Maariya accuses police not doing duty, involve in politics

22 September 2007
Report: Jaxlee


Maldivian Democratic Party spokeswoman Maariya Ahmed Didi has accused police for not performing the duties and for involve in politics. Following a question from Velidhoo News, regarding the accusations by people that MDP activists are involved in the increase in robbery cases, Ms Didi said those accusations are coming towards party activists since police blame them.

However, she said that they should perform national duty to reduce the increasing crimes. She said police are failing to control or take any measures, so they have to find someone to blame.

She said that during her time at Attorney General’s office, they don’t look at the party identity when a case is submitted. They check on the names, addresses and so on. So, she questioned how exactly they come up with such a hypothesis.

Maariya also said that since MDP was registered, all such allegations are towards the party since others want to simply blame MDP for no reason.

MDP office was also robbed two days ago as number of crimes related to theft and robbery increased during Ramazan.

VELIDHOO COMMUNITY
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Inter-house Quran recitation held in Lhaviyani School

22 September 2007
Report: Mary

Lhaviyani Atoll School has reported that inter-house Quran recitation competition of the school was organized by the Islamic Club of the school.

This activity was organized in commencement of the holy month of Ramazan. More than 45 students have competed in the competition.

Green house won the competition while blue house came second and red house claimed third. The competition was judged by the Imam’s of the three mosques in Kurendhoo. The competition was considered a success and reports say that similar activities will be conducted in the future.

Special religious lecture programs are presently underway in the atoll and large gatherings are seen in mosques and lecture halls attending the lectures.

VELIDHOO COMMUNITY
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Media Association seeks to have elections

21 September 2007
Report: Soodh

Maldives Media Association may have had two unsuccessful attempts to have election of the executive committee, but the chief spokesman Ali Siraj says that pipeline works are underway to have the elections within the next two months.

Two separate ceremonies will be held to open the candidates to compete in the elections and for allowing the candidates to campaign for the elections. These arrangements are expected to be completed before the end of Ramazan.

Elections dates are not confirmed yet, however, it is planned to conduct after Eid holidays. More than 489 membership applications have so far been submitted, and some applications are in the process of verification.

All members registered before the 27 of this month will be eligible to vote in the elections. The Association has also welcomed any valuable ideas from all members in order to make it a successful one.

Siraj also noted that the association would be organizing some activities during the upcoming days in order to raise funds.

Earlier, Ministry of Information and Arts has expressed its concerns about the progress of the Media Association. In a news release issued, the Ministry has indicated that though it is not directly responsible for the Media Association, it has an interest to see that the Association succeeds and elections are conducted smoothly for the Executive Committee.

In this respect the Ministry has noted that since the inception of the Association on the 2nd of October 2006, the Ministry has been following the work towards the elections, and helping to overcome hurdles. Disagreements have arisen about the procedure for electing members for the Media Association posts in the past two attempts.

VELIDHOO COMMUNITY
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Higher buildings experiences water pressure problem

21 September 2007
Report: Faishaan

Maldives Water and Sewerage Company, MWSC has reported that a technical problem with the pumping of the distribution caused some higher buildings in Male’ to experience water pressure problems in the water supply.

Technical Manager of the company, Mohamed Rasheed told Velidhoo community that the technical problem persisted for the past two days, but assured that the problem has been dealt with. He said that water supply is now normal for the higher buildings that faced the problem.

He also noted that during the month of Ramazan, at certain times of the day, there is an increase in usage which causes the system to bear heavy loads. Hence, he cautioned that it could be experienced during times.

MWSC was established on the 1st of April 1995, with a mandate to design, develop and manage an efficient and cost-effective public water supply and sewerage system in the capital island Male’.

Today the company not only operate the services in the capital Male’ but also have extended it to outer islands. Presently the company is also operating in the islands of Villingili, Hulhumale and Maafushi. Additional islands in the North and South Atolls are being surveyed for expansion of the service.

