Minivan News Draft
"Bill Of Rights" Hit By 300 Amendments
Special Majlis members have proposed over three hundred amendments to the draft
bill of rights, dashing hopes of speedy agreement on the first chapter of the
country’s new constitution. Members of the two main political parties were
expected to propose a single set of amendments each. But instead seventeen
members of the government’s Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party and seven of the
opposition Maldivian Democratic Party have each put forward their own
amendments. more
Health Blog Drumsticks
for health
"The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence." goes a popular
proverb. How true! Health conscious people, who are busy counting calories and
spending a fortune on expensive and nutritious foodstuffs, hardly spare a
thought to the humble drumstick (sahjan) tree which is a common sight in the
gardens of so many Indian homes. They don't mind consulting dieticians who
charge exorbitant amounts for chalking out a suitable diet chart but are
hesitant to make use of any home-grown, nutritious or cheaply available
vegetable. Why the special emphasis on 'drumstick' ? Simply, because it is
loaded with all the vital health ingredients.
more
You idiot, you said
they will never find out that it was a private visit?
We aint gonna work in MAG's farm no more...
During the twilight years of the Nasir era, a
group of music lovers got together in the Maldives and held the Rock n' Roll
concert; musicians from all walks of life participated in this colourful event
from the likes of Naibugey Shiham, the father of rock music in the Maldives, to
the unforgettable Dheedhibey. However it was the Bob Dylan's classic "I ain't
gonna work on Maggie's farm no more" that resonated around the hall. Soon after,
Nasir was gone. more
News Review
Maldives Dictator's recent visit to
UK was a private visit
Maldives Dictator, Golhabo, claimed
that his recent visit to UK was an
official one but a press release
from the Foreign and Commonwealth
Office, UK, states that he was on a
private visit to the UK. This was
yet another spin by Golhaabo to show
that he has international support,
especially from UK.
Press Release
/FCO_UK/2007-07_149744_G_N
Minivan News
Egg
Mahir' Vows To Strike Again
Torture victim Abdulla Mahir, who
made headlines earlier this month
after throwing an egg at President
Gayoom during the latter's
official
(not really) trip to
Britain, has vowed to continue his
campaign of direct action against
the president. During an exclusive
interview with Minivan News in
London, Mahir said he would continue
to hound Gayoom "until he takes
responsibility for what he has
done." Mahir is demanding that the
president affords him "justice and
compensation" for injuries Mahir
says he sustained at the hands of
Gayoom's security services.
more
Special Announcement
DO main server underwent maintenance
service on Saturday 28th
July causing some
disruption. All sites are
now up and running. We
Apologise for the
inconvenience.
29/07/2007 - 03:45
MDP's
'Vote Parliamentary System' campaign
in North Huvadhoo Atoll
A Senior MDP team went to more than
10 islands in North Huvadhoo Atoll
on Thursday to promote the party's
campaign to muster support for the
parliamentary system in the upcoming
referendum due on the 18th of
August. The team was led by Saleem
Ali, President of South Huvadhoo
regional assembly and other leading
members in the Atoll. In addition to
providing information and
distributing leaflets, posters and
banners were placed in the islands.
view photos
Blast
from the Past
125 million rufiya (US$10 million) Paid
to President's Cronies
An
Exclusive Report published on Adduvas magazine,27
December 2005, Translated by
Maldives Culture editors, 8 January 2006, Photos
and contact information added by Maldives Culture and
Dhivehi Observer. Adduvas examines
President Gayyoom's special assistance loan account (Maldives Monetary Authority
Acc. No. 2060) and the soft loans granted from this source.
It is difficult to understand why the public treasury of the government has
become the private bank of a certain group of people. Have these the people
faced exceptional circumstances that warrant the granting of a presidential
special assistance loan? When we identified the people receiving these loans, it
seems only highly-placed officials face special circumstances.
more
Business News Sri
Lanka container operations, interest, lift John Keells
Holdings bottom line
July 26, 2007 (LBO) – John Keells Holdings consolidated
after tax profits in the June quarter surged 67 percent
with the help of its container terminal at the Colombo
port and interest income from a recent rights issue
proceeds, the company said. "The Maldives on the other
hand, remains a very popular destination enjoying high
occupancy and room rates. Cinnamon Island, Alidhoo, our
fifth resort in the Maldives is operational from 1st
July 2007 and early indications are very encouraging.
more
Why
the Maldives are Wonderful!
