Vote nuvihkaa, Dheenuga ves Haraan Kameh......

Vote nuvihkaa,  Dheenuga ves Haraan Kameh......

So guys Don't discard Fishing nets or lines into the Sea !

SAVE TURTLES IN MALDIVES 

After trapping in the net the turtles tries to free itself causing it cut through its fins and neck..

So guys Don't discard Fishing nets or lines into the Sea

Candidancy Baathil Kuran

ބިދޭސީ ބައެއްގެ މެދުގައި މާރާމާރީއެއް ހިނގައި އެކެއްގެ ބޯ ފަޅާލައިފި

29 ޖުލައި 2013

 

ބިދޭސީ ބައެއްގެ މެދުގައި މާރާމާރީއެއް ހިނގައި އެކެއްގެ ބޯ މިރޭ ފަޅާލައިފި އެވެ.

އެ ހާދިސާ ހިނގާފައި ވަނީ މިރޭ 11:00 އެހައިކަންހާ އިރު ގަލޮޅު، ހައުސް އޮފް ސޭލް ކުރިމަތީގަ އެވެ. ބިދޭސީ ހައެއްްކަ މީހުންގެ ދެމެދުގައި ހިނގި އެ މާރާމާރީ ހުއްޓުވާފައި ވަނީ އެ ސަރަހައްދުގައި ތިބި އާންމުންގެ ބަޔެކެވެ.

އެ މާރާމާރީގައި ޒަޚަމްވި ބިދޭސީ މީހާގެ ބޮލުން އިންޗިއެއްހާތަން ކަފައިގެން ގޮސްފައިވެ އެވެ. އޭނާގެ ބޮލާއި މޫނުގައި ވަރަށް ގިނައިން ލޭ ހުއްޓެވެ.

ބިދޭސީ ބައެއްގެ ދެމެދުގައި މިރޭ ހިނގި މާރާމާރީ އާންމުންގެ ބަޔަކު ހުއްޓުވާފައިވާ އިރު ފުލުހުން އައުމުގެ ކުރިން އެ ބިދޭސީންތައް ވަނީ ފިލައިފަ އެވެ. އަދި އެ ހާދިސާގައި ޒަޚަމްވި މީހާ ވެސް ވަނީ ފިލައިފަ އެވެ.
އެ މީހުން ހޯދުމުގެ މަސައްކަތް ފުލުހުން ދަނީ ކުރަމުންނެވެ.

Tier Two Watch List for Human Trafficking for the fourth consecutive year.

The Maldives has been placed on the US State Department’s Tier Two Watch List for Human Trafficking for the fourth consecutive year.

he Maldives’ entry in the State Department’s report concluded with a long list of specific recommendations for the Maldives to combat human trafficking, and avoid the now otherwise inevitable downgrade to Tier 3 in June 2014.

1-These recommendations included:

2-Pass and enact legislation prohibiting and punishing all forms of trafficking in persons;

3-clearly distinguish between human trafficking, human smuggling and the presence of undocumented migrants in legislation, policies, and programs;
develop and implement systematic procedures for government officials to proactively identify victims of trafficking among vulnerable groups, such as undocumented migrants and females in prostitution;

4-ensure that trafficking victims are not penalized for acts committed as a result of being trafficked;

5-increase efforts to investigate and prosecute suspected trafficking offenses respecting due process;

6-work to ensure that identified victims of trafficking are provided access to victim services;

7-enforce prohibitions of passport retention by employers;

8-raise public awareness of human trafficking through media campaigns;
provide translators to police and other law enforcement authorities to ensure foreign workers are able to participate in investigations and prosecutions against their alleged traffickers;

9-improve inter-ministerial coordination on human trafficking issues;

10-ensure that changes to labor migration policies for the purpose of reducing human trafficking do not restrict legal migration;

11-take steps to ensure that employers and labor brokers do not abuse labor recruitment or sponsorship processes in order to subject migrant workers to forced labor;

12-accede to the 2000 UN TIP Protocol.

