Archive for the ‘News’ Category

Avian bottle that started Ayada Maldives strike

2nd February 2011, Male’, Maldivestoday.com

Avian for owner no water ordinary employees

Two staff who uploaded a picture of Avian water hand labeled for owner of Ayada Maldives Resort Mr. Firath Aydeniz  faces unfair dismissal according to pre-opening team of the resort. The two staff who uploaded the picture to popular social network, facebook were dismissed today and ordered to leave the island. It sparked protest against the management of the Turkish owned resort. Employees in the islands has said that while the owner of the resort gets Avian brand of water ordinary staff on duty is deprived of even drinking water. It’s simply not acceptable to have water bottles labeled in a public refrigerator located behind the reception area one staff highlighted.

Article 27 violated claims staff

Ayada Maldives is a brand new luxury resort located amidst a pristine reef within the southern rim of the Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll in the southern Maldives, 268 miles south of the capital Male’. The employees of the resort sided with the dismissed staff on the grounds of Maldivian labour law and constitution. The employees say that the article 27 of the constitution guarantees freedom of speech. So Ayada is in breach of that constitutional right let alone labor law.

Discrimination prevails

Ayada Strike employees sit outside in the compound

Ayada Maldives has been developed by the Aydeniz Group from Turkey, and has been recognized by the World Travel Awards as Europe’s Leading Tourism Development Company and Asia’s Leading Inward Tourism Development Company. Founded in 1975 by civil engineer Ahmet Aydeniz, the Aydeniz Group’s primary focus was to be a leading player within Turkey’s construction and contracting sector. Its sad to see the world renown company failing to understand the needs and wants of its staff. The staff also complains of discrimination between foreign and local staff.

Any relevance to current lawlessness in the country?

Maldives remains lawless to a large extent following the illegal detention of Judge Abdulla Mohamed and illegal detention of political heavy weights in violation of the same article the employees of Ayada is referring to which is article 27 of the constitution which guarantees freedom of speech and expression. The government of MDP who came to power on democratic platform has turned to be another authoritarian regime. Majority of the citizens including resort workers reject government policies on trying to hijack the democracy and the same rights they fought for before 2008.  Today a ruling party mob stormed into a Court in Thinadhoo and took control of the court house. Law and order is in the hands of gangs and criminals. Hundreds of hardcore criminals including ones with life time sentences have been freed by MDP government and freely work in the streets of Maldives.

Ayada should respect local rules and regulations claims the staff. If they re-instate the illegally dismissed the staff would return to work and operation would become normal a staff said.

2nd February 2012, Male’, Maldivestoday.com

Police arrests a protestor in Maldives

Crisis deepens in Maldives

The crisis and chaos deepens in the Maldives, almost daily protests  taking place, heavy Police and Military presence on the street is becoming too familiar while the ruling Party Heavy guns including the countries beleaguered President remain defiant, arrogantly issuing uninterrupted threats to independent judiciary, the opposition and freedom of speech and opinion.

UN and ICJ calls for release of Judge Abdulla

Maldives President Nasheed, like other dictatorial regimes defends his action in the name of democracy and good of the people. He has so far refused to heed into the calls of the Judiciary including the Supreme Court to have the abducted judge released, failed to respond to international calls including the UN and ICJ to release the judge and to treat him within human rights boundaries.  His Foreign Minister even went further to say that he doubts of the UN calls as he does not regard the person who made the call as person of authority to issue such a call. Such is the level of desperation and the behavior of the Nasheed’s government is an affront to locals and international community.

Syria and Maldives similar in making

The Police and Military remain firm to crush opposition on a slight call by the government. It’s similar to what is taking place in Muslim Syria. The people anxious to salvage the infant democracy are ever eager to stand for their rights which were introduced after hard fought fight with a thirty-year long regime. The fear is that it may  be falling back to the same track again where voice of the people sidelined in favor of ruling elites, wealth of the nation siphoned through nepotism and cronyism as evidence by numerous cases filed against government of Nasheed at Anti-Corruption Commission and Courts.

Old rules-the new fashion

Old tactics have returned back, whereby government worried at a slight move of the opposition, uses unjustified forces and unlashes disproportionate tools at unarmed and otherwise peaceful gathering of opposition. To any observer who has seen the thirty-year long regime of former President, will have no difficulty identifying almost near perfect similarities with the current regime of Nasheed in crushing down his dissidents.

