Adhaalath continues bullshitting Maldivians -Hilath

HRCM confirms concubine existence in Maldives while the Adhaalath party has told it is based on hearsay last week

Miadhu. Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) has yesterday confirmed the reports of under aged concubine existence in the country and has said that they have evidence of this now.

Speaking at the press conference held yesterday, Deputy President of HRCM Mohamed Zaahid said that since the case is still under investigation, they cannot reveal the evidence that they have.

He said that even though some medical documents related to this case were found at one point, it is lots now. He added that the hospital should have these medical documents and that it would be helpful for the investigation process if they are found.

The HRCM member Sheikh Ahmed Abdul Kareem said that they investigated the under aged concubine case because it was an issue of sexual abuse of a child and not because it was related to the religion. The members expressed their dismay over some people viewing HRCM’s involvement in this case as a religious issue.

The HRCM has made this statement at a time when Ministry of Islamic Affairs dismissed the under aged concubine issue as a hearsay and a rumor. Speaking at a press conference held on 27 October, State Minister of Islamic Affairs Mohamed Shaheed Ali Saeed said that the issue of child concubine was only based on hearsay. He said that the Ministry has been unsuccessful in their attempts to find the truth of this matter and that this makes one doubt the authenticity of the talk of child concubine. Shaheem further said that they had done a lot of work by contacting Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), to find the truth about child concubine case and that so far they have no evidence to prove that this actually happened.

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Protest Alliance calls President Nasheed to resign

Miadhu.
The Protest Alliance jointly organized by main opposition DRP and its co partner PA has called the MDP Government of Mohamed Nasheed to resign as it has failed to fulfill its promises. The Alliance held a large demonstration last night in the main streets of Male’ in what they earlier described as a protest to oust the President and his government.

The demonstrators were carrying placards and flags and were chanting anti government sentiments throughout the long rally. They were calling the Government liars and cheaters and warned they will topple the Government soon. The demonstrators were expressing their anger for the escalating cost of living, increase in the electricity cost, reducing the salary of civil service, reducing the number of civil service employees, and failing to deliver the promises the Government has made.

Leaders of DRP and PA were not seen in the demonstration but IDP President Umar Naseer and DRP Leader Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s son Ghassan Maumoon were leading the demonstration joined by some MPs and large number of supporters.

The demonstration clashed with some MDP supporters when the latter tried to enter Boduthakurufaanu Magu where the demonstration was proceeding to the Highland behind Dharubaaruge where the demonstration started and ended. Attempts of MDP supporters were stopped by Police. The scene became very hostile and stones were thrown into the crowd. There were reports of a woman and a police being hurt during the clash.

IDP President who is a key organizer of the Protest Alliance issued a strong warning to the Government that the demonstration was held not to oust the Government but to condemn it, and they will bring down the Government if it continues to lie and cheat the people. The Protest Alliance has however warned the Government that they will hold a massive demonstration on 3 November to topple the Government.

President Nasheed has said on several occasions he and his Government are not afraid of demonstrations but he challenged the opposition it cannot topple the Government.

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Maldivian connection in Mumbai attacks, says president

