A man in Vilimale’ was arrested for allegedly producing alcohol, reports local media.
The police services have told local media they found 17 barrels contain a substance substance suspected to be alcohol, six empty 5-litre bottles of alcohol, and equipment that could be used to produce alcohol.
Police arrested the 29-year-old Bangladeshi following a special operation and the case is now under investigation.
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(0)Three hundred flats set aside for police officers will be built on the island of Hulhumale’, Commissioner of Police Abdulla Riyaz has announced.
The building work was announced at a function celebrating the 80th anniversary of police services in the Maldives, with the flats being built as part of efforts to “improve the welfare of servicemen and servicewomen”, the commissioner was quoted as saying by Channel News Maldives (CNM).
Additionally, a “mechanism” for police officers and their families to receive medical treatment in Sri Lankan institutions at “minimal prices” will also be introduced in April.
The Police Family Association is also being “revived to strengthen the social relations of police officers and their family ties,” Riyaz said added.
(0)Dislikes(0)The Maldivian National Defence Force (MNDF) has said it continues to promote “good relations” with its neighbours as this week it plays host to a Pakistani naval ship visiting the Maldives.
The vessel – known as the PNS Saif – arrived in the Male’ yesterday (April 15), where it presently remains docked. The ship’s arrival follows the visit last week of two Indian naval vessels.
MNDF Spokesperson Colonel Abdul Raheem told Minivan News today (April 16) that there was no significance behind the recent back-to-back visits of the Pakistani and Indian Naval forces.
“The Maldives has good relations with all neighbouring countries, including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh,” he said. “Neighbouring countries’ ships visit often, it is normal.”
The Pakistani High Commissioner to the Maldives, Pakistani citizens living in the Maldives, as well as senior officials from the military and Maldives Police Service are scheduled to visit the naval ship today, according to the MNDF.
The PNF Saif’s commanding officer will then host a “special dinner” on the ship this evening.
A series of other diplomatic meetings and events are scheduled during the ship’s visit, including a special event hosted by the MNDF for Pakistani naval officers tomorrow (April 17). This is scheduled to be followed by a luncheon hosted by the Pakistani High Commissioner.
Senior PNS Saif officers are also scheduled to meet Minister of State for Defence and National Security Mohamed Muizzu Adnan, Chief of Defence Force Major General Ahmed Shiyam, as well as Commandant Coast Guard Brigadier General Ahmed Shahid.
The ship will remain in the Maldives until April 18.
Indian defence collaboration
Meanwhile, India has assured the Maldives of its commitment to “further enhance defense cooperation and security partnership,” following talks between Defence Minister Mohamed Nazim and his Indian counterpart A K Antony on Monday (April 15), the Times of India has reported.
Enhanced defence cooperation between the two nations is expected to include training exercises, capacity building and infrastructure-strengthening, according to media reports.
The Maldives hosted two Indian Naval Ships – the ICGS Varuna and INS Sujata – representing the First Training Squadron last week.
During the “goodwill visit”, a dinner function was held aboard the ships, where new Indian High Commissioner to the Maldives, Rajeev Shahare, made his first public appearance after assuming the post.
The dinner event was attended by the Maldivian Defence Minister Colonel (Rtd) Mohamed Nazim, other government ministers, diplomats, and high ranking officers from the Maldives military. The Indian government gave the Maldivian government a “contribution”, spare helicopter parts, and gym equipment, reported local media.
Shahare also used the event to praise Maldivian authorities for their “magnanimity” in allowing him to meet senior government officials at this event prior to presenting his credentials to the president, while speaking with local media April 10.
MNDF anniversary
The MNDF has said it is also currently preparing celebrations for its 121st anniversary on April 21 with a “big ceremony” that will include two different events held in the nation’s capital Male’, Colonel Raheem told Minivan News.
A parade is scheduled to take place at 4pm near the tsunami monument in the Henveiru neighborhood of Male’, said Raheem.
An “official gathering, which normally includes all high level delegations” in the Maldives is also being planned for April 25.
