News Review Public Service Division Staff Held Hostage by the
Maldives Dictator
The latest desperate attempt by the dictator to buy out the Maldivian public for
the upcoming Presidential elections is to hand out promotions left, right and
centre. This has caused bitter divisions within the various government
authorities mainly due to the fact that these promotions are given to the
cronies of the Dictator while those hard-working civil servants are left
twiddling their thumbs. This is not to mention the burden its putting on the
already over-strained budget of the government!
more
Minivan News Elections
Official Admits Referendum Flaws
The assistant director general at the Elections Commission has said that with
inaccurate voter lists in place, the only measure preventing individuals voting
more than once in August's constitutional referendum was the ink placed on
voters’ hands, and added that members of the public complained the ink could be
washed off. more
Sports News
South
Asian Football: Maldives to start again Pakistan
on June 3
Draws were taken for the South Asian Football
Federation (SAFF) Championship on Thursday in Male' and the first matches on
June 3rd will be Maldives vs Pakistan and Nepal vs India. The tournament is
being hosted jointly in Maldives and Colombo, because the Maldives does not have
adequate facilities to host one. Prize money of the tournaments are, US$ 50,000
for the winner, US$ 25,000 for the runner-up and US$ 10,000 for losing semi
finalists. World Sports Group (WSG) of Singapore is the main sponsor of the
tournament. more
The Island - Lanka Sri
Lanka and Maldives fall victims to regional and international hegemonic powers
Isolated in the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka and the Maldives often fall victims to
regional and international hegemonic powers that strive to bring the entire
Indian Ocean rim under their control for their own economic, political and
security gains. Unless the peoples of these countries realize the dire
consequences of such action the hegemonic powers, in the form of indirect
imperialism, will infiltrate these countries and severely threaten their
sovereignty. more
RatifyNow.Org
CRPD News Round-up, February 2008: Activity
in Serbia, Maldives, Mozambique
The February issue of United Nation's Enable Newsletter reports that the Serbian
Ministry of Labour and Social Policy hosted a late-January roundtable on
ratifying the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
Serbia has a Law Preventing Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities.
Serbia has signed both the CRPD and the Optional Protocol but will need to amend
other pieces of legislation so they will comply with the CRPD.
more
BBC News Kenya
rivals agree to share power
Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga have signed an
agreement to end the country's post-election crisis. At a ceremony in Nairobi,
the two men put their signatures to a power-sharing deal brokered by ex-UN head
Kofi Annan. A coalition government comprising members of the current ruling
party and opposition will now be formed.
more
Local News Business
tycoons reject offers to be Dictator's running mate
Male' - According to a very reliable source, the Maldives business tycoon,
Champa Afeef has rejected an offer from the Maldives Dictator to be his running
mate in the upcoming Presidential elections. According to the source, the
Dictator wanted Afeef to be his deputy and that the main reason for the request
was because the Dictator is strapped for cash. "Golhaabo wants Champa Afeef's
money for his campaign, that's all," said an analyst. Earlier there were rumours
that the current finance minister as well as one of the richest and most
powerful man in the country, Gasim Ibrahim, will come out as the Dictator's
running mate but recent developments show that Gasim will not come to the
Dictator's rescue this time around and will most probably contest in the
presidential elections as an independent candidate. Relations between the
Dictator and most Maldivian businessmen have been declining rapidly over the
past few years and as a result the Dictator is now negotiating with powerful
businessmen in Sri Lanka to pay for his campaign expenses, in return for
business favours.
Minivan News I
Would Devolve Power From Presidency: Anni
Mohamed Nasheed (Anni), former chairperson of the main opposition Maldivian
Democratic Party, has said he will devolve power to his party if he is elected
president of the Maldives later this year. Speaking to Minivan News, Anni said
that "it is not a president you are electing, it is a party", adding that the
party should decide policy and be able to control the leadership.
more
Will Jordan's Blog Maldives: Executive vs Judiciary over TVM case
I think it is time to revive this blog after some down
time. I hope you enjoyed the pretty pictures. I'm going
to talk about something not so pretty - the clash of the
executive and the once powerless, now more assertive
judiciary in the Maldives. It all centres on the state
TV channel, TVM, itself going through much
transformation to become more of a public service
broadcaster.
more
BBC News Pakistan lifts the ban on YouTube
Pakistan's telecoms regulator has lifted the
restrictions it imposed on video-sharing website
YouTube. The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority has
told internet service providers (ISPs) to restore access
to the site, according to a spokeswoman. Google, the
owner of YouTube, confirmed service had been restored in
Pakistan. The attempt to block the site, reportedly
because of a "blasphemous" video clip, caused a near
global blackout of the site on Sunday.
