MDP members initiate nationwide ID card confiscation operation - Waheed

MALE, Maldives — Dhivehi Raiyyithunge Party (DRP) Spokesperson Mohamed “Mundhu” Shareef and Deputy Media Manager Ali Waheed spoke to the media at an unprecedented 1100hr press conference at the Media Office to discuss allegations of opposition ID card operations in the runup to the runoff round.

Waheed also invited all members and supporters of the party and Maumoon 2008 Campaign to attend a special event by the name of Wathan Edheney Maumoonah (the nation wants Maumoon) to be held at the Alimas Ufaa Carnival on the night of the 26th.

Operations

Waheed alleged that members of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) -led coalition are confiscating and hiding National Identity Cards of family members and friends in a nationwide movement to prevent supporters of DRP Presidential candidate incumbent President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom from voting.

Waheed condemned these acts and expressed alarm over reports that a male MDP coalition supporter in Naifaru Island, Faadhippolhu Atoll doused his wife in yellow paint following a domestic squabble over party affiliations. He said that he believes that rivalry should not reach the extent where relationships are threatened due to the elections.

Waheed also condemned acts of vandalism against DRP and members’ property in the atolls of Laamu, Haa Dhaal and Raa.

Student Loan

Shareef said at the conference that one of the largest sums mentioned as a loan in the Auditor General’s report of the Presidential Office was in fact a student loan which Gayoom granted to MDP Secretary General Hamid Abdul Gafoor.

He expressed his belief that based on these facts the President cannot be accused of granting monetary aid for political reasons as Gafoor is an opposition leader.

Letter suggests links between Christian evangelists and Mohamed “Anni” Nasheed

File Photo: Mohamed "Mundhu" Shareef & Athif Shakoor (Media Manager)

MALE, Maldives — Maumoon 2008 Campaign Spokesperson Mohamed “Mundhu” Shareef and Media Manager Ibrahim Athif Shakoor revealed a letter purportedly from David Hardingham to Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Presidential candidate Mohamed “Anni” Nasheed suggesting links between the latter and Christian evangelists at an unprecedented press conference held at 2000hrs at the Media Office tonight.

The sender’s address in the letter is Salisbury Cathedral, The Friends Office, 52 The Close, Salisbury, SP1 2EL. David Hardingham was the former head of a local NGO by the name of Friends of Maldives which formed a charity by the name of Maldives Aid following the 2004 tsunami. Hardingham was deported on suspicion of Christian evangelism and Maldives Aid was accused of importing pork as part of its aid package during tsunami recovery.

The gist of the letter which follows under what appears to be Salisbury Cathedral’s letterhead alleges an agreement between Nasheed and the church to establish a cathedral on the site of the Islamic Center after Nasheed incites the “Jamat ul-Moslemin” to blow the mosque up.

An England-based terrorist organization by the name of Jamaat ul-Muslimeen (The Muslim Community) headed by Jordanian, Abu Isa exists and another, predominantly Afro-Trinidadian, terrorist organization by the same name operates in Trinidad and Tobago and is under Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) survelliance.

The letter is not dated but the body suggests that it was sent a few days following Nasheed’s return to the Maldives after self-exile in the UK which was on 30 April 2005.

Maumoon 2008 Campaign rocks the vote

MALE, Maldives — The ROCK THE VOTE concert, organized by the Maumoon 2008 Campaign, was held last night in support of Dhivehi Raiyyithunge Party (DRP) Presidential candidate incumbent President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s candidacy in the runoff round of the 2008 Presidential elections.

Gayoom spoke at the show thanking all the performers and quipping about his regrets about not having musical talent. Gayoom received a standing ovation after expressing his deep love for music. The DRP candidate stayed to watch several musical numbers before leaving.

Maldivian music legends, Ahmed “Fulu” Nashid of Zero Degree Atoll fame, Abdu “Absy” Rasheed and Abdul Sameeu performed at the show. Nashid and Maldivian pop singer Sofoora performed covers of British and American rock and blues favorites such as Sweet Child of Mine and Sweet Home Chicago with famous Maldivian rock band Amazon Jade.

Up and coming bands 600-Million-Dollar Band and Three Limits also performed covers of American and Maldivian songs on the stage.

Last night’s show, which began at 2100hrs, was attended by close to 300 people in addition to senior members of the DRP and campaign officials.