Minivan.
President Mohamed Nasheed has said he believes there was a Maldivian connection in the Mumbai attacks, which killed at least 173 people last year.
The government received information from the families of terrorists in the Maldives about the links with the attacks, said Nasheed in an interview with Indian newspaper, Business Standard.
“I believe that the identity of all the dead terrorists in the Mumbai attacks has not been broken down into nationalities,” he said. “I feel there is a Maldivian connection to the Mumbai attacks.”
In the interview, the president said Islamic radicalism in the Maldives was a “serious issue” and many Maldivians were being trained by al-Qaeda in northern Pakistan to fight the war in Afghanistan.
Nasheed said several Maldivians had been arrested by Pakistani authorities after crossing into Pakistan from India.
In April, nine Maldivians were arrested with weapons near the Pakistani-Afghan border. The news came two weeks after three Maldivians were arrested for illegally entering Waziristan, the religious conservative mountain region of northwest Pakistan.
The president added the recruitment of Maldivians took place in the Maldives.
Mohamed Zuhair, president’s office press secretary, told Minivan News that recruitment was conducted in the guise of higher education.
The lack of educational opportunities in the Maldives means many students travel abroad for study, some to Pakistan where a free education is offered at its many madrassas.
In an interview with CNN-IBN during his five-day trip to India last week, Nasheed said that hundreds of Maldivians were being recruited by the Taliban.
Speaking to Minivan News today, Independent MP for Kulhudhufushi South Mohamed Nasheed said the the announcement would gravely impact the tourism industry and make travelling more difficult for Maldivians.
“The international community since 9/11 have been very concerned about terrorism in the sub-continent. Maldivians carrying Muslim names have had easy access so far, they don’t have visa problems...I believe that all of this will be impacted,” said Nasheed. “People will increase surveillance and intercept our emails.”
While Maldivians did attend madrassas, he said he believed the president had exaggerated the number of those being recruited.
“When heads of government are confronted with these sorts of questions, they never exaggerate and often they deny it to protect the country’s national interest,” said Nasheed. “Let Interpol investigate, let the police investigate, but the president should not exaggerate.”
Ibrahim Mavota Shareef, spokesperson for the opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party, said he too believed the announcement would have an adverse effect on the tourism industry and damage the Maldives’ international reputation.
“But if it’s the president saying it, we must assume it has weight,” he said.
But Zuhair denied that the number quoted by the president had been exaggerated. He said he believed it was essential for the government to acknowledge that the problem existed before it could find a solution.
Zuhair added he did not believe it would impact tourism as no country in the world was free from extremism religious or otherwise.
In his interview with Business Standard, the president said the Maldives was stepping up its coastal surveillance with help from India to prevent terrorist attacks and illegal fishing.
In August, the government announced that India would be providing the Maldives with military assistance to tackle piracy, drug trafficking and terrorism.
“Any terrorist attack through the underbelly of India, that is peninsular India, would have to go through Maldivian waters,” said Nasheed.
Elaborating on the benefits of military cooperation with India, he said, “If we had this equipment, we would have been much more vigilant about what was going to happen in the Mumbai attacks...that is why it is essential to safeguard Maldives’ territorial waters and defend our coastline.”

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Maldivian youth recruited by Taliban – President Nasheed

Miadhu
President Nasheed has revealed that Maldivian youths are being recruited and trained by Taliban operating in Pakistan and Afghanistan. He said this is an interview given to CNN IBN yesterday.

President Nasheed further said that there were Maldivians recruited by Taliban who are fighting in Pakistan. He went on to say that Maldives was facing a serious problem with Islamic radicalism.

In a separate interview given to Business Standard yesterday, President Nasheed said since the identity of all the dead terrorists of Mumbai attack (26 November 2008) was not broken down to nationalities yet, he feels that there is a Maldivian connection to the Mumbai attacks. He said that this was based on information about families of terrorists who are in Maldives.

In his interview to Business Standard, President Nasheed said that he believed that some Maldivians were trained by Al Qaeda in Pakistan to fight war in Afghanistan.

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Suspected pedophile arrested in Manadhoo

Haveeru
A man suspected of sexually abusing several boys in Noonu atoll Manadhoo has been arrested.

Speaking at a press conference held at the Police Headquarters last Thursday, the Head of Family and Child Protection Services, Inspector Mirufath Faiz, said that they had arrested Ahmed Hassan, 31, of Shabnam / Noonu Manadhoo, earlier this month on suspicion of having sexually assaulted six underage boys.

Mirufath said that the children who had been abused were not related to Hassan in any way, and added that Police were investigating the possibility that there were more victims. Police said that the man was also known to have sexually abused a young girl from the island on several occasions previously.

The Head of the Family and Child Protection Services said that they had also arrested another man suspected of sexually abusing two girls in Meemu atoll Mulaku. The man had been banished to Mulaku after being convicted of sexually abusing a child, Police said.

Police said that the punishment for convicted child molesters before the year 2007 had been banishment to another island, essentially giving the predators fresh hunting grounds. They said that it was necessary to investigate such cases and find out of if the convicted pedophiles had victimized anyone else while serving their sentence. Convicted pedophiles are now sentenced to jail.

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Protests held outside Education Minister’s house

Haveeru
A group of people gathered near Education Minister Dr Musthafa Luthufee’s house on Sunday and Monday night, to protest against the decision to privatise Ghiyasuddin School.

The protestors, consisting mostly of women, gathered near the house Ma. Victory on Dhilbahaaru Magu around 9:00pm on Sunday night and called for the Education Minister’s resignation and expressed their anger over the US$250 fee that was rumoured to be charged from students. Police managed to disperse the crowd around 11:00pm.

Although only a small group carried placards and banners and actively participated in the protest, a huge number of people thronged the area. At one point things heated up when protestors said that someone had thrown a rock at them. When Police intervened and tried to disperse the crowd, saying that protest was causing a breach of the peace and blocking traffic, four women defied the orders and had to been taken into custody. However, the Police released them shortly thereafter, on the condition that the crowd should disperse.

