Maldives News

Government flip-flops on firing 70 top finance ministry staff

The government was scrambling to clarify its position on firing more than 70 senior staff at the finance ministry when Permanent Secretary Ismail Ali Manik, the finance ministry’s top civil servant, tendered his resignation.

European parliament calls for sanctions on top Maldives officials

The European parliament has adopted a resolution calling on the EU and member states “to introduce restrictive measures in the form of targeted sanctions to freeze the assets abroad of certain members of the Maldivian government and their leading supporters in the Maldivian business community, and to impose travel bans on them.”

EU parliament debates targeted sanctions against Maldives

The European parliament is due to vote today on a resolution calling on member states to “freeze the assets abroad of members of the Maldives government and their leading supporters in the Maldivian business community and to impose a travel ban on them, in view of the continuous deterioration of the human rights situation in the country.”

Malé and its discontents

“In many ways, Malé is a thoroughly modern city, living out all of modernity’s problems (with a few of its pleasures) in a microcosm, fighting to keep its head above water on five square kilometres of submerging land. What Malé is today is shaped by the daily struggles, victories and defeats of its hundred and fifty thousand residents from everywhere in the Maldives,” writes Dr Azra Naseem.

Maldives deports German TV crew for “filming without permit”

A four-member TV crew from German public broadcaster ARD has been deported over alleged violations of visa regulations. The immigration department said in a statement that filming on a tourist visa was against the law and visa regulations.

Islamic ministry orders TV station to stop programme on sorcery

In a letter sent to Sangu TV, the ministry noted that the Fiqh academy had issued a fatwa advising the media not to broadcast programmes that encourage the practice of sorcery as it a grave sin prohibited in Islam. The academy had warned that such programmes could “lead the public astray from the clear path of Islam.”

Education ministry reverses single-session schools policy

“Malé school buildings are old and lack space. We have added space with extensions as much as we can. As students increase each year, it’s getting harder to accommodate them. Even in case of an emergency, it would extremely hard to evacuate all students from the building,” said State Minister for Education Dr Abdulla Nazeer.

Government denies limiting presidential scholarships after public outrage

Following a public outcry, the education ministry today denied limiting the number of presidential scholarships awarded annually to A’ Level top achievers. Citing a two-month-old announcement by the department of higher education, newspaper Haveeru reported this week that the scholarships will be limited to 15 students from the 1st place achievers in the A’ Level national top ten. Some 23 students had finished in first place last year.

Elections Commission fines MDP, Adhaalath over Nov 27 protest

“They were fined because they had involved children in their protest and also for using the UN emblem against the regulations,” Elections Commissioner Ahmed Akram told The Maldives Independent today.

Maldives joins Saudi-led anti-terrorism military alliance

Announcing the new coalition at a press conference last night, Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman, also the kingdom’s defence minister, said the campaign would “coordinate” efforts to fight terrorism in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Egypt, and Afghanistan. “Every country will be participating according to its capabilities and we will not only fight [the Islamic State], but any terrorist group,” he said.

Government’s seizure of Villa’s resort properties unlawful, civil court rules

Shortly after Gasim’s Jumhooree Party formed an alliance with the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party in February and launched an anti-government campaign, the tourism ministry terminated the lease agreements of two lagoons and three islands leased to Villa and subsidiary companies for resort development.

Supreme Court to consider UN ruling on Nasheed’s imprisonment

“The government has maintained the position that the opinion of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention is one that should be considered by the Supreme Court. This will now be done given that the Court has accepted the appeal already filed by the Prosecutor General, with substantive arguments to be heard at a later date,” the foreign ministry said today.

MDP accuses Elections Commission of double standards

The EC had threatened to take action against the main opposition party over the use of the UN logo in the November 27 protest. The MDP had printed the blue emblem on t-shirts and banners urging President Abdulla Yameen to release former President Mohamed Nasheed as recommended by a UN human rights panel in September.

Jailed ex-MP in Singapore for medical treatment

Nazim was unable to leave as scheduled last Sunday despite permission from the Maldives Correctional Services. The department of immigration had seized his passport on orders from Supreme Court in early February this year.

Discipline trumps democracy, says Yameen

Maldivians have failed to achieve the same level of development as Singapore due to a lack of good behaviour and discipline, President Abdulla Yameen said this morning.

President vetoes bill banning calls for sanctions, tourism boycotts

President Abdulla Yameen has vetoed a law banning calls for tourism boycott and sanctions against the Maldives, saying the bill infringes on the right to free speech.

Deputy minister accused of embezzling millions from pension fund

Deputy Home Minister Ahmed Adeem is under investigation by the police over the alleged embezzlement of MVR2 million (US$129,700) from the state’s pension fund. The embezzlement was discovered during an internal audit. Adeem had worked at the Maldives Pension Administration Office from 2010 to 2014.

Nasheed to appeal sentence at Supreme Court

Nasheed’s lawyers told the press today that the former president has always called for a “political solution” to his jailing, but President Abdulla Yameen has repeatedly insisted that Nasheed must exhaust the appeal process to be eligible for a pardon.

Yameen slams Western “double standards” against Maldives

I fear for myself and the future of Maldives: former vice president

“In truth, President Yameen and I have been the victims of a despicable conspiracy, launched, I believe, by my political foes in and outside the Cabinet. I believe the speedboat incident was staged, in order to frame me,” writes former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb from prison.