The Criminal Court has ordered the Department of Immigration and Immigration to keep Ahmed Saleem (Red Wave Saleem) from leaving the country. Saleem is the interim president of the Poverty Alleviating Party and recently won the seat of the Baa atoll Eydhafushi constituency in the parliamentary elections.
Controller of Immigration, Ilyas Hussain Ibrahim, said today that the court order stated that Saleem was under investigation on corruption charges and not to allow him to leave the country. He said that they had taken the necessary steps after they received the court order.
“We can now only allow him to leave the country when we receive a court order to that effect,” he said. “The court hasn’t issued orders to block anyone else from leaving the country yet.”
Saleem said this morning that he has yet to be notified that he should not try to leave the country and that he wasn’t aware that there was a court case or ongoing investigation against him.
May 26, 2009
Court orders Immigration to block Red Wave Saleem from leaving country
Dengue fever spreading swiftly in Malé and other atolls
Dengue fever is spreading very fast in Malé and other atolls of the country, the Center for Community Health and Disease Control (CCHDC) has said.
An official from the Centre said on Monday that the fever was spreading very swiftly in all the atolls and that the number of reported cases was on the rise too. According to their records, a total of 304 people were diagnosed with the fever this year and 26 percent of the reported cases were young children.
The Centre said that according to their records 156 of the reported cases were in Malé. Most of the cases from the atolls were reported from the northern atolls, the official said.
In addition to dengue fever, viral fevers are also on the rise in Malé, the Centre said.
According to statistics revealed by the Health Ministry, there were 2,768 cases reported in 2006, and 1,671 cases in 2007. 12 people had died from the disease during the two years.
Dengue fever is spread by mosquitoes and the Centre has advised the public to help control the breeding of mosquitoes by getting rid of any potential mosquito breeding grounds.
Police raid Meemu atoll MP Nazim’s office
Police on Sunday night raided the office of People’s Majlis member Ahmed Nazim and confiscated some items. They had done on a court order issued by the Criminal Court.
Police officers checked the office of Namira Engineering and Trading Private Ltd, located at G. Aabin, the private residence of Nazim, and confiscated some of the items found there only two days after President Mohamed Nasheed had said that he would arrest anyone who was found to have embezzled state funds or resources. Nazim is the Vice President of the People’s Alliance (PA) and recently won the Meemu Dhiggaru constituency in the parliamentary elections.
Police also checked the house of Nazim’s second wife around 1:30am the same night and took her into custody. A family member of Nazim’s second wife said that two female Police officers in uniform and three other plainclothes Policemen had banged on the door that night and their behaviour had traumatized Nazim’s children. The family member further said that Nazim’s wife had been in handcuffs when she was kept at the Police Station.
Among the items confiscated from Nazim’s office around 9:00pm on Sunday were a laptop, a CPU, two hard discs and a list of employees working at the office. Nazim was in Malaysia at the time his office was raided. The search warrant authorizing the search of Nazim’s office for eight hours had been issued at 6:00pm Sunday.
A Police Media Official said they were now investigating some of the crimes reported in the budget audit report but did not reveal any additional details regarding the matter.
The search warrant issued by the Criminal Court to search the Namira Office premises states that the search was ordered to assist in the ongoing investigation of allegations that the company had made forged documents in the name of various different companies, submitting them to former Atolls Development Ministry in order to win projects tendered by the Ministry. The search warrant also includes evidence relating to the case.
UN Security Council condemns NKorea’s nuclear test
UNITED NATIONS – The UN Security Council on Monday unanimously condemned North Korea for testing a nuclear bomb, with major powers vowing new punitive action against Pyongyang for violating the world body’s resolutions.
“The members of the Security Council voiced their strong opposition and condemnation of the nuclear test conducted on 25 May 2009 by North Korea, which constitutes a clear violation of (UN) Resolution 1718,” council president Vitaly Churkin of Russia told reporters following an emergency meeting of the 15-member council.
Member states decided to “immediately” begin working on a Security Council resolution to address North Korea’s latest test, Churkin said, adding that they required North Korea to fulfill its obligations toward council resolutions.
Several western diplomats hinted they would seek fresh sanctions against Pyongyang under a new resolution.
“This resolution should include new sanctions in addition to those already adopted because such behavior should have a cost and a price to pay,” said French Deputy Permanent Representative Jean-Pierre Lacroix.