During the protest, a man in handcuffs was seen being escorted into a Police vehicle. A Police Media Official said later that the man was not being arrested, but being escorted away from the area.

Police warned the people gathered in the area that they would break up the demonstration by force and make arrests if their orders were not obeyed, and that they would not be responsible if anyone was hurt or injured.

When the protest took place on Sunday night, the Education Minister was not in the country. Dr Musthafa said on Monday that he had only arrived in Malé on Monday morning. He further said that that it was clearly stated that the admission fee for the School would only be charged from new students who were enrolling. A group of people had gathered near the Education Minister’s house on Thursday night also.

The Government shortlisted India’s Shri Educare to take over the operation of Ghiyasuddin School under the decision to privatise the school. However, the Education Ministry has so far not revealed any details about it, and although rumours have spread that the school would charge US$250 for each student, there has been no official word confirming the news.

What is known is that the Ministry had said earlier that they would charge a fee from new students who enrolled at the school. Those students who are currently studying at the school would not have to pay the fee.

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Maldives makes history by holding first under-sea cabinet meeting. President Nasheed makes frantic call for urgent action to combat climate change

Miadhu.

Maldives has made history by holding the first ever cabinet meeting in the world today in the sea near Girifushi in Male Atoll. President Mohamed Nasheed who has been hailed for his courageous efforts to inspire greater world attention to tackle climate change, and his young team of ministers attended this 47th meeting of the cabinet. The under-sea cabinet signed a historic declaration making a frantic appeal to world leaders to take urgent and effective action to combat Climate Change. President Nasheed Vice President Mohamed Waheed and 12 members of the Cabinet signed 3 copies of the declaration, one of which will be sent to Copenhagen, one to be kept in the Presidents Office and the third for the National Museum. In the meeting the President and his cabinet ministers communicated in sign language used by divers. 3 minister could not attend the meeting. They are Transport, Housing and Environment Minister Mohamed Aslam, Foreign Minister Dr. Ahmed Shaheed and Education Minister Dr. Musthafa Luthfy. Environment Minister Aslam is in London on an official visit. Dr. Shaheed and Dr. Luthfy could not attend due to health reasons.

Immediately after the meeting President Nsheed and his cabinet came to shallower waters and raising their faces above the sea a buoyant and smiling President told media joined by a representation of major world media networks that the purpose of the meeting was to tell the world what is going to happen to the Maldives if Climate Change is not tackled. He said its a challenging situation where everyone has to take part and urgent action is taken to save the world. The President said its a serious issue which requires serious action. President Nasheed expressed the hope the world will take serious note of it and make a better deal in Copenhagen in December. He said his message is to impress upon the world leaders about the seriousness and urgency of the issue. CNN, BBC, Aljazeera, ABC, Reuters, Associated Press, Indian Star were present to cover the event.

President Nasheed has captured global attention when he made impassionate addresses at the UN Climate Summit and General Assembly in September and earned much praise for his leadership. He was also named by TIME magazine as the top environmentalist of 2009.

Maldives Divers Association was the major partner of the historic event. The event was conducted and coordinated with the prticipation of Maldivian divers only. The President and each member of the cabinet was escorted by one of their divers. The conduct of the meeting went on routine with Maldivian national flag hoisted near the table where they were seated. The President and other members all signed each of the three originals of the declaration in three separate rounds. After exchanging ok sign between the President, the 12 minute under sea cabinet meeting was over setting a new world record.

The declaration has expressed the worries and feelings of the Maldivians about the impending threats of Climate Change, and the urgent need for support for its survival. The islands of the Maldives rising barely a metre above the sea is the most vulnerable country to be affected and destroyed if climate change is not averted. Maldives is one of the first countries which will require a safe land for its people to live in such catastrophic situation. Climate Change is not affecting the Maldives alone, but if the carbon emissions are not reduced to minimum 350, the world and human life is at stake. Urgent action is needed to save the world and life on earth. Copenhagen is our last opportunity to make meaningful decisions. The event which was organised under the global 350 campaign which is focusing on urgent global action to reduce the carbon emission level to minimum healthy level of 350 from its present level of 386.

The Maldives which has moved to the front line in the fight against climate change under the leadership of President Nsheed, is expected to earn much international publicity after this landmark under sea cabinet meeting. The event will also attract more tourists to visit Maldives which is one of the most famous tourist destination in the world.
There are more activities the Government has planned to carry out under the 350 campaign program. On the 24th of this month President Nasheed and his cabinet ministers will be pedalling on bicycles as a sign of their deep commitment to adapt to green policies and lifestyle. President Nasheed has earlier announced to make the Maldives the first carbon neutral country in the world. The Government has decided to implement several programs to demonstrate its support to tackle climate change, including developing alternative energy sources and green tourist resorts which will run on renewable energy. The Government as also established a country wide sea transport network which will also help reduce its oil dependence and will enhance energy efficient and saving building regulations.

