Raajje News Blog

Male', Maldives. President Nasheed’s continued interference with the Judiciary created a wealth of opportunities for the opposition. However, for many reasons, not least one of which is interparty rivalry, the opposition has not been able to capitalize on these until a few days ago, when popular activist Umar Naseer joined the protest. Umar Naseer entered the fray a few days ago, turning around flagging civic protests with drive, injection of new activists and proper organization. Umar Naseer is the country’s foremost activist against the Nasheed regime, leading street protests against President Nasheed even as Nasheed took oath of office. This was a long time before other political parties took opposing stands. Umar Naseer has rejuvenated the current seemingly aimless civic protests with concrete demands and brought a measure of organization to the protests. One of the most popular opposition politicians today, Umar Naseer has increased participation at the nightly protests w...

Male', Maldives. Into the sixth day of civic protests against President Nasheed's overturning of the constitution and compromising of judicial independence, the protests shows no sign of abating. If anything, civilian numbers joining the protests each night are increasing. However, at the same time, the protest does show any clear signs of succeeding in its stated demands. Over various nights of protest, leaders of the protest have stated varying demands. It began with a demand for the release of opposition politician Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed, Deputy Leader of Dhivehi Qaumee Party. Dr. Jameel was released upon a criminal court order issued by Senior Judge Abdulla Mohamed. Dr. Jameel has been detained several times since then, yet not arrested as before. President Nasheed immediately took Judge Abdulla into military detention, an action that violated a number of constitutional provisions while raising a hue and cry amongst the Judiciary and independent governance organs of ...

Male', Maldives. The Maldives Supreme Court today threw out a petition by President Nasheed for a ruling on the import of alcohol and pork into the Maldives. The Supreme Court today said, all 7 judges had agreed unanimously that the matter did not fall into the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. In the melodrama being played out by Nasheed and his ministers for international viewers, Nasheed had petitioned the Supreme Court asking for a ruling on the import of alcohol and pork into the country and operation of spas in tourist resorts. In presenting the petition, Nasheed's Attorney General Abdulla Muizzu (younger brother of Nasheed's school mate and lawyer, Prosecutor General Ahmed Muizzu) said that the Government had taken the initiative because certain people were creating conflicts around these issues, but that none had officially raised the matter. Muizzu further stated that foreign investors were losing confidence in the Maldivian tourism industry as a result. The ...

Male', Maldives. In events unfolding this week, Adhaalath Party, one of the key leaders of the massive civic protest against President Nasheed on December 23, 2011 appears to have helped the Civic Coalition to a quiet unnatural death. Participating in President Nasheed's Conference of Islamic Intellectuals, Adhaalath Party was party to selling out three of the five demands of the civic protestors. The only two demands endorsed by the conference were the call to remove the anti-Islamic statues of the SAARC summit debacle in Addu, and to halt Israel flights to Maldives. The other three demands, closing down places of prostitution in the country, sale of alcohol on inhabited islands and apology from President Nasheed for for his invited guest UNHRC Pillay's blasphemy against Islam, were quietly buried and painted over. So, where does this leave the over 20,000 civilians who joined the civic protest? Quite frankly, it leaves the Maldivian citizen absolutely nowhere. They...

Male', Maldives. Adhaalath Party leader Shaikh Imran Abdullah and Chief Spokesperson Shaikh Mohamed Shaheem were attacked by a gang of thugs at Victory Square earlier this afternoon. The two Shaikhs, respected leaders in the Maldivian community, had given stirring speeches to the gathered masses at the Civic Protest against President Nasheed on December 23, 2011. Both Shaikhs had strongly challenged the legitimacy of several of President Nasheed's actions, terming these anti Islamic and illegal. Maldives Civic Protest on December 23rd was the largest the country had seen to date, with an estimated 20,000 civilians participating in the 8 hour peaceful protest against President Nasheed and his corrupt government. The protest has sent shivers up the regime and its militant party, with party interim Chair Reeko Moosa Maniku calling for direct action against protestors and the arrest of all leaders of the Civic Coalition and opposition parties. Dhiislam.com reports that both...