As practice for the parade, a military band and MNDF soldiers carrying assorted firearms have been performing early morning marches in formation through Henveiru this week.
(0)Dislikes(0)Police have announced they will destroy all vehicles towed over the past five years, unless owners pay the relevant fines and reclaim their vehicles within the next three months, reports local media.
Owners will have to pay 250 MVR (US $16) for the initial offence, 500 MVR (US $32) for the second offence, and 750 MVR (US $48) for each repeat offence if police towed their vehicle between April 14, 2009 and January 4, 2012
The fines for vehicles towed between August 31, 2008 and April 14, 2009 includes the cost of towing, plus daily fines, as announced in the Government Gazette.
(0)Dislikes(0)Parliament passed an extraordinary motion today (April 2) expressing concern that cabinet ministers’ connections to the Artur brothers posed a “direct threat to national security”.
Police meanwhile revealed they became aware of the Artur brothers presence in the Maldives in January, and launched an investigation to determine if they had been conducting any illegal activities in the country.
Police Spokesperson Chief Inspector Hassan Haneef told Minivan News police had contacted “relevant government authorities” in January to inform them of the Artur brothers’ links to drug trafficking, money laundering, raids on media outlets, dealings with senior government officials and other serious crimes in Kenya.
He was reluctant to share any further details given that “this is still an open case under investigation”.
Minivan News understands that relevant authorities, including the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF), Ministry of Home Affairs, and the President’s Office were officially informed in January of the presence of the Artur brothers, even as Tourism Minister Ahmed Adheeb signed a letter seeking residency permits for the pair.
Immigration Controller Mohamed Ali told local media that Artur Sargasyan left the Maldives on Sunday (March 31). Sargasyan first entered the Maldives on a tourist visa in August 2012 and returned again in October, Ali said. Sargasyan’s associate is still in the Maldives at a resort in Male’ Atoll, Ali told local media.
Photos of the Arturs in the company of Adheeb and Defense Minister Mohamed Nazim emerged on social media over the weekend, apparently taken during the Piston Motor Racing Challenge held on Hulhumale’ between January 25 and 26.
One photo showed Artur Sargsyan next to Adheeb and Nazim, while another has him apparently starting one of the motorcycle races at the event, which was organised by the Maldivian National Defence Force (MNDF). Another image showed Sargsyan at the red carpet opening for the Olympus Cinema.
Meanwhile the Artur’s US$6000 bill at the Club Faru resort – recently taken over by the government-owned Maldives Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) – was paid by a ”top official of the resort management”, according to Haveeru.
Picking up the story today, Kenyan media reported that the brothers’ practice of publicly ingratiating themselves with senior government officials appeared not to have changed.
“The Arturs’ mode of operation where they show up in the company of top and well-connected government leaders appears to have been replicated in the Maldives. Their presence in the Maldives comes days after ousted leader Mohammed Nasheed expressed fear over his life,” reported Kenya’s Daily Nation publication.
Parliament concerned about connections with cabinet ministers
Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP Imthiyaz Fahmy submitted the motion to parliament to raise concerns about the Artur brothers’ presence in the country and their possible connections with Nazim and Adheeb.
“The Artur brothers are a direct threat to national security since they are – true to their old style and from the experiences of other countries – directly linked to the top government officials including Mr Mohamed Nazim who is both the Defense Minister and the acting Transport Minister, as well as Mr Ahmed Adheeb who is the Tourism Minister,” Fahmy told Minivan News.
“These are the most crucial government ministries with which the Artur brothers are looking to have special links to achieve their objectives,” he contended.
Fahmy said the Artur brothers were believed to have carried out “all sorts of serious illegal activities internationally” and that the Maldives “is incapable of handling these notorious conmen from Armenia. They are capable of taking local criminal gangs to different heights.”
Fahmy explained that immigration laws do not permit entry into the Maldives if the visitor is “even suspected” of being involved in human smuggling or trafficking; may be [considered] a national threat, or otherwise may commit crimes against the state.”