VELIDHOO COMMUNITY
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HRC welcomes involvement of Commonwealth in reform process

21 September 2007
Report: Jaxlee


President of the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives, Ahmed Saleem, has responded to a letter sent to him by the Secretary General of Commonwealth Don McKinnon.

In his letter, the Commonwealth Secretary-General had shared with the President of the Commission the findings and recommendations of the Commonwealth expert team that visited the Maldives to observe the 18 August 2007 referendum on the preferred system of government.

Secretary-General had highlighted that the Commonwealth was encouraged by the high voter turnout and the active participation in the referendum of women and young people. He also renewed the offer of the Commonwealth to facilitate a conference between the main political parties and the Government to reach consensus on key issues, and further urged all sides concerned to strive to meet the deadline of 30 November 2007 for completion of the new constitution.

In his reply to the Secretary-General, the President of the Commission welcomed the involvement of the Commonwealth in the reform process of the Maldives, and voiced support for the Commonwealth offer to facilitate a conference between the main political parties and the Government.

Mr Saleem noted the similarities between the reports of the Commission and the Commonwealth on the conduct of the referendum. In particular the reports shared recommendations on the establishment of an independent elections commission in order to facilitate the conduct of more efficient and transparent elections in the future.

The Commission President further supported the recommendation of the Commonwealth team for the Government to urgently adopt legislation allowing for the freedoms of expression and assembly, and to repeal the existing regulations which fall far below the standards set by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

VELIDHOO COMMUNITY
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Island Committee elections set for next month

21 September 2007
Report: Soodh

Ministry of Atolls Development has announced that the elections for Island Committees would be held on 27 October 2007.

Earlier, Island Development Committee elections scheduled for the 1st of June have been postponed indefinitely. This postponement was to give more time for preparations following amendments to Clause 7 of the regulations of the Island Development Committees. It was also decided to hold the elections within 30 days following the referendum to decide the type of government for the new constitution.

Ministry of Atolls Development has reported that two committees have been established to look after the required administrative logistics and arrangements for the upcoming Island Committee elections.

Deputy Director Mohamed Jawad Yoosuf said that the first committee will be chaired by Deputy Director General of the Public Complaints Bureau. Three members will be in this committee and will be looking after the planning and coordination of the elections.

The second committee will be chaired by the Director Corporate Affairs of Dhamaas Maldives Company Mohamed Shihab. This committee is responsible for finalizing all measures related to the election.

VELIDHOO COMMUNITY
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Importing, selling Black Opium Energy Drink banned

21 September 2007
Report: Soodh


National Narcotics Control Bureau, NNCB has yesterday banned the import and selling of Black Opium Energy Drink in the country. Speaking to N. Velidhoo Community, Deputy Minister of Gender and Family who is also the in-charge of NNCB Dr. Abdullah Waheed said that other non-alcoholic energy drinks were not banned since they are working under 17/77 of the Maldivian law, which does not cover such drinks.

NNCB statement says although there were no traces of any narcotic drugs in the drink, the Board believed that the name of the brand and phrases used in its promotions and advertisement encouraged people to abuse its namesake drug.

Under Maldivian law, encouraging and promoting the use of any forms of narcotic drugs in writing or drawing, and publishing or keeping such items in view of the public, is a criminal offence.

NNCB further stated that it has banned the import and dealing of products, in addition to Black Opium label, that encouraged, promoted or had a similar name as that of a narcotic drug.

Black Opium Energy Drinks had been available at vending machines in Male’.

VELIDHOO COMMUNITY
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NAGULUROLI - Released in Velidhoo last nite.

20 September 2007
Report: Soodh

Naguluroli News Magazine has released in Noonu Velidhoo, the 24th Issue of Naguluroli " Unknown time to Release" PLEASE CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD last night. He also said that. the news released in between Ishaa Prayer and Tharaavees Parayer. He said that the news is about the Good and Bad things which is going on Noonu Velidhoo.

