Politics
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.
14 Nov 2015, 9:00 AM
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.
13 Nov 2015, 9:00 AM
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.
12 Nov 2015, 9:00 AM
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.
12 Nov 2015, 9:00 AM
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.
12 Nov 2015, 9:00 AM
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.
11 Nov 2015, 9:00 AM
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.”
11 Nov 2015, 9:00 AM
Majlis removes Prosecutor General at midnight vote
The ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives dominated People’s Majlis has removed Prosecutor General Muhthaz Muhsin in an abrupt vote at midnight.
11 Nov 2015, 9:00 AM
Police ask for respect, opposition supporters demand justice
Opposition supporters have hit back at a letter from the Maldives Police Services asking for respect by publishing photos of police brutality and demanding justice for continued impunity.
11 Nov 2015, 9:00 AM
Maldives lifts state of emergency
President Abdulla Yameen has lifted an unprecedented 30-day nationwide state of emergency after just six days, citing progress by the police in investigating threats posed by missing weapons and explosives.
10 Nov 2015, 9:00 AM
PPM wants to remove Prosecutor General
MPs of the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives have submitted a no-confidence motion against Prosecutor General Muhthaz Muhsin. An emergency meeting of the parliament’s independent institutions committee has been called to discuss the motion.
10 Nov 2015, 9:00 AM
After raid, Sangu TV resumes live transmission
Sangu TV was forced off-air after the police confiscated all of the station’s hard disks during a raid in the early hours of Friday. Ibrahim Waheed ‘Asward,’ Sangu TV’s managing director, said the police have not returned the broadcasting equipment. The station used hard disks from its staff to resume broadcasting at 8:00pm last night.
10 Nov 2015, 9:00 AM
Sri Lankan ‘sniper’ was arrested on charge of bribery
A Sri Lankan national that the Maldives government claims had attempted to assassinate President Abdulla Yameen with a firearm was arrested not on a charge of attempted murder, but on a charge of “distributing money to groups and attempting to create unrest,” according to a reliable source.
09 Nov 2015, 9:00 AM
Raajje TV resumes politics coverage ‘for the sake of viewers’
Raajje TV’s chief operating officer said the station decided to resume regular broadcasts last night for the sake of its viewers despite failed attempts to seek assurances from the authorities. The media regulatory body had threatened to revoke licenses of TV stations that air content deemed to pose a threat to national security.
09 Nov 2015, 9:00 AM
Expulsion of ‘bomb plot suspect’ from Sri Lanka sparks diplomatic row
The expulsion of an 18-year-old Maldivian man from Sri Lanka on the request of the authorities here has sparked a diplomatic row. Sri Lanka’s foreign ministry has summoned High Commissioner Zahiya Zareer to express its displeasure, according to media reports.
08 Nov 2015, 9:00 AM
World Cup qualifier to take place in Maldives despite state of emergency
The Hong Kong Football Association’s chairman said the Maldivian defence ministry has assured the Hong Kong team’s safety to FIFA “as the state of emergency is declared only to cope with the demonstration in their country this weekend.” The constitutional right to freedom of assembly was suspended two days ahead of a mass protest planned by the main opposition party.
08 Nov 2015, 9:00 AM
Midnight raids for weapons continue in Malé
According to local media, the police confiscated a pistol from the Thoathaage house in the Manchangoalhi ward of the capital. However, the suspected weapon reportedly turned out to a toy pistol that shoots plastic beads. The police raided three homes in Malé last night amidst an ongoing 30-day nationwide state of emergency declared over fears of imminent attacks.
08 Nov 2015, 9:00 AM
Supreme Court threatens lawyers with ‘legal action’ for contempt of court
“As false and misleading statements are being made by various parties, without attempting to reach the truth of the matter, and in a way that causes loss of the confidence the public has in the Maldivian judiciary, we remind at this opportunity that legal action will be taken against such people,” the Supreme Court said.
08 Nov 2015, 9:00 AM
MDP defies state of emergency with food parties
In an interview with The New York Times, Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon acknowledged that one aim of declaring a state of emergency was to stop the MDP’s mass protest, claiming it “might lead to violence and possible use of explosive devices or weapons that we know are out there.”
08 Nov 2015, 9:00 AM
Lawyer barred from visiting former vice president in jail
Police have barred lawyer of impeached vice president Ahmed Adeeb from prison visits, after the Supreme Court suspended his license to appear in courts. The apex court has since seized the authority to issue law licenses.
07 Nov 2015, 9:00 AM
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