Archive for January, 2011

31st January 2011, Male’, Maldivestoday.com

The Supreme Court ruled out that MDP candidate for Raa. Innamaadhoo council lacks criteria set according to elections Law. The case was filed by Elections Commission to nullify MDP candidate for Raa. Innamadhoo. Ibrahim Khaleel of Finivaage name will be removed from candidacy list. Hence, there will be no candidate contesting in this constituency from MDP side.

Two nights ago MDO candidate for Male’ City Council Sarangu Adam Manik’s nude video was leaked. However, we have learned today youtube.com has removed the second video which contained illicit material.

Violence and corruption is rampant on the road to 5th February 2011 local council election in Maldives. Ruling Party senior are using state fund, resources and power to force people to vote for MDP. Intimidation and attack on political figures and a common scene. People question the decency of democracy.

The aspiration of Maldivians for a perfect democracy is yet to happen. Less than two and half years in power Nasheed has turned to be new Asian dictator. State Media hijacked, resources of the nation sold below market price, kleptocracy rampant at all levels of government.

31st January 2011, Male’, Maldivestoday.com

How Far can Italians fool Maldivians

Milano Bicocca Fools Maldivians in disguise to garner support for local council election

In a drama to garner support for upcoming local council in Maldives the new dictator of Maldives Mr. Nasheed invited two key people from a new Italian University (University of Milano-Bococca ) to open an outpost of it in Faafu Atoll Magoodhoo in Maldives. It’s a small fishing village in Maldives. This is not first time the dictator has invited people from the University to open it. During the parliamentary election held in 2009 the same drama was played to fool the people of Maldives. The fisher community in the island is thinking that it’s a University in the Island. But lot of elderly people in the island ask if it’s a University where are the buildings, principal, teachers, lecturers, admin staff and most importantly students. A university is a place where students study for degree, masters and Phd. We don’t see any one studying that said Ali Moosa who is respected in the island.

Where are the building?

The only thing which was visitible during the so called opening ceremony of Milano Bicocca University in Magoodhoo is the ruling MDP yellow color flags, MDP Flags and their candidate’s campaign material. Not a single building was constructed to open the so called campaign gimmick.

The case is against human rights accords

This campaign gimmick is against International Human Rights accords according a expert in the field. It’s abusing peoples ignorance. Generally Fisher communities in Maldives think a person of white skin is great and he or she will be treated like a hero in the islands. However, over the past many years this belief is fading away as more Maldivians gets in contact with foreign tourists.

President lied to people of Magoodhoo

Speaking at the gimmick campaign opening ceremony of the University of Milano-Biococca Maldives Outpost the controversial president of Maldives said that Milano Bicocca is one of the premier universities is a gross lie to the people of Magoodhoo.There is only one Italian University among the world top 100 University. That is University of Rome La Sapienza which came to the 100th position in the rank.  Other good Italian Universities include University of Bologna, Politecnico di Milano, Università degli Studi di Milano, Sapienza Università di Roma, Università Commerciale Luigi Bocconi, Universita di Pisa, Universita degli Studi di Firenze, Universita degli Studi di Trieste, Universita di Siena and the list goes on but the name of Milano Bicocca is not there. It’s a disgrace not only to people of Magoodhoo but the people Italy and its Universities.

Since the controversial president Nasheed came to power the democracy has been shaken and peoples respect for higher authorities gone and respect for government non-existent. This one of the many times that he has used foreigner to garner support for elections in disguise. The University of Milano Bicocca would be surprised the interntion of Nasheed. Maldivestoday.com journalist in Magoodhoo said that he was sitting just beside when Nasheed and Aminath Jameel tried to push Bicocca personnel to talk when he said that he doesnt know what to say as its a injustice to the people.

