

The charges against Nasheed state that the Judges detention were in violation of the constitution.

Former President Nasheed gave his testimony to the HRCM in March, saying: “The Home Minister wrote to the Defense Minister that Abdulla Mohamed’s presence in the courts was a threat to national security. And to take necessary steps. And that step, the isolation of Abdulla Mohamed, was what the [Defense] Ministry deemed necessary.”

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MNDF “symbol of holiness of our nation”: President Waheed

President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan has pledged to improve the welfare of Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) personnel and their families as part of commitments to strengthen the nation’s security forces.

Sections of the country’s police and defence forces have come under criticism during the last few months from opposition politicians and their supporters over the alleged role both institutions played in bringing the new government to power.

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) claims that Mohamed Nasheed, the country’s first democratically elected president, was removed under “duress” on February 7 by mutinous elements within the police and MNDF following weeks of protests across the capital of Male’ over the detention of a chief judge accused of corruption.

Despite the allegations, local media reported yesterday that President Waheed praised the ongoing role of the military in protecting the nation by land, sea and air.  His government was also said to have committed to “strengthen and develop” the role of security forces across the nation, claiming that a “large majority” of the public supported the military’s work on the transfer of power on February 7.

“MNDF is our country’s protective shield. They are the symbol of holiness of our nation. So every child who loves God and this country should be proud of the valuable services of MNDF,” Sun Online reported President Waheed as saying.

Aside from national defence, the MNDF is also charged with overseeing the nation’s fire-fighters and coastguard.

Last week, Addu City Mayor Abdulla Sodig said the MNDF’s southern command had been “very supportive” during the last few years in helping to maintain water supplies to the region amidst concerns over shortages.

“Ongoing process”

The President’s Office told Minivan News today that government commitments to strengthen the MNDF were actually an ongoing process put in place in 2008 to decentralise the military into four regional command structures.

The government also claimed that scrutiny of the role played by the military during February’s controversial transfer of power represented a “minority view” of the public at large.

President Waheed’s latest commitments to bolster the military were made during a speech delivered to graduates of the MNDF’s 57th basic training course.

The speech discussed the expansion of the military throughout the country with the establishment of four area commands designed to try and bring its services “closer to the people.”

Dr Waheed also talked of the three major principles he believed were the foundation of a “true soldier”: staying firm to Islamic principles, providing selfless national service and maintaining the rule of law, according to the President’s Office.  To this end, the president urged soldiers during the graduation ceremony to stand by their oaths, “loyally and unwaveringly”.

President’s Office spokesperson Abbas Adil Riza said that the president’s comments were made in relation to an “ongoing process” of reforming the military started back in 2008.

“Under the constitution we have been implementing a process of decentralisation with these four commands, such as with the northern command and southern command. The president’s comments were based on these same commitments,” he said.

Last month however, former President Mohamed Nasheed criticised the present government of having “squandered” funds assigned for development and healthcare on direct payments to police and military officers.

“More than Rf 150 million (US$10 million) has been spent on police promotions. Another Rf 150 million (US$10 million) has been spent giving MNDF [Maldives National Defense Force] officers two years of allowances in a lump sum,” he said at the time.

“Another Rf 50 million (US$3.3 million) has been spent repairing the damage to police headquarters. It was the police officers who staged the coup who vandalised the place and threw chairs and computers from the building’s windows. When this money has been wasted, we cannot accept it when they say there is no money for [the Aasandha health scheme].”

Constitutional role

However, Abbas rejected accusations that sections of the MNDF had helped overthrow the Nasheed government, claiming that soldiers acted as was required of them under the constitution.

“A minority may hold a particular view about the security forces, but the majority of the pubic maintain the belief that the MNDF are the defenders of our nation. There is not division within the public concerning the military’s role” he claimed. “President Waheed has yesterday continued to state that he will not be asking the MNDF to follow an unconstitutional orders.”

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