Archive for June, 2010

Through the state television channel TVM live telecast Deputy Minister of education Ms. Shifa Mohamed calls MDP activists to come and join the ongoing  strike infront of parliament house where she is also illegally present. This is clear indication of government high jacking the state media. In order to discredit the parliament she calls live in TVM that members of parliament have received bribes. This is clear indication of government’s propaganda to highjack the parliament by force. The opposition members of parliament are waiting in the parliament house in fear.

Former Attorney General Suood addressing the official conference at the president’s office have said that the arrest of Hon. Qasim and Hon. Yameen was based on corruption charges. However, according to arrest form issued by the government yesterday it is clearly written that the reason for arrest was due to sedition under article no 29 of the constitution.

This clearly indicates the hidden agenda of president Nasheed to suppress the opposition voice in the parliament.

The resigned Defense Minister Ameen Faisal and state minister for finance Aslam Shakir and senior government officials are striking near the Parliament. The welfare of the opposition MPs are threatened. The Defense Minister Ameen Faisal after resignation yesterday said the current parliamentarians are jungle animals and they have no discipline. And we will finish off opposition”. The state of affairs in capital Male’ is rather tense.

While defence minister Ameen Faisal threatened the opposition MPs president Nasheed has said that he will only listen his party members which is against his presidential oath.

Deputy cabinet ministers and state ministers and polital appointees of the Nasheed government is gathered infront of parliament disrupting and threatening the members of parliament. While this is happing we have experience Nasheed’s continued effort to get majority of the parliament. Opposition has reminded him that in a presidential system president should learn how to govern without the parliament majority.

According to the right to assembly regulation Parliament House, Presidents Office, School surrounding etc are  illegal assembly points. However, so far we have not seeing police taking any action on Nasheed’s government officials and MDP activitis gathered infront of the parliament.

The state of the Maldives government increasingly looks like president Nasheed is going for a police state as indicated in his live telecast during the minister’s resignation acceptance event.

The Police Force of Maldives refused to obey the third summon of the criminal court to appear the detained MPs before the court. This refusal was informed to criminal court after its deadline was over. News came that the government is going to appeal the criminal court order to the high court.

Speaker of parliament has decided to send a letter to president regarding the right of the MPs to attend the parliament even though they are detained for interrogation. The lawyer of Hon. Qasim Ibrahim Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed has this morning sent a letter to Maldives Police regarding the right of MPs to attend parliament sessions while in interrogation. This right enshrined in the article no 205 of the procedure of the Parliament.

President Nasheed, after disrupting today’s session of parliament with the help of MPs of  his party, is trying to destabilize the capital male’. President Nasheed Ordered His party activists to the streets of male’.  Since early morning MDP activists are chanting hatred slogans against MPs and trying to create chaos across the Island. last night was one of the peaceful night for Male’ residents, despite the attempts by President Nasheed to create chaos and interruption.

The Defense Minister Ameen Faisal after resignation, speaking live from presidents office to TV channels said that “members of current parliament are jungle animals and they have no discipline. And we will finish off opposition”. While referring to opposition MPs he said that those MPs have to face the consequences indicating that he has the muscle and power as the country’s Defense Minister. 

Today’s session of parliament was disrupted when the commissioner of police Mr. Ahmed Faseeh informed speaker of the parliament that he will not allow the detained two members of the parliament to attend today’s session. The speaker lastnight requested president to allow the detained MPs to attend today’s session of the Speaker of the Majlis.  

Parliamentarian’s of the Maldives being informed that they will not be allowed to leave the country confirms to Maldives today news channel by some of the MPs. The countries immigration department has telephoned the MPs and informed that they will not be able to leave the country. This happened as some of opposition MPs planned to depart the country and inform various embassies in the neighboring countries of the total chaos created by Nasheed’s government today.

The message reached the MPs with surprise as it is still not clear the intention of the government. The legislature of the country has been under immense threat by the government. The travel ban put on the MPs is unconstitutional. The court has so far not issued any such travel bans. It is likely that today court case will be filed against this act of the government by the opposition MPs.

Three hours has lapsed since the criminal court issued the first summon to appear the detained MPs before the court. After three hours when detained MPs lawyers protested the police officials denied receipt of court order. However, when lawyers further protested the police officials said that they cannot let detained MPs appear before the court on security grounds.

A second summon was issued following the second application for a court order by the detained MPs lawyers team. The court’s summon order the detained MPs to appear before the court this morning (30^th June) at 9:30am. Hence, it is believed that Hon. Qasim & Hon. Yameen will held detained in the notorious Dhoonidhoo Jail.