“It is important that North Korea pays a price for its behavior, the very serious provocation of this nuclear test.”
Lacroix declined to give details on any new sanctions, which he said would be determined through Security Council negotiations.
The US ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, said “the United States will seek a strong resolution with strong measures,” calling the test “a grave violation of international law, and a threat to regional and international peace and security.”
But she stopped short of mentioning possible sanctions.
“We believe it ought to be a strong resolution with appropriately strong contents, but obviously unless and until we complete the negotiation process, it is premature to say what its contents will be,” Rice added.
Japan’s UN ambassador, Yukio Takasu, called the nuclear test “a direct threat to the security of Japan and Asia.”
He declined to provide details on the contents of the future resolution, although he rejected that it would constitute a “punishment” toward North Korea, saying the resolution would instead provide “consequences” for Pyongyang’s actions.
Japan has been involved in stalled six-party talks aimed at shuttering the North’s nuclear program.
Hours before the emergency session, North Korea conducted its test — an underground blast far bigger than its first nuclear test in 2006 — drawing stern rebukes from global leaders, with US President Barack Obama warning of “grave” danger and Israel stressing “negative implications” in the Middle East.
Even China, the secretive North’s closest international ally, expressed “resolute opposition.”
Compounding the frustration among world leaders, the nuclear detonation came amid reports that Pyongyang also tested a short-range missile.
UN Resolution 1718, adopted in October 2006 after North Korea’s first nuclear test, forbids the reclusive regime from conducting any future nuclear tests or missile launches.
The Security Council on April 13 slapped sanctions against North Korea, banning transactions and calling on UN member states to freeze the assets of three business entities of Pyongyang following its April 5 rocket launch.
In response, the North said it was quitting a six-nation nuclear disarmament pact with the United States, China, South Korea, Japan and Russia. It also said it had stopped cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and reactivated its nuclear installations. – AFP
French President Sarkozy to open UAE base
President Nicolas Sarkozy is due to formally open a French military base in the United Arab Emirates, France’s first permanent base in the Gulf.
Mr Sarkozy flew to the capital, Abu Dhabi, on Monday with four ministers and a delegation of businessmen.
France is a leading military supplier to the Gulf state, and signed a nuclear cooperation agreement last year.
Its “Peace Camp” will host up to 500 French troops and include a navy base, air base, and training camp.
Mr Sarkozy said in a recent interview with Diplomatie magazine that the military presence underscored France’s desire “to participate fully in the stability of this region that is essential for the world’s equilibrium”.
Analysts say the move positions France – along with the US and UK, who already have bases in the Gulf – for lucrative defence contracts and nuclear energy deals.
Diplomacy
Mr Sarkozy opened his 20-hour visit to the UAE by dining with Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed al-Nahyan, AFP news agency reported.
An official accompanying him said Mr Sarkozy also hopes to visit Pakistan in the autumn to show his support for Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari in his fight against Taliban insurgents.
France and Pakistan agreed to cooperate in the field of civilian nuclear energy during Mr Zardari’s visit to Paris earlier this month, but details of the plan have yet to be agreed.
An aide to the French leader also said that India will be guest of honour at France’s national day celebrations this year.
Indian regiments would march in front of the French army in Paris on 14 July and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be present at the parade, the official said.
Sri Lanka rejects Tigers’ offer
Sri Lanka’s defence secretary has rejected the Tamil Tigers’ offer to enter a democratic process after their military defeat by government forces.
In an interview with the BBC, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said the LTTE rebels could not be trusted to give up “terrorism”.
“I do not believe the LTTE can enter a democratic process after years of their violent activities,” Mr Rajapaksa said.
The rebels had said they would give up violence after their leader was killed in recent fighting in the north-east.
“I am not interested in LTTE at all,” the defence secretary – the most senior civilian official in charge of the war against the Tamil Tigers – told the BBC in a wide-ranging telephone interview.
He said there were “enough democratic Tamil political parties in the country” to represent the Tamil minority.
On Sunday, speaking to the BBC’s Tamil service, senior rebel spokesman Selvarasa Pathmanathan said they would now use non-violent methods to fight for the rights of the Tamils and had agreed to enter a democratic process to achieve their aims.
Army role
Mr Rajapaksa also said the work of government forces was not yet over as they had to recover weapons hidden by the LTTE in the northern and eastern regions.