Asia's 'Nobel' Prize goes to Shakti Samuha, which fights Human Trafficking

Source by  Kalpit Parajuli Asian News

Created by former sex slaves, the Nepali group is one of five recipients of the Philippines' 'Ramon Magsaysay Award'. The 15 founding women today work to save other victims of prostitution. "I cannot express in words the extent of exploitation, abuse and torture trafficked girls face in the brothels of India, China and the Arab world," said one of them.Shakti Samuha, a group of former Nepali sex slaves that frees Asian women and girls from human trafficking in India and China, is among the five recipients of the 'Ramon Magsaysay Award' for 2013. Viewed as Asia's Nobel Prize, the award recognises people and organisations that have distinguished themselves for changing their societies for the better. The Filipino government, which established the award in 1958, made the announcement yesterday.

Shakti Samuha is the first Nepali association founded and run by women victims of sexual exploitation and human trafficking. For Chairimaya Tamang and Sunita Dunuwar, two of the 15 founders, the recognition is a source "of great joy and encouragement to go forward," but also a reminder of the days when they were forced into prostitution.

"We were so immersed in the darkness of that hell that it is always there deep inside us. And we feel deep in our hearts that countless Nepali girls and women are still trapped in that situation," Tamang told AsiaNews.

Tamang and Dunuwar, who is president of the association, were released in 1996 during a police raid in Indian brothels that rescued 500 women and girls, including 148 from Nepal.

From the day of the raid, it took the women six months to get home. Even then, they said, "the journey has not been easy. Government and society did not accept us. We encountered many difficulties even to register the organisation."

"I cannot express in words the extent of exploitation, abuse and torture trafficked girls face in the brothels of India, China and the Arab world. Now our focus is in India and China but we will soon expand our rescue work to Arab countries too", Tamang explained.

Yellowfin Tuna

Yellowfin Tuna Maldives, You Can Buy Various High Quality Yellowfin Tuna Maldives Products from fish Market.

The last ten days of Ramadan are very special days in the life of every Muslim

The last ten days of Ramadan are very special days in the life of every Muslim. According to Muslims, they are the most blessed days in the blessed month of Ramadan, the month the Holy Quran was revealed. Muslims believe that although the Prophet Muhammad was promised Paradise, he used to exert himself even more in worship during these last ten days, hoping to draw closer to Allah. The Prophet's wife Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said, "With the start of the last ten days of Ramadan, the Prophet used to tighten his waist belt and used to pray all the night, and used to keep his family awake for the prayers." (Bukhari)

For Muslims, the last ten days should be a time to perfect one's fast and avoid anything that may break it. It is a time to give more charity and to settle disputes and forgive one another. It is also a time for soul searching, evaluating one's life, supplicating, and asking forgiveness. This should be done sincerely because if Allah accepts the supplications, the reward is the remission of one's sins.

The best time to do it is in the last part of the night. Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet said, "When the last one third of the night remains, our Lord, the Glorious One, descends towards the lower heaven and proclaims: 'Is there anyone supplicating to Me so that I grant his supplication? Is there anyone begging of Me for anything so that I grant him his wish? Is there anyone who seeks My forgiveness so I forgive him?'" (Bukhari and Muslim)

During the last third of Ramadan, one should recite more Quran and remember Allah more often, even constantly.

The last ten days are also known for Itekaf (spiritual retreat). The Prophet (p.b.u.h.) used to perform Itekaf in the mosque during the last ten days of Ramadan, barely sleeping during that time. Itekaf requires a total devotion to Allah; it is a sort of vacation with Him. The time is spent worshiping, performing extra Salah (ritual prayers), reciting Quran, making Thikr (remembrance of Allah) and duaas (supplications). One should leave behind the cares of this world, and even eat and sleep in the mosque. Those who cannot perform Itekaf for ten days, should try to do it for a shorter time, if only for one night or a day or two.