VELIDHOO COMMUNITY
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Umar can’t win the election – Maariya

20 September 2007
Report: Soodh


Maldivian Democratic Party spokeswoman Maariya Ahmed Didi has questioned the ability of Islamic Democratic Party leader Umar Naseer to win next year’s presidential election. She said there is no way that Umar Naseer wining the election.

Following the IDP policy that Umar has recently announced saying that if he wins the election, he would construct 4000 housing flats to alleviate housing problems in Male’, Maariya said that it would be an impossible task. She said that at a time IMF and World Bank is issuing warnings on the economic changes within the country; no political party could make such promises of popular policies.

Umar is talking like that perhaps he is so confident that he is not going to win the election, said Maariya. She also said that no one knows much about IDP and they don’t have a status as a political party. She said that IDP has not played a crucial role in the reform process and announcing that capital punishment would be given to drug traffickers and providing housing seems to be unrealistic.

She also said that all such policy announcements were made without foreseeing the consequences, as it could not be implemented unless the constitution permits.

Umar has earlier said that he would levy tax on businesses to fund the construction of flats and would be providing housing flats to other populous islands in the country, in addition to Male’.

Adhaalath Party also criticized Umar’s announcement to build flats by saying that even if IDP wins, there is no way that they could implement it, unless approved by the parliament.

VELIDHOO COMMUNITY
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20 September 2007
Report: Jxlee

ފީފާއިން ގަބޫލު ނުކުރުމުން ކަލީމު ވަކިކޮށް އެގްޒެކްޓިވް ކޮމެޓީ އުވާލައިފި

ު

ރާއްޖޭގެ އެންމެ ބޮޑު ކުޅިވަރު އިދާރާ އެފް އޭ މޯލްޑިވްސްގެ ހިންގުމުގެ ދާއިރާއަށް ބޮޑު އިންގިލާބެއް އިއްޔެ ގެނެސްފި އެވެ

އިއްޔެ މެންދުރުފަހު ބޭއްވި ކުޅިވަރުގެ ޤައުމީ މަޖިލިސް އާއި އެފް އޭ އެމުގެ އެގްޒެކްޓިވް ކޮމެޓީގެ ބައްދަލުވުމުގައި ނިންމާފައިވަނީ އިއްޔެއިން ފެށިގެން އެގްޒެކްޓިވް ކޮމެޓީ އުވާލުމަށާއި އެފް އޭ އެމްގެ ޗެއާމަންގެ މަޤާމަށް މިދިޔަމަހު ހަމަޖެއްސި މުޙައްމަދު ކަލީމު މަޤާމުން ވަކި ކުރުމަށެވެ. މިގޮތަށް މިކަން ކުރަން ޖެހުނީ އެގްޒެކްޓިވް ކޮމެޓީއާއި ޗެއާމަންގެ މަޤާމަށް ކަލީމު ހޮވާފައިވާގޮތްވެސް ފީފާއިން ޤަބޫލު ނުކުރާތީ އެވެ