more
NY
Times - Environment Coral
Reefs and What Ruins Them
Researchers who
studied a string of Pacific Ocean atolls are painting
the first detailed picture of pristine coral reefs and
how they can be disrupted by people - particularly, they
said, by fishing. The researchers, from the Scripps
Institution of Oceanography and elsewhere in the United
States and abroad, surveyed every form of life last
summer in the northern Line Islands, a chain south of
Hawaii. Their survey encompassed everything from
microbes to sharks and other big fish at the top of the
food chain.
more
BBC
Business News EU
fines Microsoft record 1.4 billion dollars
The European Commission has fined US computer giant
Microsoft for defying sanctions imposed on it for
anti-competitive behaviour. Microsoft must now pay a
record 899m euros ($1.4bn) after it failed to comply
with a 2004 ruling that it abused its position. The
ruling said that Microsoft was guilty of not providing
key code to rival software makers.
more
Local News Dictator
proposes amendments to civil service commission bill as part of his election
campaign
The Maldives Dictator has proposed amendments to the Civil Service Act which was
passed just last year. These amendments include a proposal to delaying the
mandatory retirement for 65-year-olds for another two years and to exempt the
police force, immigration service, customs officials and "certain types of
executive officials" from the Act, which makes the civil service independent
from government under a new Civil Service Commission. This is a desperate
attempt by the Dictator to not to upset these people so close to the election.
Rightly, reformists have criticised this desperate move because it is quite
clearly politically motivated. And, with Dictator Gayyoom's cronies and
appointed members in the parliament, there is little doubt that the Demented One
will get his way. Last week, the Dictator appointed his nephew Fathin Hameed -
in photo outside parliament last year gesturing at journalists - to the
parliament. Earlier she was an appointed member of the Constitutional Assembly,
but with the new appointment, she can sit and vote in both parliament and the
constitutional assembly. This is quite pathetic as the Commission has yet to
begin functioning properly and already the Dictator is meddling with their
affairs.
Local News Dictator
to appoint 4 more Ministers of State
According to sources with in the regime,
the Dictator will this week promote four of his cronies, including his niece
Fathin Hameed and Kuvaa Shafiu to the post of Ministers of State. There are also
reports that Shafiu will shortly be appointed as Managing Director of State
Trading Organisation (STO) as well. With the recent increase in the salary of
Ministers, Deputies and State Ministers, this move is designed to secure the
loyalty of these crones. The Dictator has one of the largest cabinets in the
world. At the last count there were, 20 ministers, 13 state ministers and 45
deputy ministers. In addition, there are 5 special advisors and 3 ambassadors
who are paid a minister's salary. Total monthly payout to the Dictator's top
cronies is a staggering 3.783 million rufiyaa (approx. 295,000 US Dollars a
month).
Local News Golhaabo
given a reception by thugs in Male'
The Maldives Dictator Golhaabo was given a
special reception on Tuesday night by well known thugs in Male' to celebrate the
Dictator getting two awards, one from India and the other from Sri Lanka. The
event was held in Dharubaaruge and all well known thugs in Male' led by the
Chaandhanee brothers organised the event. According to sources, this group will
play a key part in the coming elections to try and elect Golhaabo to a 7th term.
Maldives Aid Tsunami
Report – 3 years on
Three years after the Asian tsunami, which devastated many islands in the
Maldives , there remains much to be done. On 26th December 2007, the third
anniversary of the tsunami, Minister Ismail Shafeeu admitted the relief work was
slow and promised to hasten up the recovery process.
more
Minivan News
MDP
Nominations Open As Latheef Made Temporary Chairperson
Mohamed Latheef, a founding member of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party
(MDP), was on Sunday elected unopposed as temporary chairperson of the party.
Nominations opened on Monday for the party’s presidential candidate and for a
new permanent chairperson, following the resignation of Mohamed Nasheed (Anni)
from the post. more
Minivan News Lady
Ibrahim Manik In Court For Alleged Sex Offences, Corruption
Notorious police officer "Lady" Ibrahim Manik appeared at Male's Criminal Court
on Monday on four charges of sexual assault and one of corruption, all dating
back to 2004 and 2005.Manik is accused of sexually assaulting four female police
officers, and of giving gifts to female detainees in exchange for favours.
