Maldives News

Maldives publishes child sex offenders registry

The online registry lists more than 70 individuals with their photos, full names, national identity card numbers, date of birth, age, address, date of conviction, date of imprisonment, date of scheduled release and name of the detention center the individual is being held.

No money for the folks back home

Why a government plan to levy a three percent tax on migrant worker remittances has drawn concern among human rights advocates.

How civil unrest affects Maldives tourism

The Maldives tourism industry, famous for its secluded hotels, has traditionally been shielded from unrest in the capital. But continuing bad press, generated by years of political turmoil is beginning to have an effect, tour operators say.

Translation of President Yameen’s Republic Day speech

A translation of President Abdulla Yameen’s speech on the occasion of Republic Day

Maldives hires second public relations firm

The government of the Maldives has hired a second public relations firm, London-based BTP Advisers, the Maldives Independent can reveal.

MPs grill ministers over ‘unrealistic’ revenue targets

MPs on the parliament’s budget review committee questioned ministers today about targets in the 2016 budget after revenue this year fell far short of forecasts.

Killed, exiled or deposed

All three of former vice president’s lawyers suspended

The Supreme Court has suspended lawyers Hussain Shameem and Ahmed Thalib from appearing in any court while the police barred lawyer Ali Nadheem from meeting impeached Vice President Ahmed Adeeb at the Dhoonidhoo detention centre.

Contractor chosen for ‘China-Maldives Friendship Bridge’

The bidding process was launched in Beijing last Tuesday with a team of 11 experts evaluating bids from three companies shortlisted by the Chinese government. They were China Railway Major Bridge Engineering, CCCC Second Harbour Engineering, and Sichuan Road and Bridge Construction. The housing ministry has not revealed the chosen contractor.

Translation of President Yameen’s Oct 25 speech

President Abdulla Yameen’s speech on October 25, the day after his deputy Ahmed Adeeb’s arrest.

MDP gears up for mass protest on Nov 27

The main opposition party originally planned to hold the anti-government demonstration on November 6, but was forced to call it off after President Abdulla Yameen declared an unprecedented 30-day state of emergency and suspended the constitutional right to freedom of assembly.

Government hospital introduces MRI scanning

MRI scans were previously only available at the privately-owned ADK hospital in Malé. Customers often had to wait weeks for appointments.

Maldives: state of insanity – part II

When a president with an army at his command and an armoury at his disposal has a bad trip or an episode of intense paranoia, the consequences can be markedly different from when an ordinary person has such experiences, writes Azra Naseem in the second part of the Finifenmaa blast chronicles.

The rule of fear in the Republic

With the ratification of the new anti-terror law, anyone in the country could have his or her enjoyment of human rights set back to dictatorship-era standards, to an extent that will make you question whether Maldives ever transitioned from it, argues Mushfique Mohamed.

Prosecutor General’s removal draws criticism over ‘due process violations’

Nikhil Narayan from the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) told the The Maldives Independent that the “arbitrary removal” of PG Muhthaz Muhsin is the latest instance in a series of events deepening a crisis of rule of law in the Maldives.

Finance minister submits record MVR27bn budget for 2016

While MVR21.5 billion was expected in revenue this year, Finance Minister Abdullla Jihad said the government will only have earned MVR17.7 billion by the end of the year. The forecast deficit was MVR1.3 billion, but the figure is likely to reach MVR3.6 billion or 6.9 percent of GDP.

Courtroom to be set up at police detention centre

“Our aim to establish a reliable teleconferencing facility in Dhoonidhoo so that remand hearings and collecting of statements by suspects can be carried out without the suspect being physically transported to a court in Malé,” said the criminal court’s spokesperson.

Thulhaadhoo councillors suspended for ‘defying orders’

The five island councillors have been suspended for a month without pay for refusing to to withhold the monthly salary of two councillors suspended earlier this year over a social media post and for attending a mass anti-government protest on May 1.

Sri Lanka warns Maldives against regional instability

Sri Lanka has warned the Maldives against “regional instability,” slamming a state of emergency declared here in the wake of an explosion on the presidential speedboat that has seen a cross-border killing and arrests. Soon after the statement was issued, Maldives lifted the state of emergency.

President Yameen lashes out at ‘bipolar’ opposition

Accusing the MDP of calling for a tourism boycott and then expressing concern over the adverse impact on the tourism industry from the unprecedented 30-day nationwide state of emergency declared last week, Yameen said: “I think the psyche or thinking of these groups is characterised by bipolarism.”