“Some people think that the army’s task is over… it is not. The entire area has to be de-mined and then we have to look for any remnants of the LTTE hiding in the jungles,” Mr Rajapaksa said.
He has also appealed to Western nations to dismantle the LTTE’s overseas network and hand over their local leaders, who he said were trying to purchase arms and ammunition for the group.
On reports of intrusive checks against Tamils in the capital Colombo in recent weeks, Mr Rajapaksa said the Tamil community was not being singled out.
He said everyone – including government officials and politicians – was being stopped at checkpoints for security reasons.
“It is not our aim to continue with these security procedures. These checks will be eased once normality gradually returns to the country,” he said.
The Tigers’ defeat has almost brought to an end their 26-year fight for a separate Tamil homeland.
Most of the senior leadership of the Tamil Tigers is thought to have been killed in fighting with government forces in recent weeks.
About 280,000 Sri Lankan civilians have been displaced, posing a huge problem for the government and the international aid agencies.
Only a few days ago, visiting UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had called for a process of national reconciliation that would fully address the legitimate aspirations of the Tamils in Sri Lanka.
US backs North Korea’s neighbours
US President Barack Obama has spoken to the leaders of Japan and South Korea to assure them of US defence support after North Korea’s nuclear test.
North Korea has said it was fully prepared for any “pre-emptive” attack by the United States.
South Korea has warned further missile tests are likely and the United Nations has strongly condemned the North.
North Korea announced the underground test as part of work to bolster what it called its nuclear deterrent.
“It is clear that nothing has changed in the US hostile policy against DPRK [North Korea]… even under the new US administration,” the North’s KCNA news agency said in an article criticising recent US moves to relocate its fighter jets.
“Our army and people are fully ready for battle… against any reckless US attempt for a pre-emptive attack,” it said in a strongly-worded statement.
Coordinated defence
Mr Obama spoke by phone late on Monday with his South Korean counterpart Lee Myung-bak and Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso to “coordinate” reaction to North Korea’s nuclear test.
The White House said they “agreed to work closely together to seek and support a strong United Nations Security Council resolution with concrete measures to curtail North Korea’s nuclear and missile activities.”
In his talks with Mr Aso, Mr Obama reiterated his country’s “unequivocal commitment to the defence of Japan and to maintaining peace and security in Northeast Asia.”
South Korean and Chinese defence ministers are set to discuss joint action, the South Korean news agency Yonhap reported.
More missile tests?
South Korean military sources have warned of signs that the North may be preparing to fire anti-ship missiles off its west coast.
The heightened fears of conflict follow weeks of warnings from North Korea that it would strengthen its “deterrent” and walked away from long-running negotiations on its nuclear programme after the US pressed it over the verification of previous agreements.
Monday’s blast, which was estimated by international seismologists to have the power of a 4.5 earthquake, appears to have been much more powerful than North Korea’s first nuclear test, in October 2006.
Defence officials in neighbouring Russia say it was an explosion of up to 20 kilotons, making it comparable to the American bombs that flattened Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.
Meanwhile, South Korea announced it will delay no longer in joining the PSI – a US-led non-proliferation campaign aimed at stopping the trafficking of weapons of mass destruction.
North Korea has repeatedly warned that the South’s participation in the PSI would be tantamount to a declaration of war.
International resolution
The UN Security Council members voiced strong opposition to the test and condemned it, Russia’s UN envoy, Vitaly Churkin, said after an emergency meeting of the Council.
The US ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, said America wanted “strong measures” when it starts work on the resolution later on Tuesday.
“The US thinks that this is a grave violation of international law and a threat to regional and international peace and security,” she said.
Russia’s UN envoy told reporters the nuclear test was a clear violation of UN Resolution 1718. That resolution imposed sanctions on North Korea after its first test.
“The members of the Security Council voiced their strong opposition to, and condemnation of, the nuclear test,” Mr Churkin said.
The UK’s Ambassador to the UN, Sir John Sawers, explained that the Council had decided to act in two stages, first issuing a statement “strongly condemning and opposing what the North Koreans have done by carrying out this second nuclear test”.
“And we decided to start work immediately on a further Security Council resolution in order to uphold the international peace and security in the region,” he added.
The international community faces a difficult task, confronting what many view as a dangerously unpredictable regime, BBC world affairs correspondent David Loyn reports.
After the worst harvest for a decade, the World Food Programme says a quarter of the population of North Korea needs food aid.