“Given all these facts – and that the Artur brothers are world-infamous for carrying out criminal activities of this sort – they were allowed into the country and seen publicly with top government officials,” Fahmy added, alleging that the pair have three meetings with Adheeb and Nazim on Hulhumale’ and on Club Faru.
National security concerns politicised
While the extraordinary motion passed with 27 votes in favour to 10 against, most MPs from non-MDP parties “were not in favor of this serious issue”, Fahmy claimed.
The Parliamentary Committee on National Security will “seriously look into the matter”, however because it is not an MDP-majority committee, Fahmy believes said it would not be easy for the opposition to hold Nazim and Adheeb accountable.
“You could see how much the Artur brothers have penetrated into the parliament from the number of no votes for this motion today,” he claimed.
During today’s parliamentary debate the MDP was accused of being connected with the Artur brothers by MPs, who claimed the Maldivian shareholder in a company registered by the brothers was affiliated with the party.
Ismail Waseem of H. Ever Chance was listed as holding a 3 percent share in ‘Artur Brothers World Connections’, registered in the Maldives in October 2012.
Waseem’s share was subsequently transferred to Abdulla Shaffath of H. Ever Peace on November 25.
“No member holding a position in the party has anything to do with the Artur brothers,” Fahmy claimed. “Instead President Dr Waheed Hassan Manik, or his top government officials, are known to have been directly involved with them. It is this coup-government that has brought those conmen into this country,” Fahmy said.
Today’s parliamentary session was prolonged for an additional hour due to the extraordinary motion submitted.
Denials
Defense Minister Nazim and Tourism Minister Adheeb have meanwhile denied any involvement with infamous pair of Armenian brothers.
“I came to know about them after the rumours started spreading on social media networks. But no country had informed of us anything officially,” local media reported Nazim as saying.
“To my knowledge those two men have left the Maldives,” he said.
Adheeb acknowledged meeting the brothers during the Piston Cup event, but bemoaned to Haveeru how “information about this issue is being spread by the media rather negatively. I have no links with them.”
Speaking to Minivan News, Adheeb reiterated that he had no personal links with the Artur brothers, whom he said had now left the country on his recommendation.
According to Adheeb, the Artur brothers had previously invested in the country through a registered joint venture company with members of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).
Adheeb said he “advised them to leave peacefully and they agreed to sort out their visa and leave. They have now left.”
(1)Dislikes(0)President Waheed Hassan Manik praised the virtues of the police service and urged public cooperation and support to ensure national stability, during the police force’s 80th anniversary celebrations held March 29.
Waheed called for public cooperation with police to ensure presidential “polls can be made fair and peaceful”, according to local media.
Waheed also urged Maldivians to give the police the “necessary respect and honour” and allow them to do their duties.
“It is therefore extremely regrettable that a few in the society have been trying to defame the Police, making baseless allegations, and call them traitors to the nation,” Waheed stated.
He congratulated the current police leadership, saying the police service was “very honourable” and a “necessary service” directly connected to the people that “works independently and with professionalism”.
“The previous year has not been an easy year either. However the police had bravely dealt with such situations,” Waheed said.
Waheed also stated he would not give “unlawful orders” to the police and said the government would “work to find more opportunities for the police”.
(0)Dislikes(0)Local police assisted with the collection and release of hatchling sea turtles by putting them in a freshwater pond and feeding them biscuits and rice.
The baby sea turtles were found in January on Nilandhoo island in Faafu Atoll.
A source involved in the rescue spoke to Minivan News about the incident.
“When there is too much light on an island, the baby turtles become confused and head inland instead of towards the sea [after being hatched]. People found the baby turtles all around and in the interior of the island,” the source explained.
“The Maldivian mentality is to keep the turtles as pets. They completely lack awareness. The police know this is illegal, so they collected all the turtles and put them in a freshwater pond.
“They also fed them biscuits and rice, because they were unaware of the proper diet for sea turtles.
Some of the turtles were injured and shrank, given their change of habitat and irregular diet, claimed the source.