more
BBC News
Muslim
scholars decry terrorism
An influential group of Muslim theologians in India have denounced terrorism,
saying it is completely against the teachings of Islam. Their statements were
made at a meeting held at the Darul-Uloom Deoband, a powerful Islamic school
more than 150 years old. Scholars from 6,000 religious schools attended the
meeting. The Deoband school promotes a brand of Islam which some say was an
inspiration to Afghanistan's Taleban. The school has always denied this. Opening
the conclave the head of the Deoband school, Maulana Marghoobur Rahman,
described terrorism as a thoughtless act which is against the teachings of
Islam. more
Indonesia
tsunami warning lifted
Indonesia has lifted a tsunami warning put in place after a powerful earthquake
off the island of Sumatra. The quake had a magnitude of 7.2, according to an
official from the country's geophysics agency. Indonesia suffers from frequent
earthquakes and lies on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the world's
most seismically active areas. An earthquake off Indonesia triggered the 2004
Asian tsunami, which killed approximately 220,000 people.
more
Local News MDP
Founding member Mr. Latheef to be temporary chairman
Male' - The Founding member of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Mohamed Latheef
(Go-Go) has been temporary elected to take over the responsibilities as
chairman of the party. The National Council approved the temporary assignment
after Mr. Nasheed (Anni) resigned from the post last week in order to contest in
the party's Presidential Candidate primaries due to be held next month. Mr.
Latheef normally resides in Sri Lanka but is expected to spend more time in the
capital now that he is in charge of party's administration. Proper election of a
Chairman will take place soon, according to MDP officials. One of Latheef's main
tasks will be to over see the presidential primary.
Minivan News No
Agreement On Presidential Immunity
The Special Majlis (constitutional assembly) has rejected the constitutional
wording relating to presidential immunity from prosecution for the third time.
Article 18 of the presidential chapter, which describes how a president can be
brought before the law for criminal activity, was rejected again by members on
Thursday. The division led Speaker of the Special Majlis Gasim Ibrahim to
threaten to exclude it from the constitution altogether if the Majlis did not
reach a consensus.
more
Minivan News Gang
Suspects Hand Themselves Over To Police
Two suspects wanted in connection with gang-related violence in Male' in the
aftermath of the murder of 21-year-old Ali Ishar handed themselves over to
police today. Ahmed Alif Rauf and Ahmed Simhan ("Simba") walked into police
headquarters in the Adam Hussein building as about one hundred bystanders,
mostly their friends, watched from the street. The two young men had contacted
lawyer Husnu Suood earlier this week to ask for his help before coming forward.
more
BBC News Pakistan
blocks YouTube website
Pakistan has blocked access to the popular YouTube website because of content
deemed offensive to Islam. Its telecommunications authority ordered internet
service providers to block the site until further notice. Reports said the
content included Danish cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad that have
outraged many. But one report said a trailer for a forthcoming film by Dutch
lawmaker Geert Wilders, which portrays Islam in a negative light, was behind the
ban. more
After nearly 30 years of
wilting in the flames of brutality and injustice, today our small nation is at a
crucial juncture – that of breaking away these chains of autocratic rule and
breathe in the free air of democracy. The Maldives Dictator, Mr. Maumoon Abdul
Gayyoom, is no longer the strong man he once was, who had shackled us for so
long in slavery. People do not fear him anymore and he no longer has at his
disposal the propaganda machines that kept him in power year after year. We now
have the chance of realising the dream that we so longed for. Let us not lose
this moment; let us grip it with both our hands and take those final few steps
to fulfilment.
more
Local News Zaeem Tubbs to
register Dhivehi Masakkathumeehunge
Party (DMP)
Male' -
Former Windsurf instructor, Ibrahim
Saleem, popularly known as Tubbs, is to
register a political party to represent
the workers in the country. According to
sources, Mr. Tubbs is now getting the
necessary paperwork prepared for
registration. Sources close to DMP say that already Tubbs is
the Zaeem of the party and any one who
challenges him will be barred from the
party. DMP will seek advice from
the Great Leader of North Korea, in
order to bring democracy to the
Maldives, the source confirmed. Mr.
Tubbs, the Father of DMP is confident of
winning the next election with at least
99% majority. Mr. Tubbs also said that
he has no pressure from the
International Community to install a
transitional government any time soon.
According to DMP, they already have
signatures of more than 355,000 members,
but most of them are dead and that is
why the delay in submitting the list to
the Election Commissioner. When asked if
Tubbs will challenge the Dictator in the
coming elections, Tubbs said "It's not
true, simply not true. According to the
constitution he cannot seek office again
and I can't challenge him if he can't
even contest."