Laylat Al-Qadr also occurs during the last ten days of Ramadan. The Prophet (p.b.u.h.) said, "Any Muslim who stands in Prayer during Laylat Al-Qadr out of faith and sincerity, his previous sins will be forgiven."

By: Magda Azzam

Foreign workers in their own words

I agree totally with what peasant above has written. while bangladeshi labourer have a really bad deal in many cases (both due to their employers in maldives and their agents in bangladheshi), professional expatriates lead quite a well priviledged life, with additional benefits which maldivians do not get like food allowance and apartment rent and utilities bills paid. there are indians, bangladeshis, sri lankans and phillipinos employed at the company i work in, and we treat the professional staff and the office clerk the same, no maldivian gets housing allowance……sometimes europeans expect themselves to be above asians, and some of the things the articles mentions can be construed as racist

Foreign workers in their own words

Three expatriate employees who have all moved on from their posts recount their experiences of working in the country. The names of the individuals have been changed to protect their identities.

Michael, 28, Australian teacher

“I found working in the Maldives to be a thoroughly challenging, but rewarding experience. Unlike other regions of the world, which provide you with a plethora of websites, books and other resources to enhance your knowledge of what the country will be like to live and work in, there was little to go on before leaving – apart from the Lonely Planet guide (which is more of a resort guide than a window into the inner workings of the country itself).

So going there I had little idea of what living and working in the Maldives would be like. Early challenges included the ‘norm’ for ex-pat life abroad – finding suitable accommodation, getting acquainted with new work conditions and new colleagues, finding friends and generally finding your feet in a new place. I lived in Hulhumale’, which is a swift ferry ride away from the capital city of Male’ – this provided the quiet I desired, but I was close enough to experience Male’ when I had to or wanted to.

I was employed as an English teacher at an international school, which is my profession in my home country. I found work in the Maldives extremely challenging from the point of view of trying to initiate and foster an “international education”, with huge limits being put on what could be facilitated in the classroom in terms of curriculum and content – mostly due to ‘culture clashes’.

I found many levels, from management, students themselves, staff, down to the local community, very unyielding in accommodating “international quality teaching and learning”. To me this is what an international school should provide – opportunities for students to develop holistically and develop critical thinking skills, with an empathy and understanding for different cultures and lifestyles.

The culture of the Maldives and its unwillingness to broaden its horizons and be open to outside influences made school life extremely challenging, not to mention the management of the school ( European in origin) not being open to “local interests and desires” for a child’s education.

The Maldives can also be quite a ‘suffocating’ place, especially for foreign women – Maldivian males are quite primitive in some of their behaviour and I have both witnessed and heard of gross misconduct and harassment on many levels towards Western women. As a male, the country is without doubt an easier beast to handle, but foreign women definitely have cause for concern when dealing with locals at times.

On the whole, once settling into a vastly different style of ex-pat life that I had been used to, I really enjoyed living and working in the Maldives. It is quite a shock to begin with, with rigid cultural and religious elements, quite foreign to many western day-to-day lives, having to be adhered to.

Outside of work there is plenty to do if you have a thirst for everything outdoors. I wouldn’t trade my year there for anything, I met some wonderful people – both local and international, and would recommend people give the Maldives a go.”

Natalie, 47, British project coordinator

“Recruited by a Sri Lankan businessman in the UK to work as a project coordinator in the Maldives, I was very excited about finding what seemed to be an excellent opportunity for my career development, working on a reclamation and construction project.

Having thoroughly researched the UK company, I accepted the job offer to work for the newly established Maldivian company, set up specifically for the project. With what I understood to be tight project timescales, I relocated within a month having the draft of a skeleton contract in email, trusting the owner of the business that the company and its employees were like a family; we could finalise the details of the contract at a later date.