Nasheed trying to convince Bicocca University Personnel to talk

30th January 2010, Male’, Maldivestoday.com

Sarangu Adam Manik

Ruling party candidate and biggest financier of ruling party Sarangu Adam Manik who is running for a city council seat in Male’ has rediculed the Maldivian people and casted a dark cloud over politicians in the country. A video of Sarangu Adam Manik getting naked and showing off his private parts while chatting with an unknown girl by the name of @anne over MSN was leaked and has been uploaded into the popular social network site youtube.com. Less than 5 days into local council this is going to damage MDP’s reputation and people’s confidence over ruling party and its credibility.

Sarangu Adam Manik is a close aid of president Nasheed as he poured his wealth into MDP. However, Sarangu Adam Manik’s campaign will go ashtray if his constituents see this vedio. Due to its illicit nature we will not be able to link it in here. However, if you search it in www.youtube.com under “sarangu adam manik” you will be able to see 2 video clips of Adam Manik. We have not received if the case has been filed to Police and elections commission. Sarangu Adam Manik might loose his candidacy if elections decides so due to this video. The other candidates who are competing in the same contitituency as Sarangu Adam Manik is Assad from DRP and Sherine (former MDP activist now removed from MDP for the sake of running against Sarangu Adam) as an independent. candidate.

28th January 2011, Male’, Maldivestoday.com

Less than a week before the country’s first local council election, Ruling MDP has accelerated its terror tactics against opposition leaders and supporters.

Today (around 11am) MDP supporters led by two of its Parliamentary Members – Hon Qasam and Hon Nazim confronted the former President Gayyoom and opposition supporters. The confrontation which took place in the island of Kaandehdhoo resulted in serious injuries to several opposition supporters and leaders.

Today MDP supporters also confronted the Opposition Leader Hon Ahmed Thasmeen Ali during his campaign visit to Madifushi Island in Thaa Atoll.

MDP supporters also tried to disrupt the visit to Alifushi Island by senior Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP) leaders.  Some opposition supporters were physically abused.

Earlier when the Civil Court ordered the proposed City Council election in the Addu Atoll null and void the Government, instead of appealing against the decision, sent its senior officials (including several MPs) to harass opposition leaders. For several nights they gathered outside the residences of DQP leaders – threatening them and their family members.

Acceleration of these terror tactics is followed by total blockade of state media to the Opposition (in clear breach of the Constitution), use and abuse of state resources for ruling party campaign, and mass dismissal of employees from various state owned corporations who have either refused to join the ruling party or opted to remain neutral.

MDP MPs Hon Alhan, Hon Nasheed and Hon Ilyas outside residence of DQP leaders

The people of this infant democracy never expected President Nasheed – an Amnesty prisoner of conscience, to behave in this manner. Today President Nasheed is doing everything he condemned as an opposition leader – including abuse of state media, use of government resources for party campaign and intimidation of opponents and opposition supporter.

Barely two years into office President Nasheed is fast becoming a typical third world dictator. Government organized protests headed by ministers, midnight protests outside the residences of judges and opposition leaders, total control of state media, physical abuse of opposition supporters and leaders, shutting down the Supreme Court and various independent institutions, award of contracts to friends and relatives etc are just a few examples.

Some people disappointed with President Nasheed’s behavior are suggesting that the President was never interested in human rights and rule of law. All along he was championing ancestoral struggle to grape power. His grandfather is said to have been involved in the lynching of the former ruler Ameen Didi, while his father is said to have been involved in a plot to assassinate the former President Ibrahim Nasir and Nasheed’s uncle Mr. Sikka in 1988 brought Tamil Tigers to assassinate the former President Gayyoom – in the process killing 21 civilians. Many of those involved in the 1988 incident are senior government officials today.

28th January 2011, Male’, Maldivestoday.com

By Jackie Dingfelder and Ben Cannon (Thank you for sharing this with us)

Jackie Dingfelder is a State Senator from State of Oregan

As two legislators from the US state of Oregon, we are usually focused on the politics of our coastal state of 3.5 million people. But thanks to an initiative sponsored by the Maldivian Democracy Network and the US Embassy, we found ourselves this month half a world from home, meeting with close to 20 members of the Maldivian Parliament, the President and Vice President, NGOs, and members of independent commissions.