BBC News Mugabe
'confident' of sixth term
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe says he is confident his ruling Zanu-PF party
will win next month's elections. He was speaking at a rally to launch his
campaign for a sixth term in power and celebrate his 84th birthday. Thousands
gathered at the rally in the town of Beitbridge on the border with South Africa.
Launching his manifesto in the eastern town of Mutare, opposition leader Morgan
Tsvangirai, said Zimbabwe was bleeding under "dictatorship".
more
Blog on Power, Dictatorship,
Democracy Maldives:
"Observer" Wishes More Bad Days for Dictators
It's hard to get excited about democracy sometimes, with dictators like "Pootie
Poo" Putin on the swell and democracy in retreat two years in a row, according
to the experts at Freedom House. So when dictators had a bad day last week, who
can blame the citizens of the tiny Maldives for thinking big? The Dhivehi
Observer wishes for the diminutive dictator Gayoom, sinking ever lower on his
atoll and reported to be suffering dementia, to retire. Some say he intends to,
but keeps forgetting.
more
Reporters Without
Boarders Maldives
- Annual report 2008
Independent and opposition
newspapers established
themselves in the media
landscape despite threats
and arrests. Police arrested
nearly 10 journalists in
2007. The government finally
allowed licensing of
privately-owned radio
stations but the independent
radio Minivan failed to
secure one.
more
Local News Child abuse suspects walks free
Male' - Three child abuse suspects arrested for interrogation over an alleged
abuse of a young girl in H Dh. Vaikaradhoo have been released after 17 days in
jail custody. Two of them, Hussain Naeem and Mohamed Ibrahim, were released on
Thursday and are under house arrest whilst the third suspect, Nashid Ali, was
set free last Wednesday. According reports from Vaikaradhoo, the family of the
young victim are not so keen on this case and have impeded police
investigations. Vaikaradhoolive.com, a local news website, is currently carrying
out further investigation into the case to find out some basic facts and will
report shortly.
Local News
Reeko
Moosa to join the MDP Presidential Candidate race
Senior MDP member and member of parliament for Laamu Atoll, Reeko Moosa Manik,
has confirmed that he intends to join the MDP Presidential Candidate race. Reeko
Moosa is a popular MDP leader who many believe performs extraordinarily in
parliament debates and also contested MDP presidential election last year. With
this announcement, the number of candidates is now 3, as party president Dr.
Munavvaru and former chairman Nasheed (Anni) had declared their intentions
earlier this week. Mr. Moosa believes that these internal elections is a way for
MDP to show its democratic credentials.
South Asia Biz Inflation
in Maldives in 2007
Inflation is a thing that is not very common in Maldives. However, in 2007, the
people of Maldives got a shock of inflation as the rate of inflation doubled.
The price of food items increased significantly and life became tough for many
families. One shocking thing was that the price of fish increased sharply in
Maldives in 2007. Fishing is the most important job for most people in the
country and after tourism, fishing is the most important industry.
more
Minivan News "Police
Are An Easy Target": John Robertson
In April 2007, a report on the Maldives Police Service (MPS) by Scottish
consultant John Robertson caused a storm when it was leaked to Minivan News, who
published it in full – including its portrait of the service as overstaffed,
undertrained, and on occasions brutal. Robertson described the MPS Special
Operations Command as an "openly paramilitary organisation" and a "macho
elite...most of whom lack basic police training."
more
Local News Two
cases of child sex abuse in Fuahmulah
Two child sex abuse cases are being investigated in Gn. Fuahmulah island. In one
case, a 66 old Imam is alleged to have had sexually abused a 10 year old. In
another case, a 39 year old man is alleged to have sexually abused a 13 year
old. According to reports, both cases are being investigated by the police
station in the island. In recent months and weeks, more than a dozen cases
involving child abuse, in particularly sexual abuse have been reported on the
media. In the past, such cases go unreported as the Maldives Dictator prefers to
protect paedophiles, most of whom turn out to be island chiefs or friends of
Dictator's paedophile brother Abdulla Hameed. In fact, until late, paedophiles
were given a very lenient sentence, which was banishment to inhabited islands,
which many believe is one of the main reasons why child abuse is so widespread
in the country. However, after huge public outcry and petitions, the Dictator
has recently changed the sentencing regulations to give paedophiles and rapists
jail sentences rather than a lengthy holiday in a remote island.