Once there the owner informed me that I should not compare myself to other expatriates from Europe and that expats should work weekends and holidays as they do not have a social life. My advice to anyone moving to the Maldives would be to make sure you have a contract that is legally recognised in the Maldives, including allowances, medical insurance and a job description before you commit. Promises can turn to dust and someone’s word is not necessarily their bond.

Life in the capital of Male’ for a woman is not an easy one. Despite respecting the culture and religious beliefs, wearing suitable clothing and behaving appropriately, the Maldivian men do touch and grab women inappropriately.

There is a great deal of resentment from some Maldivians towards expats and contractors from Europe and the Americas. Fortunately though, some recognise the potential for change to achieve future growth and prosperity in a greener and more international culture.

My experience is something I do not regret. I had the pleasure of meeting His Excellency the President on more than one occasion and was fortunate to make good friends and business associates. Lessons have been learned: such is life.”

Dana, 30, UK journalist

“I have lived and worked on respected publications in the Middle East, I was used to cultural differences and striking harmony between the two ways of working. I believed I was well prepared for the challenges of working in a society with similar beliefs to the Maldives, but nothing prepared me for the challenges that lay ahead.

I was at first pleasantly surprised with the apartment where I would be living. It was a three-bedroom flat with all mod-cons. Upon arriving, the publisher asked me which room I wanted to take and then proceeded to lock the other rooms, he retained a key for the flat and left.

The next morning, for my first day at work I had a rude awakening. The office boy who had collected my luggage was standing above me saying “madam, madam wake up!” Frightened out of my mind, I screamed at him to get out of my room. It was a strange and scary start to the day.

Any newsroom is supposed to be buzzing with reporters going in and out the office and colleagues coming in and out. Instead the publisher wanted it to be like a factory, rehashing press releases. He even had the general manager prepare us job descriptions, though it was clear that he hadn’t the first clue about journalism and was contending with staff with more than five decades of media experience between them.

Increasingly I also began to feel I was being watched at every step at work. Despite there being one rule for Maldivian staff, keeping whatever hours they pleased, turning up in the afternoon and going to meetings through the day, they brought in a performance management system for me, increasing my workload and making me work six days a week.

The office itself was dangerous and there were no health and safety regulations. The unlit entrance to the office had live cables swinging above the off the stairs and water on the bathroom floor. A campaign to bring it up to safe standards fell on deaf ears.

The general manager took me aside and tried to blacken the names of my colleagues, telling me they were not acting professionally in his eyes, but that he liked them and would give them more chances to improve.

Why was he telling me this I thought? I didn’t want to get involved, being such a newbie. Then he tried insinuate if I played by the rules I would do well. I didn’t like his tone or his allusions. It was as if he was trying to see what side I was on and divide and conquer. Baffled, I said that my colleagues had showed me nothing but kindness and respect and I didn’t want to be part of anything he was insinuating. I felt really uncomfortable with all of this.

I told my colleagues about his strange behaviour and bribes. They said they were not surprised. At various times he had tried the tactic with them all.

This alarmed me. Understandably at this point I was scared because I did not know what I had got in to. I only took the job because I thought this was an opportunity to further develop myself after my Middle East experience. I didn’t have the resources to move on.

Strangely, there was another power struggle going on between the publisher and the GM, who used to turn up late in the afternoon. Overall their attitude was arrogant and disdainful towards us and they showed no recognition for how hard the staff had been working to make their product
a success. Morale was so low in the office and all the energy and enthusiasm I had brought with me was being sapped. I felt I had served a lifetime, though barely a week had gone by.

There was a clocking in machine and we were required to clock in between 9am and 5pm and soon our interviews were being classed as time out by the publisher and his minion. I couldn’t believe their method of thinking!

We had contacts begging us to go out and visit them, yet we were ‘trapped inside the office.’ We tried everything to convince the publisher in the value of letting us out of the office. Yet he turned it into a punishment, banning press trips from the second week.

