Maldives News
UN opinion on Nasheed’s jailing revives Maldives opposition
A UN human rights panel’s finding that former President Mohamed Nasheed’s imprisonment on a terrorism charge was arbitrary has revived the opposition’s streets activities, while the government’s refusal to adhere to the decision has triggered a storm of criticism online.
03 Oct 2015, 09:00
Amnesty joins calls for Nasheed’s release
Human rights advocacy group Amnesty International has called on the Maldives to release former President Mohamed Nasheed or give him a fair trial, in the wake of the government’s rejection of a UN rights panel’s finding that his continuing imprisonment on a terrorism charge is arbitrary.
03 Oct 2015, 09:00
Jailed ex-defence minister to petition UN too
“We attempted to exhaust local remedies from the Maldivian judiciary, but it seems that the courts have absconded from trial by refusing to hold hearings,” Nazim’s lawyer Husnu Suood said. An appeal of Nazim’s conviction on weapons smuggling charges has been stalled since April.
01 Oct 2015, 09:00
Supreme Court strikes down court order over “inappropriate language”
“[D]o you not know what was said in the court order? Is that why you are depositing different amounts of money on different months? I thought you are intelligent people. You must adhere to this court’s ruling. Even Pallambe, Ammakalhey, and Yahya would know to follow the order. This is a bit too much,” said the order in question.
01 Oct 2015, 09:00
Government enforces employment freeze as cost-cutting measure
The government has ceased filling vacancies in the civil service in a bid to reduce recurrent expenditure. The cost cutting measures suggest the government was unable to raise the forecast revenue of MVR21.5 billion (US$1.3 billion) for 2015.
01 Oct 2015, 09:00
MDP to scale up protests
“If the government refuses to abide by the recommendations and decisions of the UNWGAD, we will proceed with direct street action. MDP will protest relentlessly day and night,” Mohamed Shifaz, the vice president of MDP, said.
01 Oct 2015, 09:00
Court orders young man to cut hair “nice and short”
A magistrate court has conditioned the release of a young man arrested for assault on cutting and maintaining his hair “nice and short.” The judge said he would be jailed if he did not maintain a short haircut for three months.
01 Oct 2015, 09:00
Government reduces working hours
“The President’s decision was made in order to provide the opportunity for government employees to spend quality time with their families, to work in the private sector apart from the government, and to facilitate youth to be more involved in sports activities, further education and technical professions,” the president’s office said.
30 Sep 2015, 09:00
MDP resumes street rallies
The main opposition party’s first street rally in three months attracted a crowd of about 200 people. Dozens of police officers made several attempts to obstruct the rally, but backed away after moving the protesters to the pavement.
30 Sep 2015, 09:00
Raajje TV journalist alleges attempted assault by government officials
Raajje TV COO Hussain Fiyaz Moosa alleged that Abdul Shukoor Abdulla, executive coordinator at the youth ministry, and Ahmed Mamdhooh, deputy managing director of the state-owned Maldives Road Development Corporation, attempted to assault him inside the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital on Monday.
30 Sep 2015, 09:00
Supreme Court assures of commitment to rule of law
The Supreme Court has reiterated its commitment to upholding the rule of law in the wake of an unexplained explosion on the presidential speedboat that injured the first lady and two staff.
30 Sep 2015, 09:00
UN finds Nasheed’s imprisonment illegal, government rejects ruling
Former President Mohamed Nasheed’s imprisonment on a terrorism charge is arbitrary, a UN rights group has ruled. The government, however, says “it does not accept the decision” and “will not be made to act on the basis of a non-binding opinion.”
30 Sep 2015, 09:00
Assistant Attorney General sacked, wife suspended
Ismail Wisham was sacked today following his arrest on Monday night along with his wife on charges of possessing alcohol and drugs. Wisham’s wife, Hana Waheed, is a senior public prosecutor and the Prosecutor General’s office has suspended her pending a review of the charges.
30 Sep 2015, 09:00
Explicit presidential power to pardon former state officials proposed
Independent MP Mahloof proposed amendments to the Clemency Act to grant legal authority for President Yameen to pardon or commute sentences of convicted former presidents, vice presidents, cabinet ministers, MPs, and Supreme Court Justices.
30 Sep 2015, 09:00
Tidal swells not as bad as predicted
Tidal swells caused minor flooding in five islands in southern Gaafu Alif and Gaafu Dhaal atolls and Kolhufushi Island in Meemu atoll.
30 Sep 2015, 09:00
High hopes for UN opinion on Nasheed’s imprisonment
After months of street protests, hundreds of arrests, and failed talks, the opposition and civil society groups hope a UN opinion on Nasheed’s imprisonment will provide a way forward. But will the government abide by a ruling favorable to Nasheed?
30 Sep 2015, 09:00
FBI agent, Saudi Arabian forensic experts arrive in Malé for boat blast probe
A US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent and a team of Saudi Arabian forensic experts arrived in the Maldives last night to assist an investigation into an explosion on the presidential speedboat that injured the first lady.
29 Sep 2015, 09:00
Ex-president’s brother sues prisons authority over visitation rights
Nazim Sattar filed the case at the civil court today contending that the Maldives Correctional Services had arbitrarily reversed its previous decision to allow the former president’s siblings to visit him once a week at the Maafushi prison.
29 Sep 2015, 09:00
Australian company to build wave farm in Hanimadhoo
An Australian mining company Stonehenge Metals has announced plans to install a 2MW wave energy farm off the coast of Hanimaadhoo Island.
29 Sep 2015, 09:00
Maldives pledges 10 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2030
The Maldives has pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 10 percent before 2030 in a new action plan. The target falls far short of ambitious plans announced by President Mohamed Nasheed in early 2009 to become carbon neutral by 2020, which has since been scrapped by successive administrations.
29 Sep 2015, 09:00
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