Article 27 of the constitution endangered

Mere expression of views and opinion becomes an offence and already opposition figures faces charges of sedition carrying death sentence for their opinions, one example is Dr. Jameel’s arrest on multiple occasion who now faces charges of sedition. Private media is constantly under threat to be prosecuted or have their licenses revoked and on several occasions criminally attacked by street elements. The government is freaked at the thought of protests by opposition, thus violently dispersing crowds, labels the protestors as conducting acts of terrorism in the same way as former regime were allergic to rallies and protests organized by opposition.

Military and Police the guinea-pig

The government uses both Military and Police for their survival using them as a medium to inflict brute force on its people. All these were carbon copy of the tactics adopted by the former regime. The difference, however, is that former regime operated in a narrowly constructed legal framework, while the later tries to narrow down the broadly constructed rights. Both the former and current regime have not lost their love affair with the Military and Police, knowing that likely survival though limited will depend on the approval of the Military and Police. Yet, it is unlikely that people power seen across the globe die down on the face of unfair, unjustified and illegal forces used by desperate leaders. Ultimate victory always belongs to the people no matter how unpleasant it might taste to tyrants and despotic rulers.

1st January 2012, Male’, Maldivestoday.com

A westerner observes mega protest in Male'

Opposition vowed to bring government to its knees

Opposition protest goes on without a sign of abating. Started after President Nasheed had the Chief of the Criminal Court taken by military and continues to keep him in illegal detention, the protest organizers have vowed to keep going until government restores the Judge, retrieve its attempt to seize control of the judiciary. Nasheed for his part has shown affront to the judicial independence and refused to submit the orders of the High Court and Supreme Court to release the judge and give him the rights to be heard before a judicial body to comply with the domestic and international obligation. The protest, now in its 17^th day is somewhat a sign that the people of the Maldives are ready to defend their democratic rights, institutions and do not want independent judiciary monopolized by the Executive arm of the government.

President Mr. Nasheed an enemy of judiciary

As the protestors declared its war with despotic ruler who championed and fooled the world with democratic rhetoric, yet acting like wolf in the cloths of a sheep. It’s a bizarre twist from democratic champion to someone now, prosecuting critics for voicing against him, almost on daily basis issuing threats to independent media. Nasheed has declared, without ambiguity his reason for abducting a sitting judge, issue ultimatum to the judiciary, declare his intention to seize judges remuneration and not to enforce their judgments; it is as he puts it ,“judiciary that interferes with his program of development. According to Nasheed judiciary has become an obstacle to his housing project, Male’ development, GMR airport contract and the bridge between Male’ and Hulhumale’”.  Nasheed considers judiciary to uphold every challenges against his government invalid, activities carried out beyond legal framework , procedural irregularities which helps these programs to enrich his party heavy weights, family members and friends through corruption as legal by the courts.

Attack on judiciary and underlying secrets

Justice Abdulla Saeed, Supreme Court of Maldives

Nasheed sees judiciary the reason for the weakening reputation of himself and government. He thus wants chaos to prevail, dissuade judges to take sides and blur their judicial impartiality. His party heavy weights such  as the  member of K. atoll is about to know the fate of his seat, while Th. Atoll member Mr. Musthafa’s case has been concluded by the apex court, waiting for the judgment; all of these cases presents grim scenario of going for by election in these constituencies. At the same time, one his Parliamentary member Mr. Adilfrom Addu City faces child abuse accusation, accused of abusing his own step child, and charged for the offence, his case is at the criminal court whose Chief Judge is being  incarcerated by the military. His awarding of Male’ International airport to GMR of India sparked nationwide opposition protest which he ignored, but challenges to the court saw GMR Contract’s fundamental term of levying 25 USD from every departing passenger declared as illegal. All of these present a painful nightmare to a person camouflaged as a democrat but highly despotic, intolerant and down under ruthless.

Kettle calling the pot black

The Judiciary has been under constant attack since Nasheed took over Presidency. He had Supreme Court padlocked in 2010, refused justices accessing courts, Had Judicial administration and Judicial Services Commission closed, to stamp his authority on the courts and to have his chosen candidates on the bench of Supreme Court along with a Chief Justice of his choice. He was able to appoint apex court in somewhat a compromised outcome. He and his party since has declared their own court, repeatedly hurled abuses at judges in their rallies, sometime Nasheed himself calling judges as unworthy and uneducated. The party took judges bashing as the main cause at every level of their activities. The reason of their anger is not related to judicial independence or impartiality, rather it is to make judiciary a submissive institution, incapable of functioning on their own capacity. It was alleged during the rule of former President Qayyoom that he tries to interfere judicial process and function, yet it is hard to make a difference with the current regime except that the former regime was discrete in their operation. Nasheed’s call to free judiciary is a hoax, devoid of legal substance. His accusation to former regime as being dictatorial and tyrannical now sounds like a kettle calling the pot black.