The day after Halloween, I received a phone call from my colleague who said she had just been fired. I was running late into the office from a meeting, so I couldn’t quite process it, she said that she had not been given any reason for the dismissal. My editor and the other reporter were in the office when I arrived and you could cut the atmosphere with a knife. It was such an awful morning. My macabre mood suited the topic of my writings that day a feature about ghouls and jinnis of the Maldives for a Halloween special.

We met outside for lunch and one of the reporters revealed that he was tendering his resignation on principle. The editor said he was looking for other jobs abroad but he would need to stay in this job for as long as possible. I felt for them and for the nightmare struggle they must have had so far. I felt suicidal after a few weeks, how about these poor souls?

I began to feel increasingly fearful as I did not want lose my job and have to go home. Not after all the struggle to get here. All those hours spent working in three menial jobs back to back, and taking on limited freelance contracts over the summer just to manage the airfare to the Maldives. I had no option, I was trapped, without enough money to go forward or back.

A few days later all hell broke loose. First the reporter who had tendered his resignation was called in and told that he was going to be dismissed that day, even though he was owed 30 days notice.

Then the editor was called in – luckily he had also just written his notice and handed it in before he could have the satisfaction of dismissing him. Two bully security guards were called in to almost forcibly remove them. I was so upset and shocked by the whole events which were unfolding. It was all going too fast – I couldn’t compute.

My state of mind was in tatters at this point imagining the worst, wrestling with my conscience, my pride and my dignity. My home was part of the work package so could not leave the company and try to find another job.

I didn’t have a choice. At this stage still hadn’t even been paid. I was also running out of cash and there was no one to help back home.

So I stayed… but at this point I still hadn’t even received my visa, and was required to leave the country and go to Sri Lanka. Still with no money, I asked the publisher to pay my expenses, but he said he would only pay for the airfare. I asked for an allowance to spend but he refused. Instead he turned out his moth-eaten wallet with £5 GBP and 15 rupees he said I could exchange.

In the meantime my colleagues had an awful time of it having to shift from place to place, but with the help of friends they got by and began setting up their own plans for the future. I tried to support them where I could.

Then I was called into the office and the publisher said he had been told that someone was else living in the flat and there were people visiting me. So what? I felt violated and angry as he had just admitted he been watching my flat. He said that he needed to give permission for anyone to stay. Another control mechanism.

The wheels were already in motion for my own removal. My visa was still in the process of being arranged and they had my passport. Less than 10 days later my fears were realised. I was called into the office and told that they would no longer continue with my employment and when I asked about my passport I was told I had to go to the immigration building to collect it.

I called one of my friends who had contact with immigration and I was told to come down to the office, they had my passport and tickets for me to fly out with Qatar within two days. I filed a case
with the employment tribunal and got my passport back.

The employment tribunal was a long and arduous process and in the end they ruled against me, as I hadn’t worked there long enough so I could not receive any compensation for the trauma of the last few months. Despite a ruling by the court to issue a one way ticket to the country of my choosing, I still have to receive that ticket from the employer. Along the way he pulled all sorts of nasty tricks including putting holds on empty tickets so that he would look good in court, and gazumping me when I went to buy a ticket at the same travel agent.

Overall, I felt an overwhelming feeling of freedom. I want to help people from making the same mistakes as me.”

 

India and US are offering Border Control Systems that are not as expensive as nexbiz. thatz what ACC keep saying..

Great article. while many of have been aware that this was a dodgy deal, thanks for writing about the details and enlightening us. I urge you to write the same article in dhivehi. publish it anywhere online. Make sure that ordinary Maldivians read it and One side media  Haveeru media Sun FM and CNM  will write one day when they are fully independent.

No one is asking about what we NEED in maldives right now. where the frack is that majlis committee on national security?!

Azra Naseem MAY 13, 2013
DHIVEHI SITEE

What is the PISCES?