To divert attention, the government has abruptly broken off talks, test-firing both long and short-range missiles and then carrying out the underground test, a major escalation, our correspondent says.
Civil Service Commission responds to allegations
The Civil Service Commission has denied allegations made by some provincial State Ministers that they were not cooperating with the Government.
In a news conference organized by the Commission to respond to the allegations, the Commission’s President Dr Mohamed Latheef said that during the former administration and the current Government, the Civil Service was working very hard to produce the results the Government wanted.
Dr Latheef further said that the allegations made by the State Ministers were baseless lies without any justification.
“In what aspect are we not cooperating with the Government?” Dr Latheef asked. “That is a very important question. Only two things have been brought to the Commission’s attention. One is that there is no cooperation towards establishing provincial offices for a decentralized government. That is not entirely true.” He said that they had provided whatever assistance necessary during every instance that the Home Ministry required anything from them.
He further said that there were also allegations that the Commission wasn’t cooperating in transferring civil servants from one job to another but that they had to follow proper regulations in every case. He said that they were doing everything at the fastest speed to meet the demands.
“However, for example, if some political appointee suddenly issued a warning to a civil servant or summoned someone and asked them to transfer to another job someplace else, then it is not possible and the law does not allow for such changes,” Dr Latheef said.
The Commission’s president said that all civil servants were required to cooperate 100 percent with the Government and if it wasn’t the case the civil servant shouldn’t be allowed to work in the civil sector.
Responding to the allegations that the responsible officers assigned to islands were appointed illegally, Dr Latheef said that they had not appointed anyone to such positions and that they had just given added responsibility to some civil servants.
“It’s not a separate position,” he said. “That is the first misconception, that we created the position and filled it.”
Dr Latheef further said that the Government was criticizing the Civil Service Commission because they were misinformed, adding that as things became clearer the Government would see how sincere and hardworking the Commission was.
Large number of dead fish washes ashore on Gaadhiffushi beach
A large number of dead fishes washed ashore on the beaches of Gaadhiffushi island in Thaa atoll on Sunday.
The Island Councilor of Gaadhiffushi, Hussain Ali, said that the tide had begun bringing the dead fishes ashore near the northwestern side of the island around 5:30am. He said that among the dead fish were various types of reef and marine fish, including sharks.
Ali said that the same thing was happening in the small uninhabited island next to Gaadhiffushi. He said that they believed that the fishes were most likely ones had been caught and kept in a fish container in a fishing vessel somewhere.
“From the looks and feel of the dead fishes, it appears that they had been caught and kept in cold storage before they were somehow released back into the ocean,” he said.
He said that by Sunday afternoon, more than 500 fishes had been washed ashore on the island and said that he expected the number to rise to 800.
Gaadhiffusi Island Office officials said that they had organized teams to bury the dead fish.
Ocean swells cause flooding in some islands
Severe storms caused huge ocean swells that flooded some islands across the country on Sunday.
An official from Kaafu atoll Office said that there were reports of waves as high as 100ft and 150ft in some islands in the atoll. Some of the islands affected by the ocean swells in the atoll are Kaashidhoo, Gaafaru, Himmafushi and Thulusdhoo. Flooding wasn’t severe enough to reach the residential areas of the islands, the official said, adding that only areas near the beaches were heavily flooded.
According to officials from the North Ari Atoll Office, ocean swells had caused some amount of damage to property in Bodufulhadhoo and Felidhoo islands in the atoll. One of the outer walls of a house near the beach had collapsed due to the floods waters in Felidhoo, the official said. The Island Office had promptly issued instructions to barricade the residential areas from the seawater using sandbags.
The Island Councilor of Bodufulhadhoo, Abdulla Ghafoor, said that huge waves had crashed onto the island from both north and west, causing flooding inside the island’s Health Centre compound.
The ocean swells also caused some amount of flooding in the northwestern and western areas in capital Malé, near the Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital and Villingilli Ferry Terminal. The bad weather being experienced in Malé also caused delays and difficulties for commuters to and from Hulhumale’.
The Managing Director of MTCC, Ibrahim Siraj, said that the bad weather had made it impossible for ferries to keep the scheduled times, and forced them to provide ferry service limited to travel between Malé and Hulhulé.
“Ferries are available only to Hulhulé,” he said. “Passengers will have to take the bus from Hulhulé in order to reach Hulhumalé.”
