MDP

Ex-president brought to Malé

Former President Mohamed Nasheed was brought to Malé this afternoon to attend a dispute resolution meeting at the civil court in a lawsuit filed by his brother against the prisons authority over denial of visiting rights. Ahmed Nazim Sattar had sued the Maldives Correctional Services over what he contends was an arbitrary decision to limit Nasheed’s weekly family visits to his parents, wife and children.

PPM MP threatens to jail all opposition MPs with bill on sanctions

“All these people here belonging to MDP should be arrested. This is what we’re trying to do. God willing, that will happen now,” said ruling party MP Riyaz Rasheed.

MDP office in Hoarafushi torched

According to the MDP, the haruge in Haa Alif Atoll Hoarafushi Island is no longer usable. No one was injured, but the furniture and office supplies were burnt.

MDP stage nationwide protests calling for Nasheed’s release

Protest marches and vehicle rallies took place simultaneously around 4:00pom in the capital Malé, Addu City, Gaaf Dhaal Thinadhoo, and several islands across the country, calling on the government to abide by a UN rights panel ruling and release former President Mohamed Nasheed.

PPM MP proposes criminalising calls for sanctions, tourism boycott

MP Ahmed Nihan, PPM parliamentary group leader, meanwhile called Nasheed’s high-profile lawyers Jared Genser and Amal Clooney “enemies of the state” after the pair launched a campaign lobbying for targeted sanctions against state officials in the wake of a UN rights panel declaring the opposition leader’s imprisonment arbitrary and politically motivated.

MDP backs targeted sanctions to secure Nasheed’s release

The MDP’s national council adopted a resolution last night backing targeted sanctions on senior officials of the state if the government continues to detain former President Mohamed Nasheed in defiance of a UN recommendation. The government is accusing the MDP of inciting fear.

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.

Podesta Group hired to “whitewash” government’s crimes

“Government officials are clearly rattled at the prospect of facing targeted sanctions. But rather than doing the right thing and freeing the political prisoners, they are spending amounts of public money on foreign lobbyists, who will try to whitewash their crimes,” said Hamid Abdul Ghafoor, the MDP’s international spokesman.

Maldives accepts UPR recommendations on judicial reform

The judiciary came under fire during the Maldives’ Universal Periodic Review in May over “politicisation,” inadequate qualification of judges, and lack of conformity to international fair trial standards as well as the Supreme Court’s contempt of court cases against the Elections Commission and Human Rights Commission of Maldives.

Maldives marks 50 years of UN membership

On its 50th anniversary of membership with the UN, the Maldivian government defended its rights record, while the opposition called on the government to abide by the UN charter.

High Court releases former official jailed on corruption charges

Ibrahim Riyaz was found guilty of abuse of authority in awarding a US$21 million land reclamation project in late 2010 to Heavy Load Maldives – a company owned by the family of Deputy Speaker of Parliament ‘Reeko’ Moosa Manik.

MDP resumes anti-government campaign with protest march

A moratorium on street protests was part of a deal made with the government in exchange for the release of political prisoners. The MDP withdrew from the talks after Nasheed was taken back to Maafushi jail on August 23, citing the government’s refusal to honour its commitment to release the former president and other jailed opposition politicians.

MDP reacts angrily to Yameen calling Nasheed ‘most autocratic leader in recent history’

Amnesty calls for investigation of lawyer’s ‘brutal stabbing in broad daylight’

“This vicious attack must not go unpunished – Maldives authorities must ensure that human rights defenders can work free from fear of reprisals and that those responsible are held to account. There are strong suspicions that this was a targeted attack against Mahfooz Saeed and it is crucial that the true motive is uncovered,” said Abbas Faiz, Amnesty International’s Maldives researcher.

PPM appeals for unity amid rumours of rift between Gayoom brothers

After Gayoom declined an invitation to inaugurate a symposium to launch Yameen’s re-election campaign on Thursday night, a pro-government media outlet leaked conversations with PPM MPs on a Viber group, in which PPM MP Ibrahim Shujau said Gayoom’s decision can be interpreted as a refusal to back Yameen for a second term in office.

No ordinary crime: The stabbing of Mahfooz Saeed

The stabbing of lawyer Mahfooz Saeed on Friday cannot be easily dismissed as gang violence, an attempted robbery, or an assault by drug addicts, writes Hassan Mohamed.

Opposition announces nation-wide protests on Sep 11

The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) is planning to hold a nation-wide protest on September 11 against the recent re-imprisonment of former President Mohamed Nasheed.

Government’s economic policies are “failing,” says MDP

The MDP has expressed concern over a “ballooning budget deficit,” and said the Maldives will not meet targeted 1.4million arrivals, or raise expected revenue from SEZs.

Looking for new hope

In Malé, anger at the government is palpable, so is frustration and a certain amount of despair. At a loss as to what to do, many Maldivians are calling for mass protests and urging the international community to intervene, writes Shafaa Hameed.

Thousands gather for first MDP rally since May

Thousands of supporters gathered at the Artificial Beach in Malé tonight for the first opposition rally since May, calming fears the opposition has lost support and is in disarray following former President Mohamed Nasheed’s return to jail.