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Election News

Prominent businessman Shaveed is openly campaigning for the government in Faafu Atoll

Minivan News, 25th Dec 2004

Shaveed has reportedly been helping pro-government candidates Ibrahim Shareef Mohammed and Moosa Ahmed to organize public gatherings and election ‘parties’ in Feeali, Nilandhoo and Magoodhoo islands in breach of election regulations reported Minivan News today.
Shaveed, who is married to the powerful Universal Enterprises' family - is a controversial figure in the Maldives. He is thought to hold a grudge against an MDP-backed candidate for Faafu Atoll, Ahmed Hamzaa, following a business dispute between the two, who are also cousins. Shaveed is also known to be a close friend of the President's brother, Abdulla Yameen and has contracts from SHE - Society for Health Education run by Madam Nasreena for importing medicines which he gets without a bid. His other cousin Ali Shiyam, who is the brother of Hamza was held in solitary confinement for more than 2 months for participating in pro-democracy demonstration, Black Friday, on 13th August.
The Election Commissioner has announced on numerous occasions that no candidate is allowed to campaign in large public gathering in the forthcoming elections but this law appears to be applicable only to the anti-government candidates. Yameen and Abdulla Shahid as well as other powerful government backed candidates are quite free to do whatever they want.

Minivan News reported receiving dozens of reports from Atolls across the Maldives stating that pro-government candidates are disregarding this regulation.
Yesterday, it was further reported to us that an assistant of the Island Chief in Nilandhoo has been working for Ibrahim Shareef Mohammed and Moosa Ahmed by helping to gather people prior to public campaign talks.
DO also has information that Shaveed has paid large sums of money to AK as well as Dr. Luthfy's camp and is working against Aslam from Addu.