ބައްދަލުވުމުގައި ބައިވެރިވި އެގްޒެކްޓިވް ކޮމެޓީގެ މެމްބަރަކު ވިދާޅުވީ އެކްސްކޯ އުވާލަން ނިންމީ އިންތިޚާބަކާއި ހަމައަށްދާއިރު މަޤާމުގައި ތިބި އެއްވެސް މީހަކަށް ކުރިމަތިނުލެވޭނެކަމަށް ފީފާއިން އަންގާފައިވާތީ ކަމަށެވެ. ”ރާއްޖެއިން ފުރަތަމަ ހުށަހެޅީ އަންނަ އަހަރުގެ މާޗްގެ ނިޔަލަށް އިންތިޚާބު ބާއްވާ ނިންމުމަށް ވަގުތު ދިނުމަށް. ނަމަވެސް ފީފާއިން އަންގާފަ އޮތީ އަންނަމަހުގެ ނިޔަލަށް އަސާސީ ޤަވާއިދު އިސްލާހުކޮށް ނިންމަން ޖެހޭނެ ކަމަށް. އަދި ޑިސެމްބަރގެ ނިޔަލަށް އިންތިޚާބު ބާއްވާ ނިންމަން ޖެހޭނެ ކަމަށް. މިގޮތަށް މިކަން ކުރެވެންޏާ މިހާރު އެކްސްކޯގައި ތިބި މީހުން ތިއްބަސް މައްސަލައެއް ނެތްކަމަށް. ނަމަވެސް އެކްސްކޯގައި ތިބި އެއްވެސް މެމްބަރަކަށް ކުރިމަތިނުލެވޭނެކަމަށް އަންގާފަ އޮތީ. އެކަމުގެ ސަބަބުންނާއި އަދި ކްލަބްތަކުގެ ނުފޫޒު މިކަމުގެ ތެރެއަށް ވަނަ ނުދިނުމަށްޓަކާ އެކްސްކޯ އުވާލަން ނިންމީ“ މެމްބަރު ވިދާޅުވިއެވެ

ބައްދަލުވުމުގައި ވާހަކަ ދައްކަވަމުން ވިކްޓަރީގެ އެކްސްކޯގެ މެމްބަރު އަލީ ސުޒޭން ވިދާޅުވީ އޭނާ ކުރިމަތިލާންވެސް ބޭނުން ނުވާ ކަމަށާއި އެހެން ނަމަވެސް އިސްތިއުފާދޭން ބޭނުންވަނީ ކްލަބްތަކުގެ ނުފޫޒު ކުޑަކުރުމުގެ ގޮތުން ކަމަށެވެ

އެފް އޭ އެމުގެ ހުރިހާ ބޮޑެތި ނިންމުމެއް ނިންމަމުން އައި އެކްސްކޯގެ އެންމެ ފަހު ބައްދަލުވުން މިއަދު މެންދުރުފަހު ބާއްވާ ގޮތަށް ވަނީ ހަމަޖެހިފައެވެ. ”މިއީ އެންމެ ފަހު ބައްދަލުވުން. މި ބައްދަލުވުމަކީ އެކްސްކޯއިން ވަކި ހިސާބަކަށް ގެންގޮސްފައިވާ ބައެއް މަސައްކަތްތައް ކޮޅެއްގައި ޖައްސަން ބާއްވާ ބައްދަލުވުމެއް“ މެމްބަރު ވިދާޅުވިއެވެ

އެކްސްކޯ އުވާލުމަށްފަހު އެފް އޭ އެމުގެ ކަންތައްތައް ހިންގުމަށްޓަކާ 6 މެމްބަރުންގެ ކޮމެޓީއެއްވެސް އިއްޔެ ވަނީ ނަގާފައެވެ. މި ކޮމެޓީގައި ހިމެނެނީ އޮލިމްޕިކް ކޮމެޓީގެ ވައިސްޗެއާމަން އަދި ކުރީގެ އެފް އޭ އެމުގެ ޖެނެރަލް ސެކްރެޓަރީ އިބްރާހީމް އިސްމާއީލާއި ޤައުމީ ފުޓްބޯޅަ ޓީމުގެ ކުރީގެ މެނޭޖަރ އަހްމަދު ޝާހިރާއި ސްޕޯޓްސް މިނިސްޓްރީގެ ޑިރެކްޓަރުން ކަމަށްވާ އަބްދުއްރައްޒާޤާއި މުޙައްމަދު ހާނިމާއި އެސިސްޓެންޓް ޑިރެކްޓަރ އިބްރާހީމް ނަޒީމާއި ވެލެންސިއާގެ ކޯޗެއްގެ ގޮތުން ކުރިން ހަރަކާތްތެރިވި އަހްމަދު ނާޒިމެވެ