The visit was an opportunity for us to learn about the political process in the Maldives and to share some of our own experiences with democracy in the US.

Throughout our visit, we were impressed and heartened by the level of commitment we heard Maldivians express to making their young democracy work. We heard plenty about conflict, sometimes bitter, between the MDP and DRP, between the President and the Parliament, but over and over again we heard politicians and commissioners express a profound commitment to keeping the Maldives on a democratic path.

Three additional points stood out:

First, we were struck by inconsistencies between the system of government the Maldives has adopted and the language used to describe it. The new Maldivian constitution established a Presidential system of government where, like the US, power is divided between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. In this context, it strikes us as odd that the President and his cabinet is known as “the Government,” that his party is said to “rule,” and that the majority coalition in Parliament is commonly referred to as the “opposition.” In a system where government’s power is separated and balanced between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, each branch governs. Thus, Presidents (including our own) must recognize their responsibility to work with parliamentary majorities, even when that majority is held by a party different than his own. Likewise, parliamentary majorities must step up to their responsibility to work with the President to lead the country, not merely oppose him in an effort to win the next campaign.

Ben Cannon is a State Representative from State of Oregan

Second, we were struck by the universality of many aspects of democratic politics. In multi-party democracies on both sides of the world, politics can be petty. Parties clash. Legislators don’t always act like adults. The process of change is messy and slow. Practically every complaint we heard about Maldivian politics was one that we commonly hear about our own as well. One advantage for us is that 230 years of experience has shown Americans that for all its faults, democracy generally works pretty well – when given enough time. Today’s defeats may be tomorrow’s victories. Politicians come and go. Thanks to an independent judiciary, our Constitution has been preserved. We hope that the Maldivian people will temper their short-term frustrations, however justified, with patience for the long-term peace and prosperity that democracy helps promote.

Finally, we were impressed by the rapid expansion of civil society in the Maldives and we hope that this sector will continue to grow. For democracy to flourish, it is vital that society maintain a robust and independent media, aggressive non-governmental organizations, and an education system that includes instruction in civics. We were particularly impressed by organizations like the Maldivian Democracy Network and Democracy House, whose Youth Parliament program is helping train the next generation of leaders. As civil society develops, we are especially keen for it to help strengthen the independence of the judiciary, demand additional government transparency, and to hold legislators accountable for what they accomplish – and what they don’t.

As a young democracy, there is a great deal at stake in the Maldives. Like so many others around the world, we are anxious to see you succeed. We hope that our visit serves as a springboard for deeper ties between our state and your nation.

Jackie Dingfelder is a State Senator; Ben Cannon is a State Representative. Both are from the state of Oregon in the United States.

27th January 2011, Male’, Maldivestoday.com

kihaadhuffaru Island Resort Maldives

The group of masked men gatecrashed to a resort in Baa Atoll at late night 2:30pm and robbed the safe of the resort which contained around USD 1000. The four masked men confronted security guards in the islands and taped the receptionist’s mouth and face which almost suffocated him. The thieves also tried to rob the jewelry shop but they failed. Not succeeding to get anything else the group escaped from the island in a small dinghy. It is likely that these people are from neighboring islands.

Its an isolated incident

Maldivestoday.com sources in Baa Atoll Kihaadhufaru Resort said that resort Manager Sadaath has said the incident is an isolated one and did not pause any threat to the retreating guests in the island. The resort was running at 75% occupancy while the incident occurred. The resorts manager said that he puts the security of its guests and staff as the first priority.

This beautiful island is located 105 km from Male’ International Airport. The size of island (m): 340×280. It takes toThis three star resort has 24 Beach Bungalow, 114 Bungalow Deluxe, 12 Water Bungalow Rooms with a total of 150 rooms.