In celebration of my favorite island
nation’s birthday I thought I would
celebrate its holiday with a little
background on Maldivian history and
culture. The Maldives, with a total
land area of just 300km (about 1.7
time of Washington DC) is an
archipelago of 1,190 coral islands
grouped into 26 atolls (200
inhabited islands, plus 80 islands
with tourists resorts). This tiny
island nation is home 369,031 people
and the official language is
Maldivian Dhivehi which is a dialect
of Sinhala (script derived from
Arabic), however, English is widely
spoken.
more
Minivan News Maafushi
Hunger Strike: One Man's Story
For eight days in June, Maldivians
woke to news of an ever growing
hunger strike in Maafushi prison, as
inmates demanded improved conditions
and rehabilitation for drug addicts.
The strike started with the death of
inmate Muslih Abbas during a prison
break.
more
Local News Vehicle
rounds of MDP's 'Vote Parliamentary
System' campaign in Male', Addu and
Thinadhoo
MDP members and activists in Male',
Addu Atoll and Thinadhoo in Huvadhoo
Atoll held a special event on
Wednesday, which included vehicle
rounds going around the islands
pasting posters and handing out
leaflets to the public. The vehicles
were decorated in MDP's colour.
Police interfered with the events in
Male' and reportedly arrested 5
people including drivers of the
vehicles used in Male' but no other
disturbances were reported.
view photos
Minivan News Voters
Uninformed Ahead Of Referendum
Concerns are growing about the lack
of information available to
Maldivians ahead of the country's
August 18 constitutional referendum.
Campaign observers are reporting
most voters lack basic knowledge of
a presidential or parliamentary
system, while many are even unaware
a referendum will be taking place on
August 18.
more
Minivan News Police
Arrest Five To Halt MDP
Parliamentary Campaign
At least five people have been
arrested as police halted an
opposition party event, confiscated
vehicle keys, and seized party
property. Police arrested the
drivers of four pickups carrying
activists of the Maldivian
Democratic Party (MDP) who were
distributing leaflets ahead of the
Maldives’ August 18 constitutional
referendum.
more
Local News People
of Kolamaafushi wants resorts near
the island
Kolamaafushi - A large group of
people from Kolamaafushi in North
Huvadhu Atoll held a demonstration
earlier this month calling for more
development near their islands. They
specifically requested for resorts
to be developed closer to their
island, which is located in an
isolated spot away from other
inhabited islands in the Atoll. A
petition was sent to the Tourism
Minister demanding the same on 13th
July.
view photos
Minivan News
Vote
Fraud Throws Majlis Into Confusion
Twenty four hours after the Special
Majlis appeared to finally rule out
a debate on President Gayoom's
influence over the constitutional
body, the issue has been thrown wide
open again. On Sunday a government
motion supporting speaker Gasim
Ibrahim's July 8 decision to throw
out a motion on removing unelected
members was passed with exactly the
fifty seven votes required. But it
emerged Zahir Adam, an opposition
member who was not even in the
Special Majlis, was registered as
present and voting for the motion.
more
Local News Vote
rigging leaves Special Majlis in
limbo: It is a still a family affair
Male' - The 163rd session of the
Special Majlis held today was
quickly brought to a halt after it
emerged that Dictator Gayyoom's
brother in law and MP for South
Huvadhoo Atoll rigged the vote by
casting a vote for Hon. Zahir Adam
(MP for South Huvadhoo) whilst Zahir
(photo above) was not present in the
house at the time. The vote which
was taken yesterday was passed with
the bare minimum 57 votes and since
one of the votes was rigged as
confirmed by video evidence showing
Gayyoom's brother in law casting the
electronic vote without the consent
of the other member. As a result of
this revelation, several members
argued that the act was illegal and
began a heated debate in the house
which led to the session being
quickly adjourned by the speaker
this morning. The motion in question
which allegedly passed was put
forward by a member appointed by the
dictator and supported by another of
his appointed members, his niece
Fathin Hameed. Many predict that
this limbo will prolong the real
task of the Majlis which is to bring
democratic changes to the current
constitution as per the 'so called'
reform package of the Maldives
Dictator. Earlier in June, members
of the house agreed by a vote to
complete the works of the house, of
amending the constitution, by end of
November, a target many believed
cannot be achieved judging by the
rift in the house.