1st January 2012, Male’, Maldivestoday.com

Radio Australia News:

John Dowd Australian Attorney

The International Commission of Jurists has joined calls for the Maldives’ military to release a senior judge from custody.

Abdulla Mohamed was arrested on Monday after he ordered the release of a government critic being detained without a warrant.

The move sparked protests at home and abroad, the country’s vice president says he’s ashamed of his government’s actions, and the United Nations has called for the judge to be either freed or charged.

But President Mohamed Nasheed says the country’s judicial system is unable to regulate itself and is accusing the judge of political bias.

President of the Australian branch of the International Commission of Jurists, John Dowd, told Radio Australia that those allegations are unfair.

“Clearly he has been demonstrating independence as he’s supposed to do and the government doesn’t like it,” Mr Dowd said.

” Even if the government’s assertions about what he’s supposed to have done wrong [were correct], none of it would warrent his arrest, none of it would warrant his incarceration and its clear that he must be immediately released”.

http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/201202/3420750.htm?desktop

30th January 2012, Male’, Maldivestoday.com

For Maldives President Nasheed any gambling is worth taking as long as it keeps him in power. The island nation of approximately three hundred fifty thousand is not a task too big or too challenging to attend considering that the entire population belongs to one ethnicity, one race, and religion. The country is known throughout history for its modest way of living, harmony and peace. It was a nation always keen to embrace modernity, changes that the world was witnessing. It did not find it a daunting task to transform its form of governance first from Sultanate to Republican form government. It’s a nation eager for adaptation hence; its Constitution saw drastic alteration to fall in line with the standards acceptable to modern time. Perhaps, the first Muslim country to do so; without a civil unrest or blood bath. The 2008 Constitution in many ways lifted the spirit of the nation.

Proud as having one of the finest form of Bill of Rights enshrined in the Constitution, with distinctively independent Judiciary and constitutional institutions to check and balance government activities, the people perceived it as the ultimate guarantee of liberty and sanctity of their rights. They are, as they find three years down the line, disappointed and disturbed and even tormented by the way the constitutional rights are stifled, people tortured, government exercising draconic force to silence dissents. The country discovers in less than three years that having a Constitution with all the characters, provisions, and guarantees does not suffice unless the Head of the State is sane, sober unselfish and able to weigh the duty of his position with equal responsibility. This is what is lacking in the Maldives. There is void in the thought process of the President. His tendencies to turn upside down the constitutional structure, at its growing years seem to dent a lasting blow and will have unfortunate consequences to its adaptation of democratic values and ethics.

Since the beginning of this month, President Nasheed relentlessly assaults judiciary. First, he had the Chief of the Criminal Court arrested, and detained by military in an unprecedented move never before seen in the country even during the long regime of President Maumoon, who was constitutionally head of the state and judiciary unlike the current President. The nation, since then witnesses’ continuous protest, professionals condemn it as a grave constitutional offence, constitutional body of judicial service commission mandated called for his released, and the High Court for third consecutive time issued orders to have the judge presented in the court, which government ofNasheed defies without shame.

Nasheed has accelerated his defiance to the rule of law. He now has declared not accept the jurisdiction of all Lower Courts. It was in place for more than one and half years operating under the new constitutional requirement.  The legal community and constitutional bodies believe that Article 141 of the Constitution makes it an offence for anyone to try and interfere with the function of the judiciary. The Judicial Service Commission Act gives the body the requisite mandate to appoint and recommend for removal judges to Parliament. Article 21 of the said Act provides the commission with the authority to appoint judges to all courts with exception of the Supreme Court, discipline judges even in case of Supreme Court, the Commission has the mandate to recommend candidate for the apex court.

