Politics
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.
28 Sep 2015, 09:00
Explosion on president’s speedboat, President Yameen unharmed
A loud blast was heard just as the ‘Finifenmaa’ speedboat docked at the pier, followed by glass shattering, and the door on the speedboat fell off its hinges. Yameen was not injured, but First Lady Fathmath Ibrahim, a presidential aide, and a bodyguard are undergoing treatment for injuries.
28 Sep 2015, 09:00
First lady sustained minor bone fractures in speedboat blast
“The injuries are not serious and by the grace of God, she does not require any surgery. She will make a full recovery with plenty of bed rest and care,” said Mohamed Hussain Shareef, the presidential affairs minister.
28 Sep 2015, 09:00
Vice president extols friendship with India and China
Vice President Ahmed Adeeb lauded and reaffirmed the Maldives’ friendship with rivals India and China at separate functions this week. The current administration has been accused of threatening Indian Ocean regional security by deciding to participate in the Chinese ’21st Century Maritime Silk Road’ initiative.
28 Sep 2015, 09:00
Nasheed brought to Malé for MRI scan
Former President Mohamed Nasheed underwent an MRI scan for an old spinal injury at the ADK hospital at 9am on Saturday.
28 Sep 2015, 09:00
Police seeking FBI assistance to investigate explosion on president’s speedboat
“We would like to assure the Maldivian people that we will investigate this incident as a serious case and that the Maldivian police and MNDF will work together to find out the truth of how this happened,” the police have said.
28 Sep 2015, 09:00
CMAG to work with member states on judicial independence, political freedoms
The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) met in New York on Friday discussed the undermining of judicial independence and the systematic denial of political space including the detention of political leaders in member states.
28 Sep 2015, 09:00
Maldives denies hiring US lobbyist Podesta Group
The Attorney General’s Office has denied reports that the government of Madives has hired Washington’s most prominent lobbyist firm, Podesta Group, to advocate on its behalf amidst calls for sanctions for human rights violations.
27 Sep 2015, 09:00
Maldives hires US lobbyist Podesta Group for US$300,000
The government of Maldives has hired Washington’s most prominent lobbyist firm Podesta Group for a sum of US$300,000 to advocate on its behalf amidst calls for sanctions on government officials for human rights violations.
27 Sep 2015, 09:00
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.
26 Sep 2015, 09:00
Lawyers defend call for targeted sanctions to secure Nasheed’s release
Reiterating calls for targeted sanctions against Maldivian government officials if Nasheed is not released, the opposition leader’s international lawyers Amal Clooney, Jared Genser, and Ben Emmerson said his case is “emblematic of a broader, brutal crackdown on democracy and human rights involving not only the former president, but also large parts of the population.”
25 Sep 2015, 09:00
‘We worry for his safety’: Nasheed’s daughter at UN Human Rights Council
“My father, Mohamed Nasheed, former president of Maldives, was imprisoned by the Maldivian government on fabricated charges of ‘terrorism.’ He is the first democratically elected president of the Maldives. Although I know him as my tenacious and also brilliant father, who has tirelessly risked the majority of his life trying to establish basic human rights in our country,” said Meera Laila Nasheed at the UN Human Rights Council yesterday.
25 Sep 2015, 09:00
Elections Commission to spend MVR1.6million on democracy celebration
The Elections Commission (EC) will be spending MVR1.6million (US$100,000) on celebrating democracy in northern Haa Alif Hoarafushi in October.
23 Sep 2015, 09:00
President Yameen may skip UN general assembly again
Yameen was scheduled to address the UNGA for the first time since his election on October 1. But Ibrahim Muaz Ali, the president’s spokesman, declined to comment if Yameen would be traveling to the US after his ongoing trip to Saudi Arabia.
23 Sep 2015, 09:00
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.
22 Sep 2015, 09:00
Chairman of state broadcaster now heads ruling party TV station, news website
Manik, who chairs the state’s Public Service Media (PSM) board, was appointed as the chief operating officer of PPM’s Channel 13 in August. He has now taken on the role of chief executive officer of Avas, a news website set up by Vice President Ahmed Adeeb.
20 Sep 2015, 09:00
Government complains of UK refusal to meet Cherie Blair
The Maldives has lashed out at the UK foreign office’s alleged refusal to allow Cherie Blair to accompany Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon to a meeting in London.
19 Sep 2015, 09:00
PG takes dispute over Nasheed’s terrorism conviction to Supreme Court
The Prosecutor General said the High Court had clearly misapplied the law in rejecting an appeal filed to determine the credibility of a rapid criminal court trial against former President Mohamed Nasheed.
19 Sep 2015, 09:00
Government blames Nasheed for delay in MRI scan
A home ministry spokesman said the doctor had recommended Nasheed rest in a stress free environment and undergo physiotherapy and daily swims before obtaining the MRI. “But President Nasheed has opted not to swim daily. This is why we have not facilitated a scan for him,” he said.
17 Sep 2015, 09:00
High Court Judge to retire
“I am retiring because my doctors have advised me to stop working in such a stressful and busy environment,” Shareef said. His retirement will come into effect on October 1.
17 Sep 2015, 09:00
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