MDP

Plans for e-voting sparks concern

The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party has expressed grave concern over the Election Commission’s plans to introduce electronic voting in the upcoming local council elections.

Police disperse weekly prayer for political prisoners

Dozens of riot policemen dispersed the opposition’s weekly prayer for political prisoners at Malé’s main mosque on Friday.

Jailed opposition leaders invited to join talks

“The government must not expect to hold our leaders as hostages at the negotiating table! Negotiations must be sincere and should pave way for political reconciliation,” Shidhatha Shareef, chair of the Adhaalath Party’s foreign relations committee, told The Maldives Independent.

Top UN official arrives in Malé to resuscitate all-party talks

Tamrat Samuel, a senior advisor to the UN’s department of political affairs, is seeking to lay the groundwork “for substantive political party dialogue in the interest of attaining long-term political stability and rule of law in the Maldives.”

Majlis creates new Islamic affairs council

The parliament has amended the 1994 Religious Unity Act to set up a new Supreme Council for Islamic affairs with the authority to issue fatwas or legal opinions on religious disputes.

Talks are ‘an exercise in futility,’ MDP tells Commonwealth rep

Government-initiated all-party talks are an “exercise in futility” unless jailed political leaders are freed, the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party told a visiting Commonwealth representative today.

Concerns mount over Maldives press freedom after mass arrests

US Ambassador to the Maldives Atul Keshap met this morning with some of the 18 journalists arrested Sunday from a sit-in protest outside the president’s office amidst mounting concern over declining press freedom in the Maldives. The reporters were released after ten hours.

Opposition women handed suspended sentences over airport protest

The 13 women and one man were sentenced to three months in jail, suspended for three years, on a charge of disobeying orders by protesting at a restricted zone.

PPM wants to strip Nasheed of ex-presidential privileges

Opposition MPs have slammed a bill that proposes stripping privileges for former presidents convicted of criminal offences as the latest attack on dissent by the ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives.

Opposition MPs withdraw no-confidence motion against speaker

Opposition MPs have withdrawn a no-confidence motion submitted against Speaker Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed, two days before the motion was up for debate at the People’s Majlis.

MP questions composition of parliament’s graft-probe committee

The parliament’s public accounts oversight committee has launched an inquiry into corruption cases under investigation since 2008, including the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation corruption scandal.

Government proposes mandatory re-registration of opposition party members

A ruling party MP has proposed changes to the Political Parties Act to make it compulsory for members of political parties to resubmit membership forms with fingerprints.

Yameen concedes need for judicial reform, appeals for MDP to join talks

President Abdulla Yameen conceded Wednesday the need for reforming the Maldivian judiciary and renewed appeals for the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party to engage in dialogue with the government to resolve a year-long political crisis.

Human rights watchdog slams “unacceptable” misogynistic behaviour from MPs

Misogynistic remarks and behaviour from MPs that were derogatory towards women at recent sittings of the People’s Majlis are “unacceptable,” the human rights watchdog has said, urging lawmakers not to undermine national efforts for women’s empowerment.

Opposition accused of campaigning for tourism boycott at ITB fair

Government still hopes MDP will join talks despite third snub

The government will continue to attempt to convince the Maldivian Democratic Party and Adhaalath Party to participate in all-party talks following a third snub by the allied opposition parties, Fisheries Minister Dr Mohamed Shainee said today.

MDP condemns arrest of MP Mahloof from anti-corruption protest

The Maldivian Democratic Party has strongly condemned the police’s “unconstitutional” obstruction of Friday’s protest as well as the heavy use of pepper spray against protesters and a Raajje TV journalist and the arrest of MP Ahmed Mahloof.

Opposition MPs submit no-confidence motion against speaker

Opposition MPs accuse Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed of breaching the constitution and the parliamentary rules of procedure in order to rubber stamp government proposals. Shortly after the news of the no-confidence motion broke, Majority Leader Ahmed Nihan dismissed the possibility of removing Maseeh from the post as the ruling coalition controls 52 seats in the 85-member house.

Yameen mocks calls for reform ahead of all-party talks

President Abdulla Yameen has made it clear that he considers the release of jailed politicians as abuse of his powers, despite international calls to do so as a show of good faith ahead of all-party talks.

MDP questions sudden surge in foreign reserves

The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party has called for an inquiry into the sudden hike in Maldives’ foreign reserves. The source of some US$400million is unknown, the party said in a report issued on Monday.