Politics

Government accused of undermining all-party talks with preconditions

The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party has accused the government of attempting to obstruct the upcoming all-party talks by demanding council-endorsed representatives and ruling out negotiating with jailed opposition leaders.

PPM MPs seek reconciliation between Gayoom brothers

MPs of the Progressive Party of Maldives are seeking to mediate between the party’s leader and the incumbent president to resolve a bitter power struggle that has split the ruling party.

State wholesaler appeals to recover US$1.2m from PPM MPs’ company

The State Trading Organisation has appealed a civil court ruling in favour of a company owned by ruling party MP Riyaz Rasheed to recover MVR19.3 million (US$1.2 million) released as a credit facility.

Former members seek UN protection for human rights watchdog

Nasheed seeks UN intervention to contest presidential elections in 2018

The former President has challenged his conviction under terrorism charges with the organization’s Human Rights Committee

Opposition launches nationwide protests over food prices

Days after the government hiked the prices of staple food, the opposition announced plans of organizing protests across the country

Human rights lawyer given six-month ban for criticising judges

Nazim Sattar was handed a six-month ban days after he lodged a complaint against a criminal court judge

More than 100 graduates still awaiting law licence from supreme court

Some hundred graduates who have been waiting on a law license for more than a year had their hopes dashed Wednesday when the DJA cancelled an award ceremony at the last minute

Majlis reconvenes with debate on food subsidy cut

The People’s Majlis reconvened after a one-month recess today with a heated debate about the doubling of prices for staple foods after the government’s abrupt decision to target subsidies for the needy.

Court ruling threatens to halve MDP’s membership and state funding

The civil court has ruled against an MDP petition that sought to overturn the retroactive application of a requirement for fingerprinted forms for political party membership, threatening to reduce the party’s membership and state funding by half

FAM dismisses claim of ‘government interference’ in top footballer’s exclusion

The Football Association of Maldives has dismissed claims of politicization as controversy grows around its exclusion of a top footballer, who is also a leading opposition activist, from the Maldives campaign for the 2019 Asian Cup

Yameen meets top Saudi officials to discuss development assistance

During official talks, King Salman bin Abdul Aziz accepted an invitation to visit the Maldives at a mutually convenient date. Yameen also met with the Saudi foreign minister, education minister, Islamic affairs minister, and the chairman of the Saudi Fund for Development.

Gayoom rebuffs government’s demand of council-endorsed representatives for talks

The government demanded that representatives for all-party talks must be endorsed by executive councils after Gayoom appointed his son to represent the PPM. A majority of the divided ruling party’s council is seen as loyal to President Abdulla Yameen in the ongoing fued between the Gayoom brothers.

President arrives in Saudi Arabia on second official visit

Yameen will discuss boosting ties in trade and infrastructure development in a meeting with King Salman, the president’s office said.

Malé’s badly damaged roads getting a makeover

Government promises to reduce food prices amid protests

The government has promised to reduce the cost of food staples after a backlash from within the ruling party and protests by the opposition over an abrupt hike in food and electricity prices

Maldives calls for ‘environment conducive to holding SAARC summit’

The Maldives has urged member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation to create an environment conducive for holding the regional body’s 19th summit after it was postponed amid rising India-Pakistan tensions.

Government hopes to begin direct talks with opposition by mid October

The government is open to discussing the release of opposition leaders and has agreed to an opposition demand for mediation by the United Nations, the fisheries minister said.

Commonwealth envoy warned of ‘severe democracy deficit’ in Maldives

“The long-term detention of political leaders has eroded the government and the judiciary’s legitimacy. The inability of political leaders to participate in political life could prevent a credible presidential election in 2018,” reads Dr Willy Mutunga’s briefing note to the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group.

Head of state utility corporation replaced with former MP

The dismissal of Fenaka Corporation’s Managing Director Mohamed Nimal comes weeks after a US$1 million corruption scandal surfaced in local media. The state utility company has reportedly been unable to recover MVR17 million released to a local company to purchase dollars.