News Update MDP's
'Vote Parliamentary System' campaign
is in full swing in Addu Atoll
A special meeting was held in
Feydhoo on Thursday night attended
by hundreds of party members and
supporters. Similar events and
programs are taking place across the
Atoll, including Hithadhoo on Friday
night. On Saturday 21st July, a
meeting was held in Maradhoo-Feydhoo
to create more awareness on the
advantages of having a parliamentary
system in the Maldives. view photos
view photos
Minivan News Walkout
And Vote Fraud As Government Wins
Key Majlis Vote
Twenty one MPs walked out of the
Special Majlis in protest today as
unelected government appointees
forced through a motion which
prevents a debate on whether they
should sit in the body which will
decide a new constitution for the
Maldives.
more
Local News MDP's
'Vote Parliamentary System' campaign
at Haruge Male'
Male'
- MDP's campaign to muster support
for the parliamentary system is
going well and strong in the capital
island. The old Haruge which was
demolished by Maldives Dictator's
militia back in August 2005 is now
the key venue for the campaign where
hundreds of party members and
supporters gather to work on the
campaign. Party's President Dr.
Munavvaru and other key leaders
spoke to the crowd on Friday night
at Haruge. Another senior team led
by Chairman Nasheed is currently
touring the Northern Atolls.
view photos
Local News Price
of eggs expected to rise as Golhaabo
returns home on Saturday
Male'
- Reliable sources say that Maldives
Dictator Golhabo will be returning
home on Saturday morning after a
week long trip to UK. The highlight
of this 'so called' official trip
was the disruption of Golhaabo's
speech at a club in London, after
torture victim Abdulla Mahir
(Backbone Mahir) threw a rotten egg
at him. There are reports that price
of eggs will rise in the coming days
as many are preparing to emulate the
bravery of Mahir. There is no
telling how many eggs will come his
way tomorrow as he lands in Male'.
Photo News
MDP's
'Vote Parliamentary System' Campaign
in Addu Atoll
MDP's 'Vote Parliamentary System'
campaign is in full swing in Addu
Atoll. A special meeting was held in
Feydhoo on Thursday night attended
by hundreds of party members and
supporters. Similar events and
programs are taking place across the
Atoll, including Hithadhoo on Friday
night. Special feasts were also
prepared by party members to keep
the momentum of the campaign.
According to the sources, Addu is
expecting to produce the largest
majority for any Atoll in favour of
the parliamentary system in the
upcoming referendum due on August
18th.
view photos
Minivan News "Gang
Rapists" Given Eight Months Exile
Four
men who had sex with a twelve year
old girl after breaking into her
home in January have been cleared of
rape. A judge found the girl from
Kurendhoo, Lhaviyani atoll, had
consented to have sex with the men
after they smashed her bedroom
window with an axe.
more
Minivan News
Pioneering
Legal Clinic Offers Free Advice To
Victims Of Sexual Abuse
A pioneering legal clinic will open
in Male' this evening, providing
free advice to female victims of
abuse. The clinic run by the Hama
Jamiyya [Justice Organisation], will
initially open for two hours every
Thursday. Prominent Male' lawyer
Ahmed Muizzu will meet up to eight
women a week by appointment. Other
lawyers have also pledged their
time.
more
Private Islands Blog Human
Rights Abuses in the Maldives
I usually like to write about the
lighter side of island life.
However, occasionally I feel
compelled to write on behalf of
individuals in island nations who
may not have the ability to speak
for themselves. There is no question
that the Maldives is a magnificent
nation. Its islands are among the
most beautiful in the world. But
behind the beauty there is conflict
among the people of the Maldives.
This conflict centers on Maumoon
Abdul Gayoom, President of the
Maldives, although many refer to him
as a dictator.
more
Minivan News Torture
Victim Pelts Gayoom With Egg During
London Speech
President Gayoom's official visit to
the UK was disrupted on Tuesday
evening, when torture victim
Abdullah Mahir threw an egg at the
president as he neared the end of a
speech to the Royal Commonwealth
Society. Gayoom made a joke of the
event before completing his speech.