Somali pirates in Maldives

Recently Somalian pirates have been washed to the shores of Maldives. In one instance they drove their dinghy to an islands in south called Foamulah. There were many incidents of pirate’s dinghy boats appearing in Maldives. There are some 100 plus Somali pirates in Maldives jails. This is an additional burden to Maldives already bankrupted economy. At this moment nobody has pointed their finger to Somalian pirates on this issue. However, under current government of Nahseed there more criminals freely roaming on the streets then in jail. The dire drug issue in the country has not been solved which is suspected to be the mother cause of all social ills in the country of 350,000 people.

First time 40 years of tourism

Penelopez Cruz & Javier Bardem in Maldives Oct 07

Sadly this is first time in the history of Maldives such an incident is occurring in its 40 years of tourism. There are 98 exclusive resorts in Maldives each is situated in its own island. Honeymooners, divers, snorkellers, sun bathers, surfers and many more types of tourists flock to Maldives every year in search of perfect holiday.

Last year around 800,000 tourists visited Maldives according immigration statistics.

25th Jane 2011, Male’, Maldivestoday.com

Aishath Sherine removed from MDP

The ruling MDP has expelled member Aishath Sherin from the party. Her only fault is for deciding to run for the upcoming local council election. Her fault is her courage to compete against a highly corrupt figure ‘Sarangu’ Adam Manik. Manik has refused to leave his job as Male’ Municipally president as he also also a candidate.

Sherin suspected Manik influencing people using money and his power as president of Municipality.

Sherin was an MDP activist and now she is been expelled from her party. This is clear message to ordinary members MDP who tirelessly worked for reform but now been the victims of corrupt elements and inheritance of former regime like Red Wave Saleem, Jabir etc.

Many MDP activists are behind Sherin and it is unlikey that these people will vote for Sarangu. Hence, there will be split votes in that constituency. Maldivestoday.com would like to support Sherin and encourage her to continue her work.

25th January 2011, Male’, Maldivestoday.com

Few months back we reported a plan by Lithuanian company Olialia to develop an all blonde island. The contemporary plans to develop all blondes resort has entered the phase two. This island said to take the shape of a gigantic high-heeled shoe. After a reporting by a delegation who said that they have visited Maldives to do the selection of islands. They have shorted listed 3 islands that fits the criteria.

Olialia blond island project shaped like giant high heel shoe

The name of the selected islands have not been released yet. Maldivestoday.com sources have received images of the planned resort. It is designed by a famous Lithuanian architect named Valerijus Starkovskis. They are planning to complete the resort by the year 2015.

The island will development will also include reclamation of reef to get the required shape of high heel shoe. The latest draft includes an initial 61 guest villas, several restaurants, a nightclub, a beauty salon and spa centers, a marina, a boardwalk, mall, helipad and a “centre of harmony and psychology”. Olialia said it intends to eventually increase the resort to 500 rooms which would be among the category mega resorts in Maldives.

The central gimmick of the resort proposal is to staff the resort entirely with blondes and ensure all buildings “comply with the spirit and the worldview of blondes”, because, according to Olialia’s managing director Giedre Pukiene, “blondes are a great power that should not be underestimated. We are smart, beautiful, reckless and purposeful.” However, Maldivian labour law required every resort to have atleast 51% as Maldivian. It will not be possible to hire Maldivian blondes unless there is some surgery before hand.

In addition to the resort, a specially designed charter airline staffed only by blondes, ‘Olialia airlines’, will deliver tourists to the island, Pukiene claimed.

Managing Director of Olialia Giedre Pukiene

Investors apparently include interests in Lithuania, Russia, UK, Germany, the United Arab Emirates and an as-yet undisclosed Maldivian travel company.