ބައްދަލުވުމުގައި ބައިވެރިވި އެހެން ބޭފުޅަކު ވިދާޅުވީ އެފް އޭ އެމުގައި ކުރިން އެގްޒެކްޓިވް ކޮމެޓީއަށް ލިބުނު ބާރުތައް މި ކޮމެޓީއަށްވެސް ލިބޭނެ ކަމަށެވެ. ”އިންތިޚާބާއި ހަމައަށް އެފް އޭ އެމުގެ ނިންމުންތައް ނިންމާނީ މި ކޮމެޓީން. އަސާސީ ޤަވާއިދު އިސްލާހު ކުރުމުގައި މިކޮމެޓީއަށް އެކްސްކޯގައި ކުރީގައި ތިބި މެމްބަރުންގެ އެހީތެރިކަން ލިބޭނެ. އެއީ ފަންނީ މީހުންނަކީ އެއީ ކަމަށްވާތީ“ އޭނާ ވިދާޅުވިއެވެ

އިންތިހާބު ނުކޮށް ޗެއާމަންގެ މަޤާމަށް ކަލީމު އިންތިޚާބު ކުރުމުން އެ މަޤާމު ފީފާއިން ޤަބޫލު ނުކުރުމުގެ ސަބަބުން އިއްޔެއިން ފެށިގެން އެފް އޭ އެމުގައި ޗެއާމަނެއް ނުހުންނާނެއެވެ. ނަމަވެސް ޖެނެރަލް ސެކްރެޓަރީގެ މަޤާމުގައި އަބްދުލް ހަމީދު އަބްދުލް ޤަފޫރު(އައްޑޯ) ހުންނަވާނެ އެވެ. ”އައްޑޯއަކީ އާއްމުކޮށް އިއުލާންކޮށްގެން ކުރިމަތިލި މީހުންގެ ތެރެއިން ހޮވާފަ ހުރި ބޭފުޅަކަށްވާތީ އައްޑޯ ފީފާއިން ޤަބޫލު ކުރޭ.“ މެމްބަރު ވިދާޅުވިއެވެ

އެކްޒެކްޓިވް ކޮމެޓީގެ މެމްބަރު ވިދާޅުވީ އިންތިޚާބު ނުބޭއްވުމުގެ ޒިންމާ ފަހު ވަގުތު އެޅިގެން ދިޔައީ އެކްސްކޯގެ ބޮލުގައި ކަމަށެވެ. ”އަސްލު އެކްސްކޯއިން އިންތިޚާބުގެ ކަންތައްތައް ކުރިއަށް ގެންދަން ވަރަށް ގިނަ ގޮތްގޮތް ކަނޑައަޅައިފި. ނަމަވެސް އެފް އޭ އެމުގައި އެކަން ހިންގަން ތިބި މީހުންނަށް ނުވެގެން އެކަންތައް ނުވެގެން އުޅެނީ. އެހެންވެ ފޭލްވީކީ އެކްސްކޯއެއް ނޫން. އެފް އޭ އެމުގައި އިސްކޮށް ތިބި ވެރިން“ އޭނާ ވިދާޅުވިއެވެ

މިކަމާ ގުޅޭ ގޮތުން އައްޑޯގެ ބަހެއް ހޯދާލުމަށް މިއަދު ގުޅުމުން އައްޑޯ ވިދާޅުވީ ތިކަމާ ބެހޭ މައުލޫމާތެއް ލިބިފައި ނެތް ކަމަށެވެ. ނަމަވެސް އިއްޔެގެ ބައްދަލުވުމުގައި ހުރިހާ ކަމެއް ނިންމިއިރު އައްޑޯވެސް އިންނެވިއެވެ. އައްޑޯގެ އިތުރުން މުޙައްމަދު ކަލީމުވެސް ބައްދަލުވުމުގައި ބައިވެރިވެ ވަޑައިގަތެވެ

މިއީ އެފް އޭ އެމު ހިންގުމަށް ފަހަކަށް އައިސް އައި އެންމެ ބޮޑު ބަދަލެވެ