DRP says misleading rumors about economy is just opposition scaremongering

MALE, Maldives - Dhivehi Raiyyithunge Party (DRP) senior members current Minister for Finance and Treasury Abdullah Jihad and the Ministry’s Minister of State Riluwan Shareef clarified rumors about the Maldivian economy at a press conference held at 1600hrs today.

Maumoon 2008 Campaign Media Manager Ibrahim Athif Shakoor acted as moderator and confirmed the authenticity of the video clip of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Presidential candidate Mohamed “Anni” Nasheed calling for the legalization of cannabis.

Budget

Jihad said that the 2008 budget deficit is mostly due to MRf 2.4 billion which the state estimated as the total revenue from the Ihavandhippolhu and Gulhi lagoon reclamation ‘megaprojects’ and did not receive. He said that the steps taken by the government to minimize the effects of this loss have been very effective.

He said that rumors that government employees are being deprived of their salaries are completely false.

Jihad said that the total price of Treasury bills sold were decreased from MRf 8.4 billion to MRf 931 million this year. He also said that MRf 500 million is the current amount circulating in Maldivian banks therefore he does not see any reason why Maldivian banking should have liquidity issues.

He also said that the total amount in loans provided to the public by the Maldivian government in 2005 was MRf 6 billion and that the amount stands at MRf 17 billion. He said that the increase in amount of loans shows that government spending on citizen’s development has grown over time.

Borrowing

Jihad said that the MRf 80 million paid by Dhiraagu as year-end dividends to the state is a due payment and not state borrowing. He said that other state companies have also paid dividends to the state and some payments are still due.

He also denied Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Interim President Ibrahim Hussein Zaki’s accusation that the state borrowed USD 25 million from the State Bank of India (SBI).

Jihad said that the reason why the state reserve is down from MRf 306 million - 258 million is due to change in global oil prices which necessitated state lending to settle STO’s oil bills.

Foreign Lending

Shareef spoke about foreign financial aid to the Maldives. He said that the government has continued its work in raising funds from foreign institutions over the elections as well. He said that recent financial difficulties are a “temporary fiscal problem” and that they will be duly solved in time.

He said that the government has spoken with foreign banks in France and Luxembourg who are both willing to provide financial aid to the Maldives.

He also noted that a Holland bank has awarded USD 28 million in finances to the Maldives for a project the details of which he did not provide. He said that the tourism and export sectors of the Maldivian economy might be affected by the global financial crisis in the coming years but that otherwise the country faces no financial hardship.

He said that the Maldives has weathered the financial crises which hit due to the Gulf War and the ASEAN region financial crisis with little effect to the Maldivian economy.

Shareef also stated that international financial institutions such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have praised the management of the Maldivian economy and noted the need for better budget balancing and increase in state income.

ދިވެހި މަސްވެރިން ތިބީ ހޭލައިކަމުގައި މަސްވެރިކަމާއި ބެހޭ ވަޒީރުގެ ނައިބު ޑރ. ފާތިން ހަމީދު ވިދާޅުވެއްޖެ

21 އޮކްޓޫބަރު 2008، އަންގާރަ، 6:30

މާލެ، ދިވެހިރާއްޖެ – ދިވެހި މަސްވެރިން އިތުރަށް ހޭލުމަށް ގޮވާނުލައްވާނެކަމަށާއި، އެމަސްވެރިން މިއަދު ތިއްބެވީ ރަނގަޅަށް ހޭލައިކަމުގައި މަސްވެރިކަމާއިބެހޭ ވަޒީރުގެ ނައިބު ޑރ. ފާތިން ހަމީދު ވިދާޅުވެއްޖެއެވެ. އެކަމަނާ މިހެން ވިދާޅުވީ، މައުމޫން 2008 ގައި މިއަދު ބޭއްވި ނޫސްވެރިންގެ ބައްދަލުވުމެއްގައި ވާހަކަފުޅު ދައްކަވަމުންނެވެ. އެވާހަކަފުޅުގައި، ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ރިޔާސީ އިންތިހާބުގެ ފުރަތަމަ ބުރުގެ ވޯޓުގެ ނަތީޖާއަށް ބަލާއިރު މަސްވެރިންގެ ވޯޓުން އެކަން ހާމަވާކަމަށް ވެސް ވިދާޅުވިއެވެ