The nation now is in crisis, as the independent judiciary is paralyzed by the Head of the Executive. The President has declared his intention not to submit to the rules and judgments issued by lower courts. The Chief Justice has condemned it and issued a reprimand reminding that Article 141 (a) gives the courts the sole mandate to determine legality of issues and obligation of citizen to submit to the rule of law. The uncertainty, judicial assault and defaming of judiciary many believe is governments own creation without a legal merit. Many legal observers believe that Nasheed who tries to portray to international community that his attempt is to clean the judiciary has violated the constitution and likely to be held accountable for his actions. The main reason to confront judiciary, many in the country believes stems from the fact that his government faces numerous cases of corruption ranging from 21 million dollar project to his Party Parliamentary Group leader Mr. Moosa, corrupt deals which have benefited his family, close friends and party activists.

27th January 2012, Male’, Maldivestoday.com

President Nasheed today met with Maldives military personnel at their headquarters in Bandaarakoshi, this afternoon.

This was confirmed to DhiTV,  a popular private TV station, by a military media official today. According to the official the purpose of the meeting was to convey special messages to military personnel by the President. DhiTV also reports that the military has distributed a booklet yesterday, on protecting the elected government, safeguarding the democratic institutions and serving the nation in emergency situations.

In his speech, the President reiterated his executive powers as Commander in Chief, and raised their hopes for possible promotions to higher ranks.

According to leaked audio tapes the President stated that in line with his instructions the Ministry of Finance will withhold the salaries of judges in lower courts starting from February. He has also expressed his discontent with the judiciary stating that the lower courts and magistrate courts are not legal institutions, and rulings from these courts cannot be upheld.

The lower courts established under the Judicature Act (Act no. 22/2010) include the four Superior Courts in Male’ and the island magistrate courts. Article 53 (a) of the Judicature Act  states; Superior Courts are first instance courts created under this law in the upper category of the lower courts. The Magistrate courts are created under Article 62 of the same Act.

During the demonstration staged by the MDP today in front of the Supreme Court MP Alhan (MDP) called upon the President to withhold the salaries of judges.

http://youtu.be/BpsZLYtcDF8 (leaked audio)

26th January 2012, Male’, Maldivestoday.com

Dr. Hassan Saeed who emerged as the third place in 2008 Presidential election has been summoned to Police Headquarters today at 1:30pm. Dr. Saeed includes among the political leaders who have been summoned to police and some arrested in the recent government initiated political crisis which began with the arrest of DQP Deputy Leader Dr. Jameel and former Amnesty International Prisoner of concience.

23rd January 2012, Male’, Maldivestoday.com

By: Ahmed Hamdhoon, Haveeru

Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed, Vice President of DQP

Vice President of Dhivehi Qaumee Party Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed has said that the Criminal Court’s Chief Judge Abdulla Mohamed was arrested against the international agreements signed by the country.

Speaking at a programme on DhiTV last night, Dr. Jameel who had also been detained on three separate occasions said that Judge Abdulla’s arrest was in clear violation of the international declaration on human rights, political and civil rights agreements, and also the United Nations (UN) charter.

“We are obligated to comply with such international agreements as the articles 68 and 69 of our constitution clearly state that we must abide by the international declarations that we agree upon.” he added.

The arrest of Judge Abdulla was a clear violation of international agreements, which indicates that the act was a deliberate attempt to “destroy” the regulations under the constitution, Dr. Jameel said.

“The constitution does not revolve around the president alone and has afforded specific authorities to the president, the parliament and the judiciary respectively.

But now we have witnessed the infringement of the freedom and independence of the judiciary, which is against the international agreements we follow”, he added.

He also said that the fundamental rules of the judiciary were declared by the UN in 1985, which clearly stipulates that no one must influence the judicial system in anyway.

Dr. Jameel further stated that resorting to “heavy handed” tactics when faced with adversity was against the rules of modern society.

22nd January 2012, Male’, Maldivestoday.com

Board member of Maldives Inland revenue Authority resigns citing deteriorating respect for rule of law

Abbas Adhil Riza

The Board Member of Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) Mr. Abbas Adhil Riza sent his letter of resignation to the president today. In the letter he mentioned that his resignation is due to deteriorating situation of the country. Among other things he also mentioned a recent attack to him by ruling MDP sponsored mob. The mob attacked him while he was having lunch at Al Fresco (a coffee shop in the compound of STO). “It has been 8 years since I have been having coffee at Al Fresco. But nobody attacked me. But recent attack on me has proved the deteriorating level of nation” Abbas added.

Because our children are at risk, our wives are at risk, everywhere we look we see signs of darkness and danger, Police and army have failed to give us protection, some people has purposely decapitated the power of the constitution which was achieved through the hard and fearless work of many. Hence, he said the nation needs him to uphold the constitution more than him to be at the Board of MIRA.