Maldives post-coup Defence Minister Mohamed Nazim introduced the PISCES — Personal Identification, Secure Comparison and Evaluation System– to Maldivians as a ‘state of the art’ sophisticated border control system installed at all major points of entry and exit points in the US as well as in another twenty or so ‘advanced countries’ of the world.

Speaking in Dhivehi at a joint press conference with US Ambassador Michelle J Sison, Minister Nazim also told journalists the border control system would ‘increase security and the economic and social well-being of the Maldives.’

What interests me as much as Nazim said about the PISCES is what he left unsaid. He did not mention, for example, that the PISCES was built, and is operated, not so much as an immigration/emigration control mechanism as a top intelligence weapon in the endless War on Terror.

The US description, as published by the Bush-era State Department’s online archive, describes it somewhat differently from Nazim:

The Terrorist Interdiction Program seeks to constrain terrorist mobility globally by helping countries at risk from terrorist activity enhance their border security capabilities. TIP provides participating countries with a computerized watchlisting system known as PISCES (Personal Identification Secure Comparison and Evaluation System). Countries are identified for eligibility to participate in TIP based on known terrorist activity or transit, need for a watchlisting system, and political will to cooperate with the United States in counterterrorism efforts.

Although Nazim alluded to the importance of intelligence gathering mechanisms and intelligence sharing among allies in ‘an increasingly dangerous world’, he deliberately omitted from his carefully rehearsed speech the fact that the Memorandum of Intention that he signed puts US in control of all the data mined by the PISCES.

‘We don’t have to share any information gathered from the system with anybody that the Maldivian government does not want to,’ said Nazim. The US, as supplier, installer and operator of the system is, of course, not on the list of countries the Maldives will or can shun.

Nazim also failed to mention that the so-called ‘advanced countries’ at which he said the PISCES was installed is actually a list of countries which the United States has ear-marked as popular transit points for dangerous terrorists.

Since 2002 the US has installed the PISCES at close to 200 entry/exit points in 18 countries—among them Afghanistan, Iraq, Algeria, the Philippines, Tunisia, Yemen, Morocco and Niger—willing (or unable to reject) the system since the Bush administration began pushing it in 2002. Worldwide, it now screens and gathers information on 250,000 travellers a day.

The PISCES experience of several countries contains valuable lessons for the Maldives. In 2011 Pakistan decided to discontinue the PISCES and replaced it with its own system, refusing US$42 million the US offered to have the PISCES upgraded instead.

Throughout the years in which PISCES was operated in Pakistan, her government denied all reports that US has access to all data gathered through PISCES, including this 2004 Times of India exposé describing how the PISCES had enabled ‘the unshakeable grip of a million American tentacles that have an all pervading grip on Pakistan’s present and future.’

Despite the denials, when Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Additional Director-General of Immigration, Chaudhry Mohammad Manzoor, announced the Pakistani government’s ‘inflexible’ decision to replace the PISCES, it was clear –as reported in The Express Tribune in June 2011— ‘the government’s rejection of PISCES stems from fears that the database is accessible to the Americans.’

Since the software will be indigenously developed by FIA, the integrity of data will be secured as opposed to foreign software and database, whose source codes are not disclosed to Pakistanis. This will help in maintaining vital data to national security.” It [documents proposing new system] adds: “Due to the sensitive nature of the project, it is imperative that data be secure and administered only by Pakistanis.

Had Pakistan been the only country to encounter problems with the PISCES, she could have been easily dismissed as part of another episode tide in the ever-vaciallting US-Pakistani goodwill.Fact is, the PISCES has proved troublesome in several other ‘host countries’.

This vital information was also missing from Nazim’s ‘explanation’. It is not entirely beyond the realms of possibility that Minister Nazim, with no experience or knowledge of international relations, is ignorant of such matters. The same cannot be said about the US. She knows full well the inherent shortcomings of the PISCES.