މަސްވެރިކަމާއިބެހޭ ނައިބު ވަޒީރުގެ މިނޫސްވެރިންގެ ބައްދަލުވުމުގައި، ދިވެހި ރައްޔިތުން ހިއްސާވާ މަސް ކުންފުނި، މޯލްޑިވްސް އިންޑަސްޓްރިއަލް ފިޝަރީޒް ކޮމްޕެނީ (މިފްކޯ) ގެ މެނޭޖިންގ ޑައިރެކްޓަރގެ މަގާމުގައި ހުންނެވި އާދިލް ސަލީމް މިއަދު އެމަގާމުން ވަކިކުރައްވައި، އެމަގާމަށް އެހެން ބޭފުޅަކު އައްޔަންކުރެއްވުމުގެ ސަބަބުން އެދާއިރާއަށް ހީނަރުކަމެއް އައިސްދާނެތޯ ނޫސްވެރިޔަކު ދެންނެވި ސުވާލަކަށް ޖަވާބުދެއްވަމުން އެކަމަނާ ވިދާޅުވީ، އެކަމުން މަސްވެރިކަމުގެ ސިނާއަތަށް އެއްވެސް ހީނަރުކަމެއް އަންނާނެކަމަށް ގަބޫލުނުކުރައްވާކަމަށެވެ

ޑރ. ހަމީދު އިތުރަށް ވިދާޅުވީ، ސަލީމް އެމަގާމުން ވަކިކުރެއްވީ ސިޔާސީ މަގުސަދެއްގައި ނޫންނަމަވެސް، އޭނާ ވަކިކުރެއްވުމުން ގިނަ އަދަދެއްގެ ބަޔަކު އެކަމަށް މަރުހަބާ ކިޔަމުން ގެންދަމުންދާކަމަށެވެ. އަދި މިކަމާއި ގުޅިގެން، ހައްދުންމަތީގެ މަސްވެރިން ބާނާ މަސް ކިރުވަމުންދާ ހޮރައިޒޯން ފިޝަރީޒުންވަނީ މަސްގަތުން ހުއްޓާލާފައިކަމަށާއި، އެހެންނަމަވެސް މިރެއިން ފެށިގެން އެއަތޮޅުގެ މަސްވެރިން ބާނާ މަސް ކިރުވޭނެ އިންތިޒާމެއް ހަމަޖެއްސެވުމުގެ ގޮތުން މިފްކޯގެ ބޯޓުތަކެއް ފޮނުވާނެ ކަމުގައެވެ. މީގެ އިތުރުން، ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ މަސްވެރިކަން ދުވަހެއް ދުވަހަށް ދަށްވަމުންދަނީ ސަރުކާރުން ގެންގުޅުއްވާ ސިޔާސަތުތަކެއްގެ ސަބަބުން ކަމަށް ދެކެވޭ ވާހަކަތަކަށް ރައްދުދެއްވަމުން ޑރ. ހަމީދު ވިދާޅުވީ މިދުވަސްވަރަކީ މުޅި ދުނިޔެއިން ވެސް މަސްވެރިކަން ދަށްވެފައިވާ ދުވަސްވަރެއްކަމަށާއި މަސްވެރިކަމަކީ ގުދުރަތީ ވަސީލަތްތަކެއްގެ މައްޗަށް ބަރޯސާކުރެވިފައިވާ ކަމަކަށްވާއިރު މިކަމަކާއި ސިޔާސަތުތަކާއި އެއްވެސް ގުޅުމެއް ނެތް ކަމުގައެވެ

ކީރިތި ޤުރުއާނުގެ ދިވެހި ތަރުޖަމާގައި، ނޫނުގައި ތިއްކެއް ނެތުމުން އެއީ ވަކިމީހަކު ޤުރުއާން ބަދަލުކުރީ ކަމަކަށް ބުނެވޭނެ ޖާގައެއް ނެތް ކަމަށް ޑރ އަބްދުﷲ ދީދީ ވިދާޅުވެއްޖެ

20 އޮކްޓޫބަރު 2008، ހޯމަ، 13:30

މޫސާ ނިޒާރު (ކ)، އާތިފް އަދި ޑރ. އަބްދުﷲ ދީދީ (ވ)

