Local

Parliament’s 06th May Terror Attack Report Highlights Defence Minister Mariya Ali Didi’s Negligence.

Published

2 years ago

09/07/2021

MNN

The Parliament’s Committee on National Security Services (241 committee) has publicized their inquiry report into the 06^th May terror attack which was targeted at the Speaker of the Parliament Mohamed Nasheed.

The highly anticipated report highlighted major issues surrounding interagency intelligence exchange and support systems. However, the report laid bare on the Defence Minister Mariya Ali Didi’s possible negligence in thwarting the 06^th May terror attack.

According to section 10.17.8, the Hulhudhoo Constituency MP Ilyas Labeeb had informed Defence Minister Mariya Ali Didi of a possible attack against Speaker Mohamed Nasheed after he received a tipoff. Defence Minister Mariya Ali Didi stated that she did not inform any other intelligence units, within the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) and the Maldives Police Service (MPS).

She justified that under Article 19-1 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, that information on an act of terrorism should be relayed to the MPS and not the Defence Minister. She also stated that there was no legal need for the Hulhudhoo Constituency MP Ilyas Labeeb to relay the tipoff to her, and insisted that she is under no obligation to pass on the information on the attack to the MPS, herself.

However, Article 19-3 (e) of the Anti-Terrorism Act states that in addition to the intelligence units, any information gathered on a possible act of terrorism by any state authority should be immediately relayed to the intelligence units mentioned in the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Defence Minister Mariya Ali Didi also stated that she did not inform the Defence Intelligence Service (DIS) of the tipoff on the attack against Speaker Mohamed Nasheed because the Speaker’s security threat level was already at critical. She stated that even if she had informed the DIS of the possible attack, the threat level would have remained critical.

The inquiry report also noted that the Maldives National Defence Force did engage in patrolling the streets of the capital city following the 06^th May terror attack. When questioned on the subject, Defence Minister Mariya Ali Didi, according to the inquiry report stated that the MNDF does not have the legal powers to patrol the streets of the capital city and that the power lies with the MPS.

However, the inquiry report noted that Article 28-4 (a) of the Anti-Terrorism Act states that, in the event of a possible act of terrorism or after an act of terrorism using weaponry or explosives, the MNDF will lead the efforts in protecting the society and taking preventive measures.

The content of the report is speculated to cause major political upheaval within the ruling Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) and its coalition partners. Conditions remain fragile within the ruling party as factions loyal to President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Speaker Mohamed accuse each other undermining and sidelining each other.

Moreover, Speaker Mohamed Nasheed’s daughter and his supporters have already accused Minister Mariya Ali Didi of being involved in the attack and have called for her resignation.

Local

Nasheed to form new party

Published

5 months ago

17/05/2023

The main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s leader Mohamed Nasheed has decided to form a new political party.

Nasheed initiated a separate political movement within MDP, ‘Fikuregge Dhirun’, following his loss in MDP’s presidential primary held back in January. After major conflicts with the government and its policies – all lawmakers from the faction tendered their resignation from MDP on Wednesday.

The move came after Central Henveiru MP Ali Azim was expelled from the party on Tuesday and banned from rejoining for at least one year over involvement in opposition political activities surrounding the Chagos archipelago dispute.

The 12 members who resigned from MDP on Wednesday are;

Parliament’s Deputy Speaker, North Galolhu MP Eva Abdulla
Ungoofaaru MP Mohamed Waheed (Wadde)
North Maafannu MP Imthiyaz Fahumy (Inthi)
West Henveiru MP Hassan Latheef
Hulhudhoo MP Ilyas Labeeb
North Kulhudhuffushi MP Yasir Abdul Latheef
Vilufushi MP Hassan Afeef
Central Maafannu MP Ibrahim Rasheed (Bonde)
Madaveli MP Hussain Firushan
Thoddoo MP Hassan Shiyan (Gita)
North Mahchangoalhi MP Mohamed Rasheed (Boadhigu)
Gadhdhoo MP Ahmed Zahir
All 12 members are close acquittances of Nasheed. MP Hassan Latheef, during a meeting at Bodufenvalhuge on Wednesday, announced Nasheed’s decision to form a new political party. The meeting was attended by supporters of Nasheed.

Should Nasheed form a new political party, that party would be the largest opposition party in terms of members in the parliament, thereby, the minority party. The minority party at present, opposition PPM-PNC coalition has only eight members in the parliament.

Despite the resignation of the 12 MPs, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih continues to hold full control of the Parliament with 56 MPs.

Source(s): sun.mv

Local

MPs loyal to Nasheed leave MDP

Published

5 months ago

17/05/2023

Multiple members of the main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) loyal to the party’s leader Mohamed Nasheed have left the party.

The members who resigned from MDP include 12 MPs. They include Deputy Speaker Eva Abdulla, MP Mohamed Waheed, MP Imthiyaz Fahmy (Inthi), MP Hassan Latheef, MP Ilyas Labeeb, MP Yasir Abdul Latheef, MP Hassan Afeef, MP Ibrahim Rasheed (Bonde), MP Hussain Firushan, MP Hassan Shiyan, MP Mohamed Rasheed (Boadhigu), and MP Ahmed Zahir.

They submitted their resignation letters Wednesday.

The move comes after MDP’s parliamentary group had requested action against Inthi, Hassan Latheef, Ilyas, Yasir, and Central Henveiru MP Ali Azim earlier this week, for forming an alliance with the opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), Jumhoory Party (JP) and Maldives National Party (MNP), after accusing the government of failure to protect the interests of the Maldivian people in the case lodged with the International Tribunal of the Law of the Seas (ITLOS) over the disputed maritime territory between Maldives and Mauritius.

The party’s disciplinary committee decided to expel Azim from the party on Tuesday.

They are all members of Nasheed’s ‘Fikuregge Dhirun’ faction.

However, Nasheed has yet to resign from the party.

Despite the resignation of the 12 MPs, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih continues to hold full control of the Parliament with 56 MPs.

Source(s): sun.mv

Local

The Cambodian Prime Minister arrives in the Maldives on an official visit

Published

9 months ago

15/01/2023

The Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, arrived Sunday morning on an official visit to the Maldives at the invitation of H.E. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. It is Samdech Techo Prime Minister Hun Sen’s first visit to the Maldives.

The Cambodian Prime Minister and accompanying delegation were received at Velana International Airport (VIA) by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdulla Shahid (ODRI). The government will hold a ceremony on Monday to officially welcome the Cambodian Prime Minister to the Maldives.

During the visit, President Solih would meet with Samdech Techo Prime Minister Hun Sen and hold official talks on strengthening bilateral cooperation, followed by the exchange of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) between the two countries. President Solih and the Cambodian Prime Minister would also deliver a joint statement on the outcomes of their discussions.

The Maldives and Cambodia established diplomatic relations on September 21, 1995.

Source(s): President Office.