Maldives and Maldives News

Country Profile


The Maldives officially Republic of Maldives  also referred to as the Maldive Islands, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean formed by a double chain of 26 atolls oriented north-south off India's Lakshadweep Islands,between Minicoy Island and Chagos Archipelago It stands in the Laccadive Sea , about 700 kms (430 miles) south-west of Sri Lanka and 400 kms (250 miles) south-west of India. The Maldives is the smallest Asian country in both population and land area. With an average ground level of 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) above sea level, it is the planet's lowest country.

Independence Day    - July 25,1965
Capital                    -  Male

Official Language     - Dhivehi
Population              - 4 Lakhs(2001 Estimate)
Currency                - Maldivian Ruffiyaa

Government


Maldives was governed as an independent Islamic sultanate from 1153 to 1968 and the Maldives was a British protectorate from 1887 July 25,1965 when it got independence from U K.
After independence the sultanate continued to operate for another three years under King Md Fareed Didi.
                              Sultan of Maldives King Md Fareed Didi ( March 7,1954 To Nov 11,1968 )

On Nov 11, 1968, the monarchy was replaced by a republic under the presidency of  Ibrahim  Nasir Rannabandeyri Kilegefan.The official name of the country was changed from Maldives Islands to the Maldives .
President Ibrahim Nasir Rannabandeyri Kilegefan fled to Singapore in 1978, with millions of dollars from the treasury.
Ibrahim Nasir Rannabandeyri Kilegefan was PM of Maldives under Sultan of Maldives King Md Fareed Didi (1957-1968) and succeeded him to become the first President of Maldives from 1968 to 1978

Ibrahim Nasir Rannabandeyri Kilegefan's Rule(1968-78)

• widely credited with modernising the long-isolated and nearly unknown Maldives and opening them up to the rest of the world
• brought TV and Radio to the country with formation of TV Maldives and Radio Maldives for broadcasting radio signals nationwide
• introducing an English-based modern curriculum to government-run schools
• modernising the fisheries industry with mechanized vessels and starting the Tourism Industry
•  bringing the Maldives to the United Nations(UN)

2004 Tsunami


On 26 December 2004, following the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake, the Maldives were devastated  by a tsunami. Only 9 islands were reported to have escaped any flooding while 57 islands faced serious damage to critical infrastructure, 14 islands had to be totally evacuated, and 6 islands were destroyed. A further 21 resort islands were forced to close because of serious damage. The total damage was estimated at more than US$400 million, or some 62% of the GDP. A total of 108 people, including6 foreigners, reportedly died in the tsunami.




President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's Rule

Maumoon Abdul Gayoom  began his 30-year role as President in 1978, winning 6 consecutive elections without opposition.His election was seen as ushering in a period of political stability and economic development.Tourism flourished and increased foreign contact spurred development.
A series of coup attempts (in 1980, 1983, and 1988) by Nasir supporters and business interests tried to topple the government without success.

For 30 years(1978-2008)Maumoon Abdul Gayoom served as president and during the later part of his rule, independent political movements emerged in Maldives, which challenged the then-ruling Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party(Maldivian People's Party) and demanded democratic reform which brought about significant change in political structure.






New Constitution


In 2008 a new constitution was approved and the first direct presidential elections occurred, which were won by Md Nasheed(President) and Dr Md Waheed Hassan (as Vice-President).the new constitution provides that elections for the President take place every five years, with a limit of two terms in office for any individual.The President heads the executive branch and appoints the cabinet which is approved by the People's Majlis(Parliament) Members of the unicameral Majlis serve five-year terms, with the total number of members determined by atoll populations. At the 2009 election, 77 members were elected.

President Md Nasheed's Govt's Challenges and Crisis

The government of President Mohamed Nasheed faced many challenges, including the economic downturn following the 2004 tsunami, overspending (by means of overprinting of local currency Ruffiya) during his regime,  unemployment, corruption, and increasing drug use.
Following a confrontation between the president and the judiciary, opposition protests called for the president to step down. Members of the police and army, when called in by the president to subdue the protestors, instead joined them. Protestors seized offices of the national TV station and called for Nasheed to step down

Opposition supporters confront police as they protest against the arrest of Criminal Court Chief Justice Abdulla Mohamed in Male, Maldives, on Jan. 23, 2012

Weeks of demonstrations in the capital of the Maldives - the Indian Ocean island chain - reached a climax on Tuesday when a group of police staged a mutiny, prompting the resignation of President Nasheed.Violent clashes took place on Wednesday Feb 08,2012 in the Maldives between supporters of former President Mohamed Nasheed - who says that he was forced to resign at gunpoint on Tuesday Feb 07,2012 - and baton-wielding police.


Maldives police officers throw tear gas canisters during a clash with the military in Male

Mohamed Nasheed, centre, stands outside the military headquarters before announcing his resignation in Male, Maldives, on Feb. 7, 2012

"It will be better for the country in the current situation if I resign. I don't want to run the country with an iron fist. I am resigning," Mr Nasheed said during a televised news conference.