But Mahir, who was hospitalised with
serious back injuries sustained in
Maldives police custody in 1995, was
arrested and questioned by British
police. He has since been released
on bail, but President Gayoom
intends to press charges.
more
Tourism News Maldives
wants new airports for resort
islands
July 18, 2007 (AFP) - Maldives is
seeking international investors to
help build ten regional airports as
part of a plan to develop nearly
three dozen resort islands, a
minister said on Wednesday. "We plan
to build 10 domestic airports
packaged with tourist resorts, to
make it economically feasible to
investors. The tenders will go out
later this year," Maldivian tourism
minister, Mahmood Shaugee, told AFP.
more
ACHR Review Trial
of Sheikh Hasina must be observed by
an international jury
The care-taker government being run
by Chief Advisor Dr. Fakhruddin
Ahmed and Foreign Affairs Advisor
Ifthekar A. Chowdhury has so far
been able to convey to the
international community that it is a
civilian government committed to
strengthening democracy in
Bangladesh. Having served as
Ambassador to the Permanent Missions
of Bangladesh to Geneva and New
York, Chowdhury is eloquent with the
human rights lingua franca and knows
the human rights jargons too well.
With regard to Sheikh Hasina's
arrest on 16 July 2007 this is what
Chowdhury had to say: "We expect
Sheikh Hasina issue will be resolved
quickly with due legal process ...
What is important here is that if
anybody is arrested, evidence and
due process are to be followed."
more
CHSE Blog
Students
Launch REFORM CHSE blog
"REFORM C.H.S.E." is a reform
movement initiated by the former
students of C.H.S.E aimed for a
change by correcting abuses,
injustice, or removal of defects,
abolish malpractice in C.H.S.E in
order for a better C.H.S.E. All
former & present students of C.H.S.E
are invited to join. visit
www.reformchse.blogspot.com
News Backbone
Mahir throws rotten egg at Maldives
Dictator during speech in London
London - Maldives Dictator 'Golhaabo'
was hit with a rotten egg by
Backbone Mahir, a Maldivian refugee
in the UK. Mahir, who is a victim of
Golhaabo's torturous regime was
sitting in the third row and threw
the egg at Golhaabo in the middle of
his speech. "The egg landed on his
chest, it was an amazing feeling to
watch Golhaabo get such a shock,"
said a Maldivian who attended the
session, held at Commonwealth Club
in London on Tuesday evening. The
event was organised by Mackwood
Limited of Sri Lanka and had no
connection to The Commonwealth
Secretariat, rather it was a private
session, we can reveal. Mahir, was
then attacked by Golhaabo's
bodyguards, especially the senior
'BOY' at the London High Commission,
Arif. "Arif manhandled him (Mahir),
we don't think Arif had the right to
do so," the eyewitness said.
Speaking to DO, Mahir said that he
was satisfied with his action, which
was in protest of the torture and
ill-treatment he sustained under the
dictator's regime, that has left him
disabled. Mahir was taken out of the
hall and on his request police were
called. He was then taken to a
London police station and released
soon after taking his statements to
report back on 21st August. Mahir
said that he will take action
against all those who manhandled him
and that his lawyers are already
working on the case. Mahir was
granted political asylum in UK in
2005 and is currently studying for a
degree in Information Technology at
a London college.
Minivan News Expelled
Student To Sue Education Ministry
Ihusan Naseer, a student expelled
from Male' Centre for Higher and
Secondary Education last Thursday,
has said he will sue the Education
Ministry. Naseer has been suspended
from CHSE since February when an
article critical of the school
appeared in an opposition newspaper.
The student denies writing the
article and says he is being
victimised for his political
beliefs. He is an active member of
the opposition movement and was
twice arrested as a minor in 2004
and 2005.
more
Business News Sri
Lanka migrant workers to Maldives
need to have proper service
agreement
July 16, Colombo: Sri Lanka
government emphasizes that all the
Sri Lankans leaving for Maldives
need to obtain a proper service
agreement certified by the Sri Lanka
Embassy in Maldives.
more
Guardian-Observer UK Nepal's king seeks escape amid probe
into wealth
Robbed of his legal powers by
parliament, a despised king now
faces being stripped of his vast
riches. Plastered on the ancient
moss-covered stone walls of a lane
next to Kathmandu's opulent royal
palace, a satirical poster depicts
Nepal's King Gyanendra on the verge
of madness. The monarch is pictured,
gripped by fear and paranoia, sawing
the legs from his huge gilded throne
one by one. The Observer has
discovered at least the partial
extent of the King's wealth,
including a string of tea
plantations, a golf course, at least
four hotels, an island in the
Maldives and oil interests in
Nigeria.
more
Local News by Minivan Raanbaa
Defies Government, Two students expelled,
Hathifushi officially uninhabited
The Ranbaa restaurant ignored a government order
to close on health and safety grounds, and
stayed open to hold a large party on the
weekend, it has emerged.
