As almost seven months pass since President Mohamed Nasheed took power in the Maldives, Maldivian citizens despair of ever seeing the much promised improvements in their livelihoods. The state treasury has been exhausted within this brief period, and the economy has declined to an extent worse than the aftermath of the 2004 Asian Tsunami. Escalating price of consumer goods, collapse of social services, increasing food insecurity and declining real income have thrown more people below the poverty line. While President Nasheed is engrossed in his hate and persecution campaign against political opponents, his government has ground to a halt. The Nasheed administration came into power promising reduced expenditures, increased government revenue and a clamp down on corruption in top government circles. President Nasheed’s first budget (2009) has a 7 billion deficit (nearly 5 billion more than the previous administration’s last budget, and government revenue has fallen by more than 28% since...
Maldivian police tonight arbitrarily arrested parliamentary candidate for Hulhuhenveiru (T01) Ahmed Saleem (Marz Saleem) along with six others, while they were at a peaceful demonstration in Male', the capital island. He and other detainees from the gathering are presently incarcerated at Dhoonidhoo Detention Centre on Dhoonidhoo island. Riot police sprayed tear gas into the peaceful gathering without provocation. Police then baton-charged the gathering, seriously injuring several members of the public, including women. Police have now cordoned off huge areas in the capital. The public had gathered peacefully in front of the Elections Commission Office to demand answers frm the Commission on rumours of vote rigging in the Hulhumale' constituency. Saleem's electoral rights are being denied by the autocratic MDP regime. The public is being denied their constitunional right to peaceful gathering & the freedom of expression. President Nasheed's government has been in power fr just six months. Government intimidation and threats of violence by government backed gangs have robbed frightened innocent citizens of their right to free and fair elections. Nasheed is on public record threatening any constituency which elects an opposition MP. Tonight, the roads of Male' are being patrolled by the army.