As an example, here’s what US Ambassador to Senegal, Janic L. Jacobs had to say about PISCES, in a classified diplomatic cable in 2003:

The “American Way” is not always indigenously sustainable in West Africa.  As an example, the Personal Identification Secure Comparison and Evaluation System (PISCES), a high-tech, computer based immigration tracking system was first deployed in 2003.  The concept was to determine exactly who was transiting the international airport.  The program was discontinued at the end of FY-2006.  The GOS immigration officials responsible for using the system were plagued by software and hardware problems that required frequent visits by maintenance teams from CONUS. Often the problems were minor, but the users lacked the technical competency to resolve them.  In the end, after spending several hundreds of thousands of dollars, funding for the program was terminated.  As we proceed with other high-tech solutions to facilitate the regional sharing of intelligence, we need to assure that long-term maintenance and training are addressed.  If we do not address the issue of sustainability during the program design phase, it will most likely fail.

In the rest of the world, Malta is the only EU country to have agreed to the intrusive PISCES, while in Kosovo, the system was found to be incompatible with EU standards and replaced.

The US government and its national security apparatus is well aware that most of the Maldivian population almost as ignorant of its destructive foreign policies as the American population. Combine this with the absence of political leaders to stand up for sovereignty and people’s civil rights, and the US has found in the Maldives a most conducive environment in which to pursue its all important ‘South Asia Pivot’. Regardless of what that may mean to Maldives.

What does it mean for the Maldives?

The easy manner in which the Maldives has signed away to the United States integrity of all the data it collects on travellers in and out of the Maldives raises major issues of sovereignty and civil rights, to which the current government pays no heed.

Apart from these concerns, according to some experts, the PISCES will slow down and hinder the border services the Maldives currently provides. Here’s a simple example: Immigration officials currently process travellers at an average speed of one every 15-25 seconds. The PISCES will slow this down to between 60 and 90 seconds.

There are much more serious problems—PISCES does not allow integration with some of the most vital components of border control such as issuing visas and work-permits. How such a system prove to be adequate to the border control needs of a country which relies on the tourism industry for its survival, and is battling with international pressure to properly address its escalating human trafficking problems?

The PISCES’ inadequacies should not really be surprising, a system purpose-built for monitoring everybody travelling through a dangerous ‘terrorist hub’ cannot also be expected to smilingly grant tourist visas and diligently screen thousands of poor Bangladeshi labourers and hundreds of South East Asian girls for signs of trafficking.

The question is: why is the Maldives government allowing the US this complete takeover of its borders?

The ousting of Nexbis

The Maldives’ attempts to secure its borders have been plagued by disputes and legal issues. Nexbis, the company which, right until the time Minister Nazim announced his agreement with the US, was under contract to develop and install  a border control system for the Maldives, has long been alleging ‘criminal sabotage‘ of its contract by certain elements with different interests. [The long-running Nexbis issue is covered well by Minivan News.]

But, as with the treatment of GMR in the airport dispute, and the recent ousting of Hilton from the Maldivian tourism industry, the government insists all is being done ‘for the good of the country.’

Take some time to look at the two documents I have come into possession, comparing the various features that would become available to Maldivian border control personnel through the two systems:

When we look at what the two systems offer, the purpose of each is clear. The purpose of the PISCES is to gather intelligence for the United States’ ever-expanding intelligence network in the War on Terror. It lacks the ability to provide some of the most indispensable border control services for Maldives while it comes free of charge in the other.

At the press conference, Nazim also told local journalists that PISCES can be integrated with the India’s Advanced Passenger Information System (PISA). Local Immigration sources contradict Nazim’s claim. An Immigration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said several experts—including those visiting from the US—told the government that ‘integration with the Indian system is not possible’.

Was Minister Nazim not just lying by omission but also through his teeth? Did he speak in Dhivehi so Ambassador Sison did not have to be seen to be party to the dissemination of misleading information?

