Politics
Tourism tycoon MP labels opposition ‘terrorists’ over boycott call
In a tirade on the People’s Majlis floor yesterday, tourism tycoon and pro-government MP Ahmed ‘Sun Travel’ Shiyam labeled opposition MPs “traitors” and “terrorists” for allegedly calling for a tourism boycott.
18 Nov 2015, 09:00
Government claim of adding 70,000 jobs ridiculed
The government has drawn ridicule on social media after a minister claimed President Abdulla Yameen’s administration had created 70,000 jobs in the first two years of his presidency.
18 Nov 2015, 09:00
Weekly prayer for political prisoners angers Islamic Ministry
The ministry claimed in a statement yesterday that the MDP’s prayer contains ill wishes towards particular people, describing it as a “show off”. Hundreds of opposition supporters have been gathering outside the Islamic centre in Malé every week after Friday prayers since the arrest of former President Mohamed Nasheed in February.
17 Nov 2015, 09:00
President sacks commissioner general of customs
President Abdulla Yameen today sacked Commissioner General of Customs Abbas Adil Riza and appointed Maldives Ports Limited CEO Mohamed Junaid to the post.
17 Nov 2015, 09:00
Death chamber, isolation cells, and new jails
The government has earmarked funds in next year’s budget for new jails, a “death chamber” and solitary confinement units at the Maafushi jail, but slashed funding for the human rights watchdog to carry out torture prevention programmes and monitor compliance with international human rights treaties.
17 Nov 2015, 09:00
Two years on – “Blame it on bro”
On its two year anniversary in power, the PPM government is mired in scandal. Yet there is no push for reform among its supporters. Blame was put on ex Vice President Ahmed Adeeb’s shoulders, while a purge of his loyalists was suggested to put the government back on track.
17 Nov 2015, 09:00
World Bank blacklisted Chinese company awarded Maldives bridge project
The CCCC Second Harbour Engineering company was sanctioned in 2009 and barred from engaging in any road and bridge projects financed by the World Bank Group until January 2017.
16 Nov 2015, 09:00
Population consolidation keystone of 2016 state budget
As the dispersion of the Maldivian people in 188 islands is an obstacle to economic development, Jihad said the government’s population consolidation policy is to settle 70 percent of the population to Hulhumalé.
16 Nov 2015, 09:00
Lawyers of two more suspects in boat blast suspended
The Supreme Court has suspended the lawyers representing two more suspects in the September 28 explosion on President Abdulla Yameen’s speedboat.
16 Nov 2015, 09:00
Translation of President Yameen’s Republic Day speech
A translation of President Abdulla Yameen’s speech on the occasion of Republic Day
15 Nov 2015, 09:00
Maldives hires second public relations firm
The government of the Maldives has hired a second public relations firm, London-based BTP Advisers, the Maldives Independent can reveal.
15 Nov 2015, 09:00
All three of former vice president’s lawyers suspended
The Supreme Court has suspended lawyers Hussain Shameem and Ahmed Thalib from appearing in any court while the police barred lawyer Ali Nadheem from meeting impeached Vice President Ahmed Adeeb at the Dhoonidhoo detention centre.
14 Nov 2015, 09:00
Translation of President Yameen’s Oct 25 speech
President Abdulla Yameen’s speech on October 25, the day after his deputy Ahmed Adeeb’s arrest.
14 Nov 2015, 09:00
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, 09:00
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, 09:00
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, 09:00
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, 09:00
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, 09:00
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, 09:00
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, 09:00
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