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Four arrested in Thulhaadhoo for sexually molesting girl

Haveeru
Four people were arrested in Baa atoll Thulhaadhoo for sexually molesting a girl.

Officials from the Baa atoll Eydhafushi Police Station who were investigating the case said that they could not reveal details about the case as the investigation was still ongoing.

According to reliable sources, the victim was a young girl from another island who was in Thulhaadhoo. The four men had sexually assaulted the girl inside a room last Monday night. The four were arrested in an operation conducted by Police officers in the island based on information from the public.

A Police Media Official said last Thursday that they had arrested four people in connection to such an incident and the case was under investigation.

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Teenager kidnapped, held for Rf25,000 ransom in Malé

haveeru
The Maldives Police Service on Friday said that they had arrested some of the people who kidnapped an 18-year-old boy in Malé and demanded a Rf25,000 ransom for his release.

At a press conference held by the Police around 7:30pm on Friday, Police said that the boy had been kidnapped around 4:00pm on Thursday as he was walking down Ameenee Magu. Police had managed to rescue him around 1:00pm on Friday.

Police said that a gang of around 15 people had accosted the unidentified teenager near the Water Supply area and had begun pushing and shoving him towards a guesthouse in Maafannu district. His kidnappers had also stolen his Cash Card and tortured him to get the Security PIN Code. They had later used his Cash Card to buy snacks.

Police said that the kidnappers had called up the boy’s father and demanded a Rf25,000 ransom for his release. However, the boy’s parents weren’t very wealthy; the father was a resort worker.

The boy had suffered injuries to the back of his head and various areas of his body, Police said, adding that the boy appeared to have suffered some burn wounds also. The boy’s spectacles had been broken and one his eyes were bloodshot, Police said.

Police have so far arrested four of those involved in the kidnapping, including a 16-year-old boy. Two of them were arrested while inside the guesthouse where the boy was being held. The other two were arrested when they went to meet with the father to retrieve the ransom money. One of the two arrested while trying to get the ransom money had a previous record for criminal activities, Police said.

Police said that the 18-year-old victim had alleged that his kidnappers had forced him to take illegal drugs. Police said that they were investigating that aspect of the case also and that so far they had not been able to find any link between the kidnappers and their victim.

The identities of three of the kidnappers were released by the Police. They are Ahmed Nadeem, 27, of G. Kufuriyaa; Aiman, 20, of Hudhuveli in Raa atoll Rasgatheemu; Ibrahim Haleel, 28, of H. Mehelige. The identity of the 16-year-old arrested in connection to the kidnapping was withheld by the Police.

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Police arrest several during protest against Bill on former presidents

Haveeru Police on Monday arrested around 15 people in an effort to break-up the demonstration held near the People’s Majlis building to protest against the bill on providing benefits and security to former presidents.

Supporters of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) began gathering near the Parliament building around 12:30pm, around half an hour after the Majlis sitting went to recess, and clashed with officers of the Maldives Police Service when they tried to disperse the crowd. The situation turned violent and several people from both sides were injured during the confrontation. Protesters threw bricks, bottles and whatever else they could get their hands on at the Police. It took Police in riot gear and armed with truncheons and shields to finally disperse the crowd from the area. Tear gas was also used by the Police.

The demonstration turned violent when some of the protesters charged the Police barricades in an effort to enter the Majlis building while MPs were voting on article 9 of the amendments to the Bill on protection and privileges for former presidents. Two men dashed through the crowd and managed to vault over the Majlis wall before being blocked by Police. One of the two men suffered severe injuries to his head when he cracked it against the Majlis wall during the scuffle with Police. Both men were taken into Police custody.

After the incident with the two men, Police began in earnest to disperse the crowd from the area. When they gave orders to leave the area, the protesters retaliated by throwing bricks and empty bottles at them. Police handcuffed and detained several people who refused to obey orders or tried to obstruct the officers from doing their duty as they continued to push the crowd back from the Parliament building area.

Around 8:15am, long before protesters had arrived near the People’s Majlis building, Police had cordoned off access to the area to vehicles. Police also questioned anyone who wanted to enter the area on foot. Despite the precautions, the protestors managed to reach the main gate of the People’s Majlis building. The officers did not appear to try too hard to keep the protestors away from the area.

The protesters called for the Bill on protection and privileges for former presidents to be removed from the Majlis floor, Article 9 to be cancelled, and the arrest of former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.

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