“The police don’t know the proper conditions to keep sea turtles and lacked the facilities. A few died,” the source stated. “We don’t blame the police. At least they tried to save them.”
“They were very efficient and checked with the proper government authorities [regarding where they could be transferred for rehabilitation],” the source added.
Police Spokesperson Chief Inspector Hassan Haneef confirmed that many hatchling sea turtles were found on Nilandhoo and the local police intervened.
“The local police identified who had them, where they were located and then they were collected and released,” stated Haneef.
“At the time the local police were briefed and they coordinated with the Marine Research Centre in Male’,” he added.
Haneef was unaware of what the turtles were fed or if they were transferred anywhere to be rehabilitated.
Captive sea turtles
In late 2012, 104 hatchling turtles were taken from the uninhabited island Kakaaeriyadhoo in Shaviyani Atoll and sold to islanders on Kan’ditheemu.
“These baby turtles were kept in cooking pots with freshwater or small freshwater ponds and tanks,” a resident of Kan’ditheemu and conservationist Hassan Solah told Minivan News.
“This is very detrimental because they develop fungal infections and they cannot regulate their buoyancy since salt water is denser than fresh.
“The turtles become severely weakened and cannot survive in captivity or even in the ocean, assuming they are eventually released,” Solah added.
Kakaaeriyadhoo was previously leased by the island council to a local from Kan’ditheemu.
“I spoke with him and he agreed not to take any more baby turtles and sell them as pets. Now no one is caring for Kakaaeriyadhoo, it is under the care of the Atoll Council,” said Solah.
(0)Dislikes(0)Facebook has shut down a prominent pro-Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Facebook page, ‘Kula Yellow’, without notice.
The anti-government page was first established in May 2010 and spread by word of mouth, attracting a strong following among Maldivian young people and reaching 23,000 ‘ likes’. Facebook did not contact the administrators before shutting down the popular social media news source, at approximately 6:30pm on Tuesday, March 5.
According to an analysis conducted by Kula Yellow on the site Social Bakers, the youth-run, self-described “name and shame” platform is one of the most popular social media news sources in the Maldives.
Kula Yellow is a reference to MDP’s political party color. The page promises a “source of information against President Mohamed Waheed regime and a tool to mobilise people against continued human rights abuses and police brutality.”
“MDP is fighting for freedom. Kula Yellow facilitates that by providing a platform for them to spread their views, organise protests and events, and it is very helpful if any message needs to be conveyed to supporters instantaneously,” a Kula Yellow co-founder told Minivan News.
“We are updating and uploading media of police and government brutality 24 hours a day. Our posts have revealed many, many, many government secrets and they can’t digest it. Kula Yellow is a threat to them,” he claimed.
“Additionally we have saved many, many, many lives through our social work. For example, if anyone – they don’t have to be an MDP supporter – needs a blood donation we post on the page to find a matching donor,” the co-founder added.
Although the page has never been shut down before, five of the most active administrators have had their personal accounts blocked or shut down since former President Mohamed Nasheed’s controversial resignation February 7, 2012, a Kula Yellow co-founder and administrator told Minivan News.
“Some of the most active administrators’ have been blocked several times following the coup. This was a problem for us on the release date of the Commission of National Inquiry (CoNI) as well. The current Maldivian government cannot digest anything we are reporting and they are subsequently blocking media freedom,” he contended.
“I’m sure it’s a government act. They are sending continuous complaint reports to Facebook saying Kula Yellow is ‘spreading lies and inciting violence’, but that is not true,” the co-founder stated.
“There are only two or three news media outlets, and newspapers Haveeru and Sun Online back the current government,” he added. “Kula Yellow fills a gap by trying to explain the coup and give a voice to Maldivian people. The government didn’t like what we were posting and cannot come down on us under Maldivian law. Of course they are trying to block us, I’m sure they formally complained to Facebook,” the administrator stated.
“Maldivian intelligence from the Police Services and Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) monitor [telecommunications companies] Dhiraagu and Wataniya calls and text messages. They are always trying to intercept communications,” the Kula Yellow administrator said, matter-of-factly.