Mr. Abbas Adhil Riza include among the many who have decided to abandon MDP Government. Political experts believe MDP will be badly defeated in the next election to be held in 2013. SAARC Secretary General resigns, PS of Defence Ministry resigns.

These resignations and political turmoil began when MDP government illegally arrested DQP Deputy Leader DR. Jameel, DQP Council Member Sandhaanu Ahmed Didi and followed by kidnapping and illegal arrest of Criminal Court Chief Judge Abdulla Mohamed. Experts believe these are the after shocks and it will take time to settle the dust by which time MDP government would be highly unpopular and many of its heavy weights switching side to the opposition.

At a press conference in the Foreign Ministry Foreign Minister Naseem said that he doesn’t believe arrest of Judge Abdulla was illegal which was immediately condemned by the opposition DQP with many legal points. They also said Naseem failed to give any substance and legal points to prove his argument. It’s pathetic that Naseem is making a fool of himself when the Supreme Court has ruled out illegality of Judge Abdulla’s arrest, PJ, HRC all have shown their concerns. Abbas resignation is a proof that Maldivians are not buying into the propaganda of Foreign Minister Naseem.

Mr. Abbas Adhil Riza is a man of principle and the Maldives nation needs more people like him said a close friend of Abbas.

22nd January 2012, Male’, Maldivestoday.com

Nasheed, a chameleon a masters of disguise

A two-faced man

The Maldives is currently besieged by internal unrest and turmoil that is largely the government of President Mohamed Nasheed’s own creation, as observed by diplomatic missions and claimed by opposition. Nasheed has been a two-faced man long before he climbed up to the ladder of power. It was during the period in opposition he managed to unceremoniously dump two of his predecessors who were democratically elected to head his party. He schemed to force them not only to leave the position in the party but abandon the party itself. Two of his predecessors went on to form their own party after they were chased out from the party. Once in control of the party, he manipulated every single organ and voice of the party to serve his needs and orders. It was not long ago that many independent, moderate and sensible individuals realized the one-man show, a freaked attitude to any dissenting opinions. There was no question of standing up for a democratic belief, it was the case of either to fall into line or be prepared to vacate their post and membership.

Abuse of newly found status

This was the road; Nasheed opted to reach the helm of power. He has his friends in the West, no doubt in that, who advice him to carefully prepared lines to pick up at international forums, giving him unparalleled exposure that would not have given to any other leader of a third-world nation.  He was determined to use the newly found status, a sort of fame and his status as a leader of small nation laying in South East Asia. His rhetoric often echoes that of big leaders of the world, trying to jump up high beyond his position, calling the world to do more on environment and strengthen democracy. Even at these forums and international platforms he was not be mindful of contradictions and misrepresentations and most importantly blatant lies.

At home the language is far from democratic

At home, addressing to a crowd in the atoll during a campaign rally he was not apologetic when he stunned the gathered crowd by saying “I will be very kind and do whatever required to help my party members but when others approach me, they will witness the evil side of me”, it would have engulfed a nation if a leader of a democratic nation has expressed such a thing. He has issued direct threat to opposition parties and used vile language to describe educational background of their leaders at different occasions. He has challenged the nation into accepting drugs as a means to resolve the plague and crisis the nation faces. He said on the occasion of drug rehabilitation “everyone shall loose senses once in a while, when hashish or marijuana remains the sole option to get high, people will use it.

Power of fist- total disregard of the constitution

Nasheed arrested two sitting MPs who were leaders of opposition parties and in one occasion sent military tank to arrest VP of the Parliament over the opposition to his policies of privatization and surging corruption in the country. He relentlessly attacked judiciary over their decisions, setting up his own Kangaroo Courts and ultimately padlocking the Supreme Court, which stunned the entire nation as it was unthinkable even during the long reign of 30 year rule of former President Qayyoom. In his final attempt to silence critics and  dissenting voices he managed to get arrested in as many as three times in a week, the leader of a Opposition Party Dr. Jameel, in all three occasion the court declared his arrest illegal. Nasheed , unsatisfied with the decision of the judiciary, sent military to take top judge of Criminal Court , who is still in false disappearance , though military now acknowledges he is in their detention.

A perfect example of Obama’s Cairo speech.

It took some time for the West and democratic nations to realize their actions in several Muslim nations and understand the Qadafi, Mugabe league leaders.