Maldives Brief (7/16)

1. President Yameen on official visit to India:

President Yameen was in India on a 2-day visit (April 11 & 12). He met President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Modi and External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj. Asserting that India's economic development will be incomplete without the progress of its neighbours, PM Modi stressed that a stable and secure Maldives is in New Delhi's strategic interest. He noted that progress, security and economic development are at the core of India-Maldives relations.

During the visit India and Maldives signed six agreements in different sectors, including avoidance of double taxation, conservation and restoration of ancient mosque, tourism and defense.

2. Protesting journalists arrested:

Some journalists protesting in front of President’s Office on April 3 were arrested. Those arrested, included heads of some media stations as well as female journalists. The journalists were protesting against a Civil Court order to temporarily shut down the longest running newspaper in Maldives, Haveeru, until the ownership issue was resolved by the court. Journalists were also protesting the bill by Parliamentary Group Leader of ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), Vilimale MP Ahmed Nihan to amend Defamation and Freedom of Expression Act. Their concern is that it would prevent journalists and ordinary citizens from speaking about serious accusations of corruption involving senior state officials, and questioning their integrity. International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has also called upon the Maldivian government to withdraw the bill.

3. Imran, Tholhat transferred to house arrest for one month:

Former Defense Minister, Tholhath Ibrahim Kaleyfaanu and Adhaalath Party leader Imran Abdulla – both imprisoned at Himmafushi Asseyri Jail – have been transferred to house arrest for a period of one month. Tholhath is serving a 10-year jail sentence for complicity in illegal imprisonment of Chief Justice of Criminal Court, Abdulla Mohamed, during former President Mohamed Nasheed’s administration. Sheikh Imran is serving a 12-year jail sentence after Criminal Court ruling against protesters participating in opposition backed demonstration on May 1, 2015 who had attacked police officers and damaged public property. Imran was accused of inciting hatred toward President Abdulla Yameen and his government in his speech during the demonstration.

4. Majlis passes bill denying Nasheed state allowances:

People’s Majlis on April 6 passed a bill that will prevent former President Mohamed Nasheed from getting any allowances or incentives from state as former President of the country. The bill was passed with 43-23 majority. The amendment to the existing law prescribes that state allowance and incentives given to former presidents and their spouses be cut, if he/she is sentenced to jail for a crime he/she committed while serving as president.

5. Japan provides US $ 5.4 million grant to Maldives:

Japan will provide Maldivian government a grant of USD 5.4 million to promote social and economic development in the country. The grant money will be utilized to procure related equipment and materials for disaster risk management such as warning systems to share disaster information and disaster response as well as disaster restoration items such as drainage pumps.