Minivan News Inflation
Doubled In 07 As Cost Of Living Soars
Inflation more than doubled last year and food prices rose by 16 per cent,
according to new figures released by the Planning Ministry, affecting both the
capital, Malé, and the atolls. Fresh fish, a local staple,
rose in price by almost 40 per cent, whilst fish prices overall rose by 60 per
cent, following a significant dip in the Maldivian tuna catch.
more
Dictator Gayoom has been on a variety of world's
top ten lists including the Most Brutal Regimes, Worst Human Rights Record,
Leaders of Nepotism and Cronyism and so on and so forth. Now he is fourth on the
AP's list of Longest Serving Leaders, which includes all autocratic leaders such
as Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and Omar Bongo of Gabon among others.
more
Minivan News Anni
Resigns To Fight Munavvar
For Candidacy
Mohamed Nasheed (Anni),
Chairperson of the largest
opposition Maldivian
Democratic Party (MDP) since
its inception, on Wednesday
night resigned his post to
campaign for the party's
presidential nomination.
more
The Associated Press World's
Longest-Serving Leaders
A look at the world's longest-serving leaders, excluding monarchies: President
Fidel Castro of Cuba rose to power Jan. 1, 1959. Aged 81 and suffering health
problems, Castro says he will not accept a new term when parliament meets
Sunday.
more
News VOA Fidel
Castro is Longest Serving Leader in Western Hemisphere
Fidel Castro has retired as Cuba's president, ending his 49-year rule of the
Caribbean nation. After taking power in a coup in 1959, Mr. Castro built a
Communist government that survived a U.S.-backed invasion, a Cold War-era
missile crisis and more than 40 years of economic sanctions by Washington. VOA's
Brian Wagner reports some people see him as a revolutionary hero, and by others
as a cruel dictator.
more
ICT Review The
Expanding Jihad
The operational spaces for Islamist militancy in States outside Jammu and
Kashmir (J&K) demonstrate indications of brisk expansion, even as terrorist
violence declines in that State. The most recent arrests in Uttar Pradesh (UP)
and Karnataka are an indication that the Pakistan-backed Islamist groups
operating in J&K have a wider subversive agenda, and have, consequently, created
an elaborate network of terrorist cells in a number of other States in India.
more
BBC Breaking News Big
earthquake shakes Indonesia
A powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake has struck near Indonesia's western province
of Aceh, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) says. The tremor, at a depth
of 35km (21.7 miles), had its epicentre 319 km (198 miles) off the coast of
Sumatra, and hit at 1508 local time, the USGS added.
more
News Review
Two
Dictators Gone in a Single Day...Golhaabo, You Will Be
Next!
Going, going, gone! Today is a bad day for
dictators. One has already resigned of his own accord and the other is on the
verge of being forced out. How would this impact on our own Dictator? Fidel
Castro, who has ruled Cuba for the last 49 years has decided to call it a day.
He has announced that he will not accept another term in office. The parliament
of Cuba will elect a new President on Sunday. The 81 year old Castro has been
suffering from ill-health for a while now. "It would betray my conscience to
take up a responsibility that requires mobility and total devotion, that I am
not in a physical condition to offer," wrote Castro.
more
Minivan News
MMA
Governor: Monetary Policy Isn't Working
The governor of the country’s central bank has said government monetary policy
is "not effective", due to excessive government spending. He added that the
Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) has on occasion been obliged to purchase the
Treasury Bills the government itself has issued, a measure he says amounts to
"direct money creation".
more
BBC News
Are
Musharraf's days numbered?
He'd railed against the opinion polls. He'd accused the media of bias. But
there's not much President Musharraf can do about the voice of the people.
Pakistan's voters have inflicted a heavy defeat on him and his supporters in
parliament. It could even threaten his political survival. Why? Because
Pakistanis have voted fairly clearly for change. The next government will have
to be a coalition, but it will have a strong democratic mandate.
more
BBC News Bhutto
party in coalition offer
The party of Pakistan's late former PM Benazir Bhutto - the biggest winner in
Monday's election - says it is ready to form a coalition with the PML-N party.
If finalised, an alliance of Ms Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and the
PML-N would have more than half the seats in a new parliament. The main party
backing President Pervez Musharraf suffered heavy defeats.
more
BBC News
End
of Castro's half century in power
The news that Fidel Castro is stepping down as president after almost 50 years
in power came in the middle of the night, through the online edition of the
official Communist party newspaper Granma. Cuba's newly-elected parliament is
due to meet for the first time this Sunday to elect a new executive council of
state, whose president will become president of Cuba for a new five-year term.
more
Maldives Dictator
blames UNICEF for the protest in Dhiyamigili
island
The people of Dhiyamigili in Thaa Atoll protested
last week over the failures of the government of Dictator Gayyoom to provide
basic social services to them. These services include, health, education,
utilities as well and neglecting the environmental issues facing the island such
as acute erosion of the beach-line.
