Politics
“We shouldn’t rest until Mohamed Nasheed is a free man”: Richard Branson
Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon suggested that the celebrity status of Nasheed’s lawyers has a “very big impact” on international media coverage and shapes international opinion on the opposition leader’s case.
08 Oct 2015, 9:00 AM
Contraband found in ex-defence ministers’ prison cell
Commissioner of Prisons Mohamed Husham said the “contraband was found during a routine check” at the ‘Asseryi’ jail in Himmafushi, but did not reveal what the item was. Husham downplayed the discovery and suggested that the prohibited item was not necessarily a mobile phone as reported by local media.
08 Oct 2015, 9:00 AM
Home minister denies text message appeal to “save the country from vice president”
Several journalists received text messages from Umar Naseer that read: “During this critical juncture, I hope the media will properly fulfil its responsibility.” A second message read: “Consider this a national matter and work to save the country from the vice president. This is my final appeal. Thank you!”
07 Oct 2015, 9:00 AM
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.
07 Oct 2015, 9:00 AM
Vice President declares unwavering loyalty to president
Vice President Ahmed Adeeb declared unwavering loyalty to President Abdulla Yameen today, dismissing speculation of his involvement in a blast on the president’s speedboat last week.
07 Oct 2015, 9:00 AM
Criminal court chief judge sues army for MVR5m
The Chief Judge of the criminal court, Abdulla Mohamed, is suing the Maldives army for his detention is January 2012. He is seeking MVR5million (US$324,254) in compensation.
06 Oct 2015, 9:00 AM
PPM to reject bill stripping Gayoom of PPM leadership
PPM’s parliamentary group has issued a three-line-whip against the a bill that if passed would strip former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom of the party’s presidency.
06 Oct 2015, 9:00 AM
Lawyers step up campaign for Nasheed’s release, call for sanctions
Jared Genser, Amal Clooney, and Nasheed’s wife, Laila Ali, briefed the British press yesterday on the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention’s (WGAD) opinion, which said the opposition leader’s conviction in March was politically motivated and breached international law. The heavyweight lawyers are seeking “travel bans and targeted financial sanctions against Maldivian government officials who have been implicated in serious human rights abuses.”
06 Oct 2015, 9:00 AM
Government submits bills on Maldivian citizenship, marine transport and GST
The government has submitted amendments to the 1969 Maldivian Citizenship Act to specify procedures for relinquishing citizenship and proposed changes to the 1978 law on sea travel to include new procedures for registering and collecting fees from marine vessels and to authorise the relevant ministry to formulate regulations to enforce the Maldives’ obligations under international treaties and maritime agreements.
06 Oct 2015, 9:00 AM
Top Indian diplomat to visit the Maldives
Indian External Affairs Minister Shushma Swaraj is scheduled to arrive in the Maldives on October 10 for a two-day visit, The Maldives Independent understands.
05 Oct 2015, 9:00 AM
Details revealed in UN opinion on Nasheed’s imprisonment
Ruling former President Mohamed Nasheed’s imprisonment arbitrary, a UN human rights panel has urged the Maldives to release him immediately and compensate him for losses.
05 Oct 2015, 9:00 AM
PPM proposes pay cuts for city councilors
The ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) has proposed salary cuts of more than 50 percent for the Malé and Addu city councilors.
05 Oct 2015, 9:00 AM
MDP MPs clamour for Nasheed’s release as parliament resumes after recess
Shortly after today’s sitting began at 9:00am, MDP MPs started chanting “Free President Nasheed” and held up banners that read, “Free President Nasheed in line with the UN decision.” The People’s Majlis reconvened for its third and final session of the year today after a one-month recess.
05 Oct 2015, 9:00 AM
Head of president’s security replaced
Colonel Ahmed Fayaz ‘Papa,’ head of the president’s security detail, has been transferred to the post of Malé area commander and replaced with Colonel Ibrahim Rasheed. The changes follow a blast on the president’s speedboat last week, the cause of which remains unclear.
05 Oct 2015, 9:00 AM
Saudi Arabia holds reception in Maldives to mark its National Day
Vice President Ahmed Adeeb and senior government officials attended the first ever ceremony of its kind on Thursday.
04 Oct 2015, 9:00 AM
Police tightlipped over boat blast probe
The police have been taking statements from journalists who witnessed the incident from the Izzudin jetty as well as crew from the ‘Finifenma’ speedboat, parts of which have been sent abroad for forensic analysis. The police’s refusal to reveal updates of the investigation has fuelled speculation among the public, with suspicion cast on religious extremists and senior government officials.
04 Oct 2015, 9:00 AM
Maldives calls for UN reform
The Maldives has called on the UN to reform itself to better address the needs of small island states and global challenges such as climate change.
04 Oct 2015, 9:00 AM
Who said what? Foreign Minister’s meetings in New York
Dunya called the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention’s ruling on Nasheed’s imprisonment “arbitrary” in a meeting with the UN human rights chief, and sought to downplay the call by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to grant clemency to Nasheed.
03 Oct 2015, 9:00 AM
UN opinion on Nasheed’s jailing revives Maldives opposition
A UN human rights panel’s finding that former President Mohamed Nasheed’s imprisonment on a terrorism charge was arbitrary has revived the opposition’s streets activities, while the government’s refusal to adhere to the decision has triggered a storm of criticism online.
03 Oct 2015, 9:00 AM
Amnesty joins calls for Nasheed’s release
Human rights advocacy group Amnesty International has called on the Maldives to release former President Mohamed Nasheed or give him a fair trial, in the wake of the government’s rejection of a UN rights panel’s finding that his continuing imprisonment on a terrorism charge is arbitrary.
03 Oct 2015, 9:00 AM
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