Olialia is a highly recognisable brand within Lithuania with a reported income of $US10 million. It claims to be an Eastern European version of Richard Branson’s Virgin company, and is well known for its gratuitous use of blonde women in its marketing. The company now markets an assortment of products ranging from Cola and Italian pizza restaurants to luxury limousines, a nightclub and a (blonde) modelling agency.

The newly appointed Tourism Minister says she is not aware of such a project but she has heard about it somewhere. Probably from Maldivestoday.com she also said that  eventually it will pass through the tourism ministry, be subject to the Tourism Act and ultimately require cabinet approval “and debate over the various merits and demerits.”

Currently there are 98 resorts in Maldives with a total bed capacity of around 21,000 and attracts close to 800,000 visitor per year.

Dream of Lithuanian Blondes Resort in Maldives

25th January 2011, Male’, Maldivestoday.com

Ilyas Hussain Controller

The Controller of Maldives Immigration Ilyas Hussain in a press conference today said that he will not obey the order of Anti Corruption Commission of Maldives. The 500 million Rufiyaa project on border security was awarded to Nexbiz of Malaysia. The findings of Anti Corruption Commission reveals that there are grey areas and suspects for room for corruption.

Ilyas said that Anti corruption commission cannot order to suspect an agreement between them and Nexbiz. Ilyas also heavily critized his deputy state Minister (Adam) for talking against him and alleging for Corruption. Today Ilyas told reporters that Adam wants his seat. It’s like political cyclone.

Once the new border control is in place every foreign passenger has to pay USD2 and USD15 for VISA Card. Currently Male Airport is used by over million passengers.

Maldivestoday.com has learned that its a deal struggle between Controller and deputy. Controller is in favour of Malaysian Nexbiz while Deputy is in favour of a Sri Lanlan party. Our sources in Malaysia has confirmed Ilyas staying in Malaysia under the patronage of Nexbiz.

Since MDP’s government came to power the Maldives Corruption Index came worse. The Maldives has been ranked 143 in Transparency International’s 2010 Corruption Perception Index, equal with Pakistan and below Zimbabwe. Recently ruling MDP parliamentary leader has been awarded a USD21 million project

Chanting at President Nasheed Drug Abuser –Defamation?

Special Report

24th Jan 2011, By Ali Sulaiman (Freelance writer to www.maldivestoday.com)

Muleeaage- Presidents Palace

Its election time in the Maldives, for the first time the tiny Indian Ocean nation polls for local council election. The Maldives voted for a presidential election in 2008 which saw coalition of political parties ousting former President Qayyoom, replacing him with Mohamed Nasheed as the president of the country. Two years down the line, another coalition is loosely formed, this time ironically it is against Mohamed Nasheed, on one side there is President Mohamed Nasheed, and on the other side, opposition parties.

Among whom are those who were his former coalition partners during the Presidential election, including the Maldives Republican party lead by Hon. Qasim Ibrahim, former Finance Minister, and President Nasheed’s first Home Minister. And there is the Dhevehi Qaumee Party led by former Presidential candidate Dr. Hassan who garnered a respectable third position in short period of political campaign and held the post of Attorney General in previous government and Advisor to Nasheed.

Nasheed is accused of substance abuse

Only last month Maldives Justice Party led by religious scholars has also pulled out of the government though few of their ministers opted to remain in the government. All these parties campaign against MDP and President Nasheed. Opposition jointly calls the public to vote anyone but the MDP and President Nasheed’s candidates. All these parties and individuals has abandoned Nasheed after seen his betrayal to democracy, his authoritarian style and denouncing his policies which saw corruption soaring high in the country eroding investor confidence , and his total disregard to Constitution and Rule of Law.

However, in these days something else is fast becoming too common a scene in the Maldives. On his campaign trail he is shouted at as a drug user and substance abuser. Locals call him and chant at him “ Ganja Boa” means someone who abuses drugs.