more
Richard Spring MP Blog Not
exactly paradise
When one thinks of the Maldives one thinks of a tropical tourist destination of
high repute, of turquoise seas and waving palm trees. That is of course true,
but there is a different underlying reality. The President of the Maldives has
been in office for three decades, and under him the islands have indeed become a
premier place to visit for their beauty and warm climate. However democracy and
human rights have not been on his agenda. There is now a process underway to
have local, parliamentary and presidential elections probably starting later
this year.
more
Landmark
election in Maldives : Dictator Gayyoom Vs The
Maldivian People
With the continued lies of Gayyoom and his
constant desire to be the absolute ruler of
Maldives for life, the thought of free and fair
multiparty elections under his rule is
absolutely ridiculous. I believe that most
Maldivians see it the same way. A person who on
different occasions talks different languages
and is willing to say anything on the world
stage to cover his crimes, will not be capable
of delivering a democratic mandate.
more
Minivan News
Transparency
Comes To Maldives
Anti-corruption NGO Transparency International (TI), which has over 90 national
chapters around the world, on Sunday launched its Maldives branch in the
capital, Male'. Described by interim Executive Director Nalina Sombuntham as an
"inclusive" organisation which aims for "partnerships", Transparency Maldives
was launched by speakers representing government, commerce, NGOs, and TI
branches overseas.
more
Economic Times - India Island
Air to expand operations in India
MUMBAI: Maldives-based Island Air, which started daily flights to
Thiruvananthapuram last month, is now planning to expand its operations in
India. The airline is looking to commence operations from Kochi, Chennai and
Kolkata to Male by early 2009.
more
Local News Jabir
to form a political party
Male' - Reliable sources close to GA. member of parliament and chairman of Yacht
Tours, Abdulla Jabir, have confirmed that he is to form a political party. The
source confirmed that Jabir has already taken the necessary documents and will
submit his application to the Commissioner of Elections in the next few days.
Jabir, who is the Vice Chairman of the People's Association, is likely to bring
all his colleagues to his party. In addition, his wife, who is an appointed
member of the parliament, Dhiyana Saeed, is also expected to defect to Jabir's
party. A name for the party has not yet been decided, the source confirmed.
Local News
Zaki
sets an example and rules himself out from running for President
MDP Vice President, Ibrahim Hussain Zaki
will not be running for Presidency and will retire from politics after November
11th, 2008. In a press conference held at his home, he said that he will not
support anyone who was closely associated with the Maldives Dictator. He
specifically said that he will not support Dr. Hassan Saeed (former Attorney
General)'s bid for Presidency. However, Mr. Zaki said that he might seek a
parliamentary seat, if it is in the interest of the party. By ruling himself
out, Zaki, a former cabinet minister of the Dictator is perhaps setting an
example for others to follow in the same spirit. In the meantime, speculation is
mounting that MDP Chairman Mohamed Nasheed (Anni) will soon announce his
candidacy and that the current President of the party, Dr. Mohamed Munavvar will
also take part in the primary. According to MDP regulations, the candidate for
President will be elected by party members in a nationwide, one-member-one-vote
election, so at the end of the day, it is the party members who will decide the
presidential candidate. Incidentally, Adhaalath Party has announced that they
will not contest this presidential election but would work to back a single
candidate to represent the National Unity Alliance.
Bluepeace Blog Hudhufushi - Dhiffushimaadhoo Area Should
be Declared as Nature Reserve
During the last few years, we have been witnessing a rapid human encroachment on
the terrestrial vegetation, reef and wetland ecosystems of uninhabited islands
and inhabited islands in the Maldives. Impacts on these islands in the Maldives
are unprecedented, their scale and speed alarming. Habour dredging, channel
blasting with dynamite and massive reclamation projects – many without proper
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) – are in progress. Never before have we
seen such a scale of coastal modification and change in the topography of
islands of the Maldives.
more
Commonwealth Human Rights
Initiative
Statement
of Concern on Pakistan's 18 February 2008 Elections
As election-day dawns, severe doubts cloud the
electoral processes in Pakistan. There are indeed several structural problems in
the functioning of the Election Commission of Pakistan. Several of the caretaker
government's pre-poll activities have the strong possibility of compromising the
elections. Illustratively, a large number of the complaints made to the Election
Commission remain unaddressed. In the absence of an independent judiciary there
are no democratic means to scrutinise and challenge potential deficiencies in
the Election Commission of Pakistan, and its electoral preparations.
