Politics

Maldives democracy on ‘negative trajectory,’ warns top US diplomat

Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Biswal said the Maldives has seen “a steady weakening of its fragile democracy and an erosion of the rule of law” with the imprisonment of opposition leaders, who “remain behind bars simply because they gave voice to their views, and because the government’s skin is too thin to brook any criticism or competition.”

Opposition women handed suspended sentences over airport protest

The 13 women and one man were sentenced to three months in jail, suspended for three years, on a charge of disobeying orders by protesting at a restricted zone.

HRCM launches inquiry into Malé jail altercation

Several inmates and prison guards at the Malé jail sustained injuries Sunday night after “a random cell check” escalated into a violent confrontation. “The inmates aggressively pushed and shoved prison guards who attempted to conduct the check,” said the Maldives Correctional Services’ spokesperson.

Anti-corruption TV drama angers customs, health ministry

A corruption-themed television drama produced by the Anti-Corruption Commission has stirred controversy with the Maldives Customs Service and a government-run hospital complaining of negative portrayals.

PPM wants to strip Nasheed of ex-presidential privileges

Opposition MPs have slammed a bill that proposes stripping privileges for former presidents convicted of criminal offences as the latest attack on dissent by the ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives.

Minister dispatched to Pakistan as Yameen’s special envoy

Azima Shukoor’s visit comes amidst a lobbying effort by the government to avoid action by the Commonwealth over widely condemned human rights abuses, including the imprisonment of former President Mohamed Nasheed and other opposition leaders.

Maldives seeks ally in Malaysia to avoid ‘unfair punishment’ from Commonwealth

The Malaysian government is also considering selling refined oil products to the Maldives from the state-owned Petronas company and extending on-arrival visas for Maldivians to 90 days. President Yameen and First Lady Fathmath Ibrahim concluded their maiden official visit to Malaysia today.

Human rights watchdog defends restrictions imposed by Supreme Court

An 11-point guideline imposed by the Supreme Court on the state human rights watchdog has not hampered its functioning, Shifaq Mufeed, vice president of the Human Rights Commission of Maldives, told the press yesterday.

Journalists rally against defamation bill

Maldivian journalists have urged the government to reconsider a bill criminalising defamation, expressing grave concern over proposed restrictions on freedom of expression and speech.

Opposition MPs withdraw no-confidence motion against speaker

Opposition MPs have withdrawn a no-confidence motion submitted against Speaker Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed, two days before the motion was up for debate at the People’s Majlis.

Three suspects hand themselves over to police for ‘MoniCon’ tagging

Three suspected gang members wanted by the police to enforce monitoring and control orders granted by the High Court voluntarily handed themselves over last night. Upon request by the police and the home ministry, the High Court issued the first ‘MoniCon’ orders last week to electronically tag 11 gang members under the controversial 2015 Anti-Terrorism Act.

President Yameen departs on official visit to Malaysia

President Abdulla Yameen and First Lady Fathmath Ibrahim departed this afternoon on an official visit to Malaysia in the first couple’s first official overseas trip since the September 28 blast on the presidential speedboat.

President nominates campaign staff as broadcast regulators

The president’s spokesperson said the names of all 23 individuals who applied to the president’s office will be forwarded for parliamentary approval today to fill six upcoming vacancies on the Maldives Broadcasting Commission. However, he explained, the names were ranked in order of preference.

Audit uncovers discrepancies in tourism ministry’s financial records

The tourism ministry’s audit report for 2013 has revealed shocking discrepancies amounting to more MVR300,000 (US$19,400) in the records of income collected from the billion-dollar Maldivian tourism industry during the financial year in review.

MP questions composition of parliament’s graft-probe committee

The parliament’s public accounts oversight committee has launched an inquiry into corruption cases under investigation since 2008, including the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation corruption scandal.

Two judges in Imran’s criminal court trial are part of panel hearing appeal

Two former criminal court judges who presided over the first hearing of Sheikh Imran Abdulla’s trial are among a three-judge High Court panel hearing the Adhaalath Party leader’s appeal of his terrorism conviction. Imran’s trial was stalled in June last year when Judges Abdulla Didi and Shujau Usman were promoted to the High Court.

Maldives moves ahead with criminalising defamation

Government proposes mandatory re-registration of opposition party members

A ruling party MP has proposed changes to the Political Parties Act to make it compulsory for members of political parties to resubmit membership forms with fingerprints.

Fugitive admits to paying Omnia Stategy on behalf of Maldives government

“Let’s say Al Capone were to come along and tell you to do something, well you would just do it. In the Maldives, the president and Vice President are like Al Capone, so I did what they said,” says Mohamed Allam Latheef, owner of a company implicated in the Maldives biggest corruption scandal.

Parliamentary committee rejects judge’s complaint over abrupt transfer

The parliament’s independent institutions committee has rejected High Court Judge Dr Azmiralda Zahir’s complaint regarding her transfer to the court’s newly established southern branch.