Allegation of substance abuse

Long before Nasheed entered politics, there was serious allegation against him of using cannabis and marijuana. The allegation has never been formally refuted even after he is being elected to the high office of the presidency. The author of this article was met by close activist of MDP working for them during 2008 election, he confided that he was too scarred when he saw Anni as is called locally, smoking dope along with known drug users at a premises belonging to a close friend, he said he saw Ibrahim Hussein Zaki in the same room as well. “I do not want to go there again”, he said. He asked not to mention his name; he works in local film industry as a director.

Ibrahim Hussain Zaki Special Envoy to President Nasheed

Nasheed is repeatedly alleged to use cannabis and substance abuse by the former DRP Deputy Leader  and former Leader of Maldives Islamic Democratic Party, Umar Naseer at public rallies held in the capital Male, and the allegation has never been refuted and no action has been taken to clear his name through courts. However, his ministers’ jumps up even for minor allegation of abusing powers and take several individuals to courts; currently his Youth Minister Hassan Latheef has taken Mr. Solih another politician from DQP for defaming him in a television program. It is widely believed that Nasheed does not dare to file cases on these allegations as there are number of eye witnesses who are now ready to testify against him.

Presidential Spokesperson: a former drug convict

Maldives public has more than one reason to suspect of their President’s dirty secret of still continuing to smoke dopes. He has surrounded himself with convicted drug offenders. His Spokesperson Mr. Mohamed Zuhair is among the first Maldivians convicted for drug offences under Maldives drug law “ The Law on Drugs”. The Presidents appointed member to Maldives National Broadcasting Company and MDPs inner circle member Mr. Fahala Saeed was convicted not only for drug abuse but, for drug trafficking and trading, his entire family was involved. He was convicted for the felony, and life sentence was given. However he was bailed out from prison after Nasheed took over the Presidency. President’s aid, Mr. Ziyad who has become the symbol of this Presidency for his phony tail and appearance is widely believed to be a habitual drug abuser and the supplier of it to the President.

Mohamed Zuhair (Juhaa) among the first Maldivian drug convicts

Number of local MDP activists has drug related criminal background, many joining MDP to free themselves from prosecution and from serving sentence, though so far no systematic survey has been conducted to gauge the extent of this practice, reports are common that drug offenders are given offer to join the party along with their family and get released from custody and prosecution. Some notorious local drug lords have escaped prosecution after their high profile arrest. President Nasheed, the Former Defense Minister Ameen Faisal  and number of high ranking MDP officials visited the Southernmost known drug dealer widely accused for the trading drugs in Addu and known by his nick name Mr.Azalla when he met an accident and later died of his injuries.  Though in Muslim societies no one celebrates a death no matter what character of the person was, on hearing Azalla’s death people of Addu sighed relief.

Presidency shame proof

Fahala Saeed - life sentenced for drug trafficking and trading

In societies where decency matters, and where public officials are scrutinized for their words and actions, minor scuffles with law and rules of the society force them to take action though Italy might be an exception. It is for these reasons that we see Presidents and Prime Ministers take great care in protecting the image of their post and position.  We often witness people working closely with head of governments and head of states work away at mere allegation. As recently as this week, director of communication for UK Prime Minister Cameron, Mr. Coulson has quit amid allegation of phone hacking. President Obama’s advisors and aids continue to exude for varying reasons. However, here in the Maldives convicted drug offender’s serves proudly as Presidents spokesperson. His appointed officials are drug officials carrying life sentence, several of his appointed councilors has drug related criminal background. These are not mere allegation, but established by criminal judgment by court of law. President himself though declares his effort to eradicate drug epidemic in the country  is indelibly tainted, accused of still continuing dope smoking along with drinking. Maldivian believes that International community is oblivious to these facts, and Nasheed therefore, considers that he is shame proof at international community if not at home. For these reasons Maldivians widely looks down at the presidency and considers Nasheed a national tragedy. The chant of “ Ganja Boa” follows him wherever he goes without any relent.