more
Fish
dying en masse in the Maldives
Dead fish are being sighted all over the
Maldives at present. First it was reported in July 2007 near Meemu Atoll
Raiymandhoo. At that time, according to the Marine Research Centre, dead fish
floating near Raiymandhoo were caused by ‘red tide’. At present the Marine
Research Center says the deaths were due to low levels of oxygen. However, it is
still unknown what causes the recent deaths of thousands of reef fish all over
the Maldives. Officials warn locals not to touch or eat the fish. And they are
also burying the dead fish to avoid health dangers.
more
NCEAS Research A
Global Map of Human Impacts to Marine Ecosystems
What happens in the vast stretches of the world's oceans - both wondrous and
worrisome - has too often been out of sight, out of mind. The sea represents the
last major scientific frontier on planet earth - a place where expeditions
continue to discover not only new species, but even new phyla. The role of these
species in the ecosystem, where they sit in the tree of life, and how they
respond to environmental changes really do constitute mysteries of the deep.
Despite technological advances that now allow people to access, exploit or
affect nearly all parts of the ocean, we still understand very little of the
ocean's biodiversity and how it is changing under our influence.
more
Minivan News
Child
Sex Abuse Suspect Freed During Investigation
A man accused of sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl was freed on Thursday
pending an investigation into the case, raising concerns about his remaining at
large in the community. Shareef had been arrested for sexually abusing the child
in Gnaviyani atoll Foahmulak last Friday. Police first said they had released
Ahmed Shareef because the child's family had chosen to drop charges, but when
the family contested this, said there was “not enough evidence” to keep him in
custody during the investigation.
more
Minivan News HRCM
Calls For Immediate Changes At Maafushi
The Human Rights Commission (HRCM) has called for far-reaching changes to the
country's largest jail, Maafushi, following a monitoring visit in December. In
its new report, the HRCM heavily criticises the complete lack of drug
rehabilitation services and counselling for inmates – long identified as crucial
failures at the prison.
more
Moyameehaa Blog
Boduberu
song honoring our "beloved" first lady
A boduberu session at kuredu island resort's maldivian night.other than the
local people who are lost in their dancing to the music, there are some tourists
dancing in the back ground.they all seem to be enjoying this....but wtf are they
dancing to? "nasreenaa....rondhaain...k*sbeylee...reyzarakun...
k*sbeylee...aarashugaa...k*sbeylee...bodukeehun...aarashugaa...
dhabbandugaa..aijahaali...kandikidhashun.. aijahaali..."
watch video
You can also use
the search option if you are looking for
specific information on DO - please go to google
and type specific title or name followed by
site: www.dhivehiobserver.com, for example if you
want to search for customs related articles on
DO site, search as customs site:
www.dhivehiobserver.com.
Alternatively if
you cannot find the article please email us and
we will try to forward it to you as soon as
possible, our email is
dhivehiobserver@gmail.com
The
Dream
By the strength of our
common endeavour, to achieve what we cannot do alone, to grant each of
us the power to realize our full potential, and the means to create for
this and future generations a community in which power, wealth and
opportunity are in the hands of the many not the few, where the respect
we receive reflect the duties we owe, so that freed from the tyranny of
poverty, ignorance and fear, we could live together in spirit of
solidarity tolerance and respect.
[Clause 4 - Labour
Party - UK]
Quotes
"Verily never will God change
the condition of a people until they change it themselves."
Holy Qur'an 13:11
The only thing necessary for evil to flourish is for good
men to do nothing. - Edmund Burke
Anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities has the
power to make you commit atrocities. - Voltaire
The past
half-century provides ample proof that democracy is more
than just another form of government; it is also a
powerful generator of international security,
prosperity, and peace. — Madeleine K. Albright, NDI
Chairman
BBC Breaking News Fidel
Castro announces retirement
Cuba's ailing leader Fidel Castro has said he will not accept another term as
president, ending 49 years in power. "I neither will aspire to, nor will I
accept, the position of president of the council of state and commander in
chief," he told the newspaper, Granma. The 81-year-old handed over power
temporarily to his brother, Raul, in July 2006 when he underwent surgery.
more
We are
currently compiling DO 'Name
& Shame' list 2007 and
we would like to hear your
thoughts on who should be
Leader of the Year 2007, as
well as your suggestions for
other categories in the
list. Please
send us an email with
your suggestions.