މާލެ، ދިވެހިރާއްޖެ – ކީރިތި ޤުރުއާނުގެ ދިވެހި ތަރުޖަމާގައި، ނޫނުގައި ތިއްކެއް ނެތުމުން އެއީ ވަކިމީހަކު ޤުރުއާން ބަދަލުކުރީ ކަމަކަށް ބުނެވޭނެ އެއްވެސް ޖާގައެއްނެތްކަމަށް ދިވެހި ރައްޔިތުންގެ ޕާޓީ (ޑީއާރުޕީ) ގެ ދީނީ ބޭފުޅެއްކަމުގައިވާ ޑރ. އަހުމަދު އަބްދު ﷲ ދީދީ ވިދާޅުވެއްޖެއެވެ

މިއަދު މެންދުރު މައުމޫން 2008 ކެމްޕެއިން މީޑިޔާ އޮފީހުގައި ބޭއްވެވި ނޫސްވެރިންގެ ބައްދަލުވުމުގައި ވާހަކަފުޅު ދައްކަވަމުން، ދާދި ފަހުން މިސްރުގެ އަޒުހަރު ޔުނިވަރސިޓީއިން ޕީއެޗްޑީ ހާސިލްކުރައްވައިގެން ވަޑައިގެންނެވި ޑރ. އަބްދު ﷲ ދީދީ އިތުރަށް ވިދާޅުވީ، ކީރިތި ޤުރުއާނުގެ ދިވެހި ތަރުޖަމާއަކީ ސަރުކާރުން ވަރަށް މާތް މަޤްސަދެއްގައި ކުރެއްވި މަސައްކަތްޕުޅަކަށްވާއިރު، އެތަރުޖަމާގެ ބައެއް ނުކުތާތަކެއް މަދުވި މަދުވުން އެއީ ސިޔާސީ ކަމެއްގެ ގޮތުގައި އިދިކޮޅު ފަރާތްތަކުން ހެދުމަކީ އޭނާ ވަރަށް ބޮޑަށް ހިތާމަކުރައްވާ ކަމެއް ކަމުގައެވެ. އަދި އެތަރުޖަމާގެ ބައެއް ތަންތާނގައި ނޫނުގައި ތިކި ނެތް މައްސަލައަކީ، ސިޔާސީ މަގުސަދަކަށްޓަކައި ދައްކަން ޖެހޭ ފަދަ ވާހަކައެއް ނޫންކަމަށާއި ބައެއް ނޫނުގައި ތިކި ނެތް ނަމަވެސް އެއީ މާނައާއި ތައާރުޒުވާނެ ކަމެއް ނޫންކަމަށެވެ. އޭގެ އިތުރުން، ދިވެހި ތަރުޖަމާގައި އެއްވެސް ގޯހެއް ނެތްކަމަށް ވެސް އޭނާ ވިދާޅުވިއެވެ

މިނޫސްވެރިންގެ ބައްދަލުވުމުގައި ބައިވެރިވެވަޑައިގެންނެވި ޑީއާރުޕީގެ އެހެން ދީނީ ބޭފުޅެއްކަމުގައިވާ އައްޝައިޚު މޫސާ ނިޒާރު ވިދާޅުވީ، މީގެ 2 ރޭ ކުރިން، އަދާލަތު ޕާޓީގެ ފަރާތުން ބޭއްވި ޖަލްސާއެއްގައި އެޕާޓީގެ ރައީސް ޝައިޚު ހުސައިން ރަޝީދު އަހުމަދު، ކީރިތި ޤުރުއާނުގެ ދިވެހި ތަރުޖަމާއަކީ ގޭގެއަށް ވައްދަން ހެޔޮވާވަރުގެ އެއްޗެއްނޫންކަމަށް ވިދާޅުވެފައިވާ ވިދާޅުވުމަށް ރައްދުދެއްވިއެވެ. އަދި އެތަރުޖަމާގައި ހުރި ކުދިކުދި މައްސަލަތައް ހައްލުކުރެއްވުމަށް ސަރުކާރުންވަނީ ވަކިގޮތްތަކެއް ނިންމަވާފައިކަމަށް ވިދާޅުވެ. ހުރިހާ ރައްޔިތުންވެސް އެތަރުޖަމާގެ ބޭނުން ފުރިހަމަ ގޮތުގައި ހިއްޕެވުމަށް ޝެއިޚު ނިޒާރު އިލްތިމާސްކުރެއްވިއެވެ