Two students at
Male's top male only Majeediya school have been
expelled, and another two suspended, for
deliberately lighting a fire which caused Rf
118,000 damage to the school in May.
A flag lowering
ceremony was held on Hathifushi island in Haa
Alif on Thursday to declare the island
officially uninhabited. The one hundred and
thirty nine former residents of Hathifushi were
relocated to Hanimadhoo in neighbouring Haa Daal
after Hathifushi was overrun by floods in June.
more
Minivan News Activist
Wins Case Against Atolls Ministry
Zaheena Rasheed, the activist sacked from her
position at the Atolls Ministry in November
without notice, has won the first ever case
against the government for wrongful dismissal. A
civil court judge ordered the Atolls Ministry on
Sunday to pay Rf16,000 (around $1.500) to
compensate Zaheena for lost earnings.
more
Special Notice
Due to some logistical difficulties, regular
updates of DO will commence from Tuesday 17th
July. In the meantime please visit our associate
sites:
www.minivannews.com and
www.minivandaily.com for local news updates.
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
Channel 4
Special TV Report Crackdown
in the Maldives
The authorities in the Maldives have been cracking down
on political dissent. The Maldives have become a holiday destination for the
well heeled. But away from the eyes of tourists, the government there has been
cracking down on political dissent. Watch the report
watch the report on Channel 4 site
Views
expressed in this website are that of the people who choose to
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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
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[All servers merged on 27th July 2004]
-
Copyright 2006-
Dhivehi Observer
Draft
"Bill Of Rights" Hit By 300 Amendments
Drumsticks
for health 
ރައްޔިތުންގެ
ގަލަމުން 
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Egg
Mahir' Vows To Strike Again
(cSwCcawm cnurwhwa 18)WmWnutwsurwk
egumIawz
MDP's
'Vote Parliamentary System' campaign
in North Huvadhoo Atoll
Sri
Lanka container operations, interest, lift John Keells
Holdings bottom line
ބަރުލަމާނީ
ކެމްޕޭނު ޚަބަރު
Why
the Maldives are Wonderful!
Maafushi
Hunger Strike: One Man's Story
Vehicle
rounds of MDP's 'Vote Parliamentary
System' campaign in Male', Addu and
Thinadhoo
ޚަބަރު
މުރާޖައާ
ބަރުލަމާނީ
ބުލޮގް
ކަރާޝިބު ޚަބަރު 
Police
Arrest Five To Halt MDP
Parliamentary Campaign
People
of Kolamaafushi wants resorts near
the island
ޚަބަރު 
ޚަބަރު 
Vote
rigging leaves Special Majlis in
limbo: It is a still a family affair
MDP's
'Vote Parliamentary System' campaign
is in full swing in Addu Atoll
އޯކޭ
ޒާހިރު
MDP's
'Vote Parliamentary System' campaign
at Haruge Male'
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cnObckeb) urihWm Qudcbwa.jpg)
ރައްޔިތުންގެ
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"Gang
Rapists" Given Eight Months Exile
Pioneering
Legal Clinic Offers Free Advice To
Victims Of Sexual Abuse
Torture
Victim Pelts Gayoom With Egg During
London Speech
Maldives
wants new airports for resort
islands
Trial
of Sheikh Hasina must be observed by
an international jury
Students
Launch REFORM CHSE blog
Expelled
Student To Sue Education Ministry
Sri
Lanka migrant workers to Maldives
need to have proper service
agreement
cnwlwg
egcnutiycawr
ޚަބަރު
ޚަބަރު
Nepal's king seeks escape amid probe
into wealth
Raanbaa
Defies Government, Two students expelled,
Hathifushi officially uninhabited
Activist
Wins Case Against Atolls Ministry
