Politics
Yameen deflects criticism over slow progress in fulfilling sports pledges
President Abdulla Yameen has blamed slow progress in the construction of sports stadiums and mosques on an alleged lack of construction companies in the Maldives.
16 Sep 2015, 09:00
Opposition slams foreign minister’s gripe of ‘global spotlight’ hampering democracy
MPs of the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) have slammed Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon’s claim that the global spotlight on the Maldives is hampering the growth of nascent democratic institutions.
16 Sep 2015, 09:00
Cherie Blair speaks out against sanctions on the Maldives
Blair said sanctions must not be used over the imprisonment of a single individual, former President Mohamed Nasheed. In response, his lawyers said they will pursue targeted sanctions against individual abusers because of the numerous political prisoners in the Maldives.
16 Sep 2015, 09:00
Government will not bow to foreign pressure, declares President Yameen
Following renewed calls by the UN human rights chief and the UK for former President Nasheed’s release, Yameen said there are “things I will not do no matter how much pressure” is brought to bear on the government, insisting that releasing imprisoned opposition politicians would be unlawful as they were sentenced following independent judicial processes.
16 Sep 2015, 09:00
Supreme Court’s latest writ ‘compromises independence of watchdog bodies’
A Supreme Court writ ordering the Attorney General’s (AG) Office to represent all state offices, including independent institutions, has caused concern, with lawyers saying the writ contravenes the constitution and compromises the independence of independent institutions.
16 Sep 2015, 09:00
Ex-defence minister Nazim authorised to seek medical care in India
The government has granted jailed former Defence Minister Mohamed Nazim permission to seek medical treatment abroad. He has been authorized to leave the Maldives for seven days.
15 Sep 2015, 09:00
Court rejects ex-defence minister’s request for medical treatment
The civil court has rejected a request by jailed ex Defence Minister Mohamed Nazim for medical treatment abroad and a transfer to house arrest. It claims it has no jurisdiction over the matter.
14 Sep 2015, 09:00
Government criticises UN rights chief over ‘inappropriate’ calls for Nasheed’s release
“To seek the release of an individual purely on the basis of his political standing and having [no] regard to the allegations against him is inappropriate, and clearly seeks to circumvent the rule of law,” the foreign ministry said after Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussain urged the government to release the former president “given the deeply tainted nature of [his] case.”
14 Sep 2015, 09:00
Nasheed must appeal at Supreme Court, says President Yameen
The government has done all it could to ensure former President Mohamed Nasheed’s right to appeal his conviction on terrorism charges, President Abdulla Yameen said last night, and advised the opposition leader to file an appeal at the Supreme Court after the High Court rejected the state’s appeal of his 13-year jail sentence.
13 Sep 2015, 09:00
Jailed ex-defence minister brought to hospital with persisting health problems
Nazim’s brother Adam Azim told The Maldives Independent that the retired colonel has had countless hospital visits since his imprisonment in March due to complications with his health, stressing that Nazim did not suffer any of the problems before his arrest.
12 Sep 2015, 09:00
High Court upholds acquittal of president’s brother on corruption charges
Abdulla Algeen was accused of embezzling US$177,460 of Japanese funding from the Department of Meteorology while he was its director, but the High Court ruled that the prosecution was unable to prove that the money in question was owed to the state.
12 Sep 2015, 09:00
Government assures investigation of alleged bugging of ex-president’s meeting with lawyers
Following international media coverage of the alleged secret surveillance, the prisons authority said in a statement – posted in English on Twitter by the foreign ministry yesterday – that the “suggestion that the Maldives Correctional Services or the government is responsible for this infringement is wholeheartedly rejected.”
12 Sep 2015, 09:00
MDP resumes anti-government campaign with protest march
A moratorium on street protests was part of a deal made with the government in exchange for the release of political prisoners. The MDP withdrew from the talks after Nasheed was taken back to Maafushi jail on August 23, citing the government’s refusal to honour its commitment to release the former president and other jailed opposition politicians.
11 Sep 2015, 09:00
STELCO ordered to pay MVR56,000 to employee sacked for attending protest
Senior technician Ahmed Saleem ‘Andha’ had filed a complaint following his dismissal on March 12 for participating in an anti-government demonstration. The Employment Tribunal ruled that Saleem was dismissed “without a valid reason or prior notice,” but did not order his re-instatement.
10 Sep 2015, 09:00
Government ‘spied’ on Nasheed’s meeting with lawyers Amal Clooney, Jared Genser
Former President Mohamed Nasheed’s high-profile international lawyers Amal Clooney and Jared Genser have alleged that the government spied on their meeting with the opposition leader at the high-security Maafushi prison this morning.
10 Sep 2015, 09:00
Lawyers will pursue targeted sanctions to secure Nasheed’s release: Amal Clooney
A ruling by the UN working group of arbitrary detention declaring former President Mohamed Nasheed’s imprisonment unlawful would be an “authoritative judgment” that could pave the way for targeted sanctions, asset freezes, and travel bans, the opposition leader’s high-profile lawyers Amal Clooney and Jared Genser told the press today.
10 Sep 2015, 09:00
High Court rejects state’s appeal of Nasheed’s conviction
Following a preliminary hearing held yesterday to decide whether to proceed with the appeal, the three-judge panel ruled unanimously that it could not accept the case because it was not filed by Nasheed.
10 Sep 2015, 09:00
Row escalates over PPM leadership
A second ruling party branch has backed an amendment to the Political Party Act that would strip former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom of the party’s leadership.
10 Sep 2015, 09:00
Criminal court rejects case challenging legality of Nasheed’s re-imprisonment
Nasheed’s lawyers initially filed the case a day after he was taken back to Maafushi prison, requesting the court to declare the transfer “illegal and arbitrary” as the Maldives Correctional Services (MCS) had provided a document showing that the 13-year jail sentence was commuted to house arrest.
09 Sep 2015, 09:00
Head of PPM branch facing disciplinary action after backing removal of Gayoom from leadership
The ruling Progressive Party of Maldives’ disciplinary committee has been asked to investigate a statement issued by the head of the party’s Machchangoalhi south branch, Ahmed Shamoon, backing the removal of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom from the party’s leadership.
09 Sep 2015, 09:00
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