Click here to
view 2006 list
British Council Chevening
Scholarship - Applications now open
Chevening Scholarship Scheme, UK's most
prestigious scholarship scheme for foreign
students in now open. Scholarships will be
made available to young professionals at the
early to mid career stage in any field,
although applicants should be able to
demonstrate that their studies will benefit
their countries' Economic, Social, Political
or Environmental development. Visit
British Chevening Scholarships for details
Views
expressed in this website are that of the people who choose to
contribute to and does not necessarily reflect that of Dhivehi
Observer,unless it is attributed to us directly.
Some comments and articles maybe edited for clarity. Please use decent
language and do not incite violence in your message. We would edit
out any calls for violence in all material.
Freedom of expression : Constitution of the Maldives - Chapter II -
Clause 25. Every citizen shall have the freedom to express his conscience and
thoughts orally or in writing or by other means, unless prohibited
by law in the interest of protecting the sovereignty of the
Maldives, of maintaining public order and of protecting the basic
tenets of Islam.
Dhivehi Observer is an independent online news service on matters
relating to the Maldives.
Commercial use
prohibited on all material published on this site without prior
written permission. To
contribute please send the material by
email to the
editorial board
[All servers merged on 27th July 2004]
-
Copyright 2006-
Dhivehi Observer
Public Service Division Staff Held Hostage by the
Maldives Dictator
Elections
Official Admits Referendum Flaws
South
Asian Football: Maldives to start again Pakistan
on June 3
Sri
Lanka and Maldives fall victims to regional and international hegemonic powers
Kenya
rivals agree to share power 
Business
tycoons reject offers to be Dictator's running mate
I
Would Devolve Power From Presidency: Anni
Maldives: Executive vs Judiciary over TVM case
Pakistan lifts the ban on YouTube
Coral
Reefs and What Ruins Them
EU
fines Microsoft record 1.4 billion dollars
ޚަބަރު
މުރާޖައާ
Dictator
proposes amendments to civil service commission bill as part of his election
campaign
Dictator
to appoint 4 more Ministers of State
Golhaabo
given a reception by thugs in Male'
Tsunami
Report – 3 years on 
MDP
Nominations Open As Latheef Made Temporary Chairperson
ރައްޔިތެއްގެ
އަޑު
ތާސީރު
ކޮލަމް - ހަވީރު
Lady
Ibrahim Manik In Court For Alleged Sex Offences, Corruption
Muslim
scholars decry terrorism 
ބަދަލު
ދިނުން މުރާޖައާ
ޖަޒީރާ
ޑެއިލީ
ހަވީރު
ޚާއްސަ
ނޯޓިސް
Indonesia
tsunami warning lifted 
No
Agreement On Presidential Immunity
Gang
Suspects Hand Themselves Over To Police
(cSwCcawm
cnurwhwa 21) WyiretcsWlcKia
Zaeem Tubbs to
register Dhivehi Masakkathumeehunge
Party (DMP)
Mugabe
'confident' of sixth term 
ޚާއްސަ
ކަރާޝިބު މުރާޖައާ
ހާމިދު
އަބްދުލް ޣަފޫރު
Maldives:
"Observer" Wishes More Bad Days for Dictators
Maldives
- Annual report 2008
Child abuse suspects walks free
Reeko
Moosa to join the MDP Presidential Candidate race
Inflation
in Maldives in 2007
"Police
Are An Easy Target": John Robertson
ވައިކަރަދޫލައިވް.ކޮމް
ކަރާޝިބު
ޚަބަރު
Two
cases of child sex abuse in Fuahmulah
Inflation
Doubled In 07 As Cost Of Living Soars
އަތޮޅު
ރިޕޯޓު
World's
Longest-Serving Leaders
Fidel
Castro is Longest Serving Leader in Western Hemisphere
The
Expanding Jihad
ޢައިޝް
Big
earthquake shakes Indonesia 
Two
Dictators Gone in a Single Day...Golhaabo, You Will Be
Next!
Are
Musharraf's days numbered? 
Bhutto
party in coalition offer 
End
of Castro's half century in power 
ޑރ.
ހަސަން ސައީދުގެ މެނިފެސްޓޯ
Not
exactly paradise
Landmark
election in Maldives : Dictator Gayyoom Vs The
Maldivian People
Transparency
Comes To Maldives
Island
Air to expand operations in India
Jabir
to form a political party
Zaki
sets an example and rules himself out from running for President
Hudhufushi - Dhiffushimaadhoo Area Should
be Declared as Nature Reserve
Fish
dying en masse in the Maldives
HRCM
Calls For Immediate Changes At Maafushi
Boduberu
song honoring our "beloved" first lady 
Fidel
Castro announces retirement 
Chevening
Scholarship - Applications now open