Opposition supporters celebrate after the resignation of Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed

Events in Maldives that led to Coup


Chief Judge Abdullah Mohammed of Criminal court in Maldives was arrested on January 16,2012 on corruption charges and then sentenced to life by former dictator Mamoon Abdul Gayoom.Judge Abdullah Mohammed's arrest made the opposition galvanized by Gayoom, his brother Yameen, richest businessman Gasim Ibrahim and radical Islamists to rally against the government.The opposition leaders met vice president Mohammed Waheed on January 30,2012 and requested him to 'take over the government', called police and army to not to implement any order given by President Nasheed.On February 7, just after midnight, a breakaway Police Special Operations unit, Star Force, created during Gayoom's regime. The headquarters of President Nasheed's party, Maldivian Democratic party, was attacked and party supporters and leaders were badly beaten up.Vice President Dr Waheed pledged support for mutinying police on VTV, owned by opposition leader Gasim Ibrahim.After a daybreak, President Nasheed arrived at police headquarters to diffuse situation. He was soon taken inside military headauqrters.Police, which cannot legally carry firearms, took over national broadcaster MNBC along with islamist radicals.At gunpoint, Nasheed agreed to resign. He was taken away in military vehicle to the President's Office.








In February 2012, following a month of protests, President Nasheed stepped down and  Nasheed's vice president, Mohamed Waheed, was sworn in as president

                                                                 Dr Md Waheed Hassan

 Dr Md Waheed Hassan denies a coup has taken place or that there was a pre-arranged plan for him to stage a takeover. He said that his priority was to form a coalition to help build a stable and democratic country ahead of fresh presidential elections due next year(2013))

New Maldivian Cabinet Sworn in

New President Mohammed Waheed Hassan said he was forming a coalition government to help restore stability in the Muslim country ahead of presidential elections due next year. 6 members from 4 political parties were sworn in on Sunday Feb 12,2012 as ministers
The largest Opposition party, the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP), has 3 members; Mr. Gayoom's newly-founded Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has 2 (including the AG). 
One slot each has been given to the Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP) and the Jumhoory Party.
The first appointment done was that of the Attorney General. Uza Aishath Azima Shakooru, AG during Mr. Gayoom's tenure is back. She took the oath office before the Supreme Court Judge Judge Abdulla Areef.
2 other Ministers are former officials, who have a proven track record on their fields.
This takes the total number of Ministers in the Cabinet to 8.


Even as a “unity” mantra began reverberating in the corridors of power in Male, it was clear that the country has been divided: there is now a pro-Nasheed population and an anti-Nasheed population (which is being seen, by some quarters, as people who are pro-Gayoom).
New President Dr.  Mohammed Waheed Hassan  has kept the remaining slots in a bid to encourage Mr. Nasheed's Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) members to join the new government.


President Mohammed Waheed Hassan hands over the appointment papers to new Attorney General Azima Shukoor during a swearing in ceremony at the President's Office in Male, Maldives. 

The first session of the Maldivian Parliament after a new President was sworn in began on Monday March 19,2012 amid some slogan shouting and minor disruptions.

Members of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP),the single largest party in the People's Majlis.— to which the former President, Mohamed Nasheed, belongs — tried to prevent President Waheed Hasan Manik from speaking, but without success.

Parliamentary By-Poll - Saturday April 14,2012

In a major victory for Maldives President Mohammed Waheed, his coalition on Saturday won the bypolls for two key Parliamentary constituencies -
Thimarafushee constituency - Former Maldivian dictator Maumoon Gayoom's Progressive Party o
Maldives' candidate for Thimarafushee constituency, Ahmed Shareef, won the seat with 1,755 votes defeating MDP candidate who got 1,328 votes
Kaashidhoo constituency - Jumhooree Party's Abdulla Jabir won the seat with 1,107 votes, defeating MDP candidate Ahmed Haleem, who got 784 votes.
MDP is headed by ousted President Mohammed Nasheed.

Waheed Deen Appointed as Vice-President - Wednesday April 25,2012
A government statement said MPs on Wednesday approved tourist resort owner Waheed Deen as vice-president. A 14-member cabinet was also approved by a majority of the 77 parliament members.
Ousted President Mohamed Nasheed's Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) boycotts vote to approve vice-president and cabinet.MDP has 32 MPs .

Maldives Court Bans Former President Mohamed Nasheed from leaving country

A court in the Maldives  has banned the former president Mohammed Nasheed from leaving the capital without official permission

Mohammed Nasheed's Maldivian Democratic party said the Hulhumale magistrate court served him with a notice of criminal proceedings and the travel restriction on Tuesday  Sep 25,2012 evening.

"This detention is politically motivated, aimed solely at preventing Nasheed from campaigning ahead of next year's elections," the party said.

Maldives MP stabbed to death outside his home

Dr Afrasheem Ali was found dead by his wife outside their block of flats on Tuesday Oct 02,2012, having been stabbed four times in the back of the head and with wounds to his chest and neck. He belonged to the party of another former President, Maumoon Abdul Gayoon, who ruled the Maldives for 30 years from 1978.

 

Former Maldivian President Nasheed Arrested

Maldives' first democratically-elected President Mohamed Nasheed was arrested on Monday Oct 8,2012, a week after he failed to appear before a court here to face charges of abuse of power while in office at the Island of Faresmaathodaa of Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll, south of Maldives( from the residence of former housing minister Mohamed Aslam who is a native of that island)