މިބައްދަލުވުމުގައި ޝައޚް ނިޒާރު އިތުރަށް ވިދާޅުވީ، ތަފާތު ޖަލްސާތަކުގައި އަދާލަތު ޕާޓީގެ ރައީސް ގެންދަވަނީ އިސްލާމްދީނުގައި ކަނޑައެޅިގެން ހަރާމްކަމެއް ކަމަށް ކަނޑައަޅުއްވައިނުވާ އެތަކެއް ކަމެއް ހަރާމްކަމެއްގެ ގޮތުގައި ބުނަމުން ކަމުގައެވެ. އެގޮތުން 2 ޖަލްސާއެއްގައި ރައީސް މައުމޫނަށް ވޯޓުދިނުމަކީ ހަރާމްކަމެއް ކަމަށް ބުނެފައިވާއިރު މިފަދަ ގޮތަކަށް ފަތުވާއެއް ނެރުމަކީ ދީނުގެ އުސޫލްތަކާއި ހިލާފުކަމެއް ކަމަށް ވެސް އޭނާ ވިދާޅުވިއެވެ. އަދި މިފަދަ ގޮތަކަށް ވާހަކަތަކެއް ދެއްކުމުގެ ސަބަބުން ރައްޔިތުންގެ ހިތްތަކުގައި ދަނީ ސުވާލުއުފެދެމުން ކަމަށާއި، މިފަދަ ކަންތައް ތަކުރާރުވަމުންދާތީ އޭނާއާއި ދެކޮޅަށް ފިޔަވަޅުއެޅުމަށް އިސްލާމީ ކަންތައްތަކާއި ބެހޭ އެންމެ މަތީ މަޖިލީހަށް ޝައިޚް ނިޒާރު ގޮވާލެއްވިއެވެ

3 petitions lodged against ex-MD of MIFCO - Dr. Fathin Hameed

Wednesday, 22 October 2008

00:41

MALE, Maldives — Dhivehi Raiyyithunge Party (DRP) Council Member current Deputy Minister for Fisheries, Agriculture and Marine Resources Dr. Fathin Hameed and Maumoon 2008 Campaign Deputy Media Manager Ali Waheed spoke to the press at a special 1600hr press conference held at the Media Office yesterday.

Dr. Hameed commented on allegations of corruption which revolve around the recently replaced Managing Director (MD) of the Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO), Adil Saleem. Waheed updated the media on recent and upcoming campaign activities.

Scandal

Dr. Hameed told the media that MIFCO’s previous MD, Saleem is accused of being involved in activities of corruption inside the company. She said that 3 petitions had been lodged against Saleem by MIFCO staff on 3 separate occasions.

She said that the first petition accuses Saleem of imposing dictatorial regulations which drastically curtailed seagoing staffs’ shore-leave durations. She said that the 2nd petition signed by more than 60 MIFCO staff accuses Saleem of selling, procuring and using company resources for his own benefit. The petition also accuses Saleem of committing acts of sexual misconduct at Kooddoo Fisheries Complex.

She said that a 3rd petition alleging imposing an inadequate wage system was lodged against Saleem as well.

She said that an investigation into the allegations made in the 2nd petition is ongoing although MIFCO’s internal investigation report shows that MIFCO management has not found proof of wrongdoing.

Events

Waheed, who had recently returned from touring the Atolls of Addu and Fuvahmulah, said that the DRP contingent’s trip was highly successful. He said that the DRP takes great pleasure in the fact that their Presidential candidate Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s message reached the two most densely populated atolls in the Maldives.

He noted the fact that the rally in Hitadu Island, Addu Atoll was broadcast on live television. He also said that citizens of the two southern atolls had good use of their access to informative campaign materials such as DRP-produced CDs.

He condemned opposition anti-campaign activities which he said had markedly increased in Gayoom’s absence.

Waheed said that Gayoom will speak with special needs individuals at a manifesto discussion meeting held from 2030-2200hrs last night. He also said that local opinion leader and popular musician Ahmed “Fulu” Nashid will perform at the DRP-organized ROCK THE VOTE concert which will be held at 2100hrs on 23 October 2008.

Contract

Waheed also denied the authenticity of the alleged contract of a political deal made between the DRP and the People’s Alliance (PA) which opposition leaders have recently revealed to the media. He said that the alleged document has not even been signed and is clearly a forgery.

He said that agreements were reached between the DRP and the PA on 22 September 2008 when formation of the DRP-PA coalition was announced but that the DRP does not believe in making deals to divide up executive power and compromise the party’s policies and principles.