A second Kula Yellow administrator explained there were many admins spread throughout the Maldives, and they took down inappropriate content, such as threats or misinformation.
“Kula Yellow is very open because it’s a social media platform for the public, so on the rare occasion someone puts inappropriate content on the ‘wall’ the administrators take it down immediately. We try our best,” he said.
“We are not like the many hate pages that supporters of Waheed’s government have up – all of which are up and running smoothly,” he said.
“We will interfere”: police
Police denied issuing complaints about Kula Yellow to Facebook, but admitted to telecommunications interference.
Police Spokesperson Chief Inspector Hassan Haneef told Minivan News that “so far we haven’t reported anything to Facebook”.
“We will interfere if any social network or internet site is not [run] according to Maldivian law and order,” Haneef added.
The MNDF also denied interfering with the Kula Yellow page, as Spokesperson Colonel Abdul Raheem explained to Minivan News.
“We have not asked anyone to take down Kula Yellow, not to my knowledge. Was it the communications ministry or something like that? They can say anything,” Raheem said.
President’s Office Spokesperson Masood Imad denied knowledge of Kula Yellow’s existence, as well as any government interference with it being shut down.
“I have never heard about this Kula Yellow thing that you are talking about. We [the government] do not worry about these pages. How do you know Facebook took it down? Facebook is too big to worry about small little pages. The fact that the page has been taken down has nothing to do with the government,” Masood said.
“Maybe they themselves took it down. If their page has been hacked, or shut down maybe the page owners can follow it up with Facebook,” said Masood.
In 2012, administrators of Kula Yellow claimed they had been “threatened” by police over their page’s content. Police officials denied the accusations.
Facebook activism
Kula Yellow contacted Facebook immediately to reinstate the page and say they remain hopeful their page will be restored quickly.
“Yesterday’s action seemed to be a targeted response to the regime’s arbitrary arrest of the Maldives’ first democratically elected president, Mohamed Nasheed,” stated Kula Yellow.
“Kula Yellow is disappointed by the action taken against the page by Facebook and calls for them to immediately reconsider and place their support with the people of the Maldives.”
A Kula Yellow co-founder lamented that the situation in the Maldives was very complex and contend that Facebook “clearly does not understand Kula Yellow.”
“Facebook did not check to verify what the government, or individuals from the government regime, were reporting. They were probably following their company policy to remove the page if they received numerous complaints.
“This happened in Syria also. Then journalists reported the story and helped get the page(s) reinstated,” a Kula Yellow co-founder stated.
Kula Yellow is exhorting diplomats and international actors to “understand that this is a violation of our human rights, particularly freedom of expression, and should support Facebook reinstating the Kula Yellow page immediately”.
“There are already many fake Kula Yellow Facebook pages going up and this will continue to spread like wildfire in the jungle. The government can’t stop us. We don’t give a damn. There are a thousand ways to move forward, so well will just find another way.
“In the interim our Twitter page is active,” a Kula Yellow administrator added.
The Maldives this year plummeted to 103rd in the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Press Freedom Index, a fall of 30 places and a return to pre-2008 levels.
Additionally, the Maldives is one of two countries to be dropped from Freedom House’s list of electoral democracies, in its annual survey of political rights and civil liberties.
Facebook had not responded to Minivan News at time of press.
(0)Dislikes(0)The Maldives Police Service (MPS) has stopped providing security for the Drug Court as of January 20, according to local media.
The court said police had abruptly terminated providing security services without giving a reason for doing so.
Police Media Official Hassan Haneef told local media that police had not stopped providing security for the court, but had rather changed how that security was provided.
“Previously security was provided by placing police officers at the court and now the security is provided by the officers who patrol the city,” Haneef told Sun Online.
The court has taken the issue to Chief Justice Ahmed Faiz Hussain, stating that the current situation is “worrying”.
The Drug Court has repeatedly requested security from police last year before it was eventually provided, reports Sun Online.
State security forces are mandated to provide court security, as stated in Article 95 of the Courts Act.
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