Politics

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.

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.

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

Colonel detained over boat blast challenges administrative detention

Colonel Ahmed ‘Papa’ Fayaz’s lawyer has challenged his administrative detention at the military barracks, seeking an order declaring the senior officer’s continuing detention arbitrary and illegal.

Pro-democracy NGO warns of Maldives backsliding into repression

“The past seven years have seen the Maldives leap forward and just as quickly regress heavily in the rights arena,” the MDN said in a statement released today on the occasion of International Human Rights Day. “The rights to association, assembly, expression and life can no longer be assured for the people living in the Maldives and this is unacceptable for human rights defenders.”

Maldives’ reputation ‘tarnished by human rights violations’

The current administration’s breach of international human rights conventions has tarnished the country’s reputation, says the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party, as the government insists “the Maldives has made extraordinary progress in guaranteeing human rights.”

Calls grow for “extraordinary measures to tackle grand corruption”

“Corruption continues to undermine development by promoting wastage, has eroded public confidence in key institutions and victimise vulnerable communities in Maldivian society,” Transparency Maldives has said.

Supreme Courts orders police investigation against ex-vice president’s lawyer

A police spokesperson confirmed that Hussain Shameem is under investigation, but declined to reveal the nature of the charges against the former deputy prosecutor general. The Department of Judicial Administration, which functions under the direct supervision of the Supreme Court, also refused to provide details.

Yameen lauds India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy

“All SAARC Member States must work collectively together to deliver human security for our people, and ensure that terrorist organisations have no room to spread their venom in the region,” Yameen said.

Death sentence on a “coerced confession” prompts concern

The high court has sentenced a man to death based on a murder confession he had retracted in court, prompting concern that the verdict heralds a return to the tradition of confession-based sentencing, instead of building cases on solid evidence.

State-owned flats leased to president’s son

Two state-owned flats in Malé have been leased to President Abdulla Yameen’s son below market price with the consent of the anti-corruption watchdog. Each two-bedroom apartments in the Muraidhoo house – formerly part of the presidential palace – was leased for a monthly rent of MVR12,000.

Home minister reveals Nasheed’s medical condition in a tweet

Home Minister Umar Naseer revealed today jailed former President Mohamed Nasheed’s medical condition, prompting an outcry on social media over the release of confidential information.

Former government officials escape prosecution over GMR dispute

Ex Finance Minister Ahmed Inaz, former Maldives Airports Company Ltd Chairman ‘Bandhu’ Ahmed Saleem, and former members of the MACL board of directors will not be charged over an alteration to a concession agreement with GMR that the anti-corruption watchdog claims cost the state millions in revenue.