As the United States has witnessed several times, it is rather easy to get the mainstream Maldivian Fourth Estate to stop asking questions. The criminal Armenian ‘Artur Brothers’ remain ‘at large’, not many questions asked. An unknown Armeninan cargo plane landed, unloaded its cargo and left, no questions asked. Blake’s ‘I haven’t seen it, therefore cannot I cannot verify it’ has sufficed as an explanation of the SOFA, no more questions asked. NGOs have duly put out their statement of concern relating to ‘reports about the SOFA’ and given the additional information that ‘there are American officials all over the Maldives making full socio-economic assessments’, no questions asked. If all goes to plan, PISCES will begin operation in the next two weeks, no questions asked.

Well, here are some: Does the PISCES meet Maldives’ border control needs? Why are Waheed, Nazim, Abdulla Riyaz and other key players eagerly signing control of our affairs and territory over to the United States? Did this level of US interest in the Maldives begin before or after 7 February 2012? Is the US interested enough to retain in place a government hand-picked by its officials for their willingness to sell Maldivian national interest for self-interest? Does Waheed’s inexplicable swagger in the face of obvious and patent unpopularity stem from the confidence of knowing he has the backing of the world’s only hyper-power?

If so, how far is the US prepared to go to win Maldives for itself in the upcoming September elections?

THIS IS NOT A DICTATORSHIP

Azra Naseem JULY 27, 2013
Dhivehi Sitee

Since the 7 February 2012 coup that was not a coup, a disconcerting dissonance between what people witness with their own eyes and what they are officially told they see has become a regular part of life.

Last week, thousands of voting Maldivians watched the X-Rated video of Supreme Court Judge Ali Hameed having sex with three prostitutes at a high-end hotel in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It was not just his clothes that Hameed shed in front of the people but also his dignity along with the ethical and legal right to sit on the bench. Ethical because he so carelessly flouted the values of his profession and legal because Maldives defines unmarried sex between consenting adults as the crime of fornication.

Yet the official reaction has been like a ticker-tape running across the entire length of Hameed’s sexual marathon saying, ‘This is not sex. This is not zinah. This is not Hameed.’

Gasim Ibrahim, the presidential candidate for Jumhooree Party, has been one of the most vocal defenders of the judge. He asks us to ponder the infinite possibilities of why it was not Hameed in the video: ‘Anyone can dye their hair red.’ No one can argue with that, not in these days of L’Oréal etc.

Adhaalath the self-appointed ‘religious leaders’—and the last Maldivian political institution one would expect to favour an informed decision over an ignorant one—has announced it cannot say ‘Hameed is fornicating’ or ‘Hameed is not fornicating’ unless the Judicial Service Commission says ‘This is Hameed or ‘This is not Hameed.’ Until then Adhaalath — or any other government entity — will not see what it sees, nor must our own eyes see what they see.

In November last year, 38 MPs in Majlis agreed President of the Civil Service Commission, Mohamed Fahmy, was more likely than not to have sexually harassed a female servant as she alleged. They voted to have him removed from the CSC. Fahmy, though, is still there in the CSC, accompanied by a subliminal government-issue caption designed to appear under every image of Fahmy we come across: ‘This is not a sexual harasser’ or ‘Sexual harassment is not a crime.’

Back in April this year, pictures emerged of Defence Minister Mohamed Nazim and Tourism Minister Ahmed Adeeb hob-nobbing with the Artur Brothers – Armenian gangsters who were chased out of Kenya in 2006 for heroin trafficking and involvement in the country’s troubled political scene.

Initially the official line was to say it was neither Nazim nor Adeeb hanging with the gangsters. Then came a very Gasim-esque defence: ‘It is possible that the Ministers and the Brothers were in the same place at the same time. That doesn’t mean they were together as in together together.’

Soon after, pictures emerged of the Brothers at the gala event organised by Nazim and Adheeb to re-open Olympus theatre. This was followed by evidence that one of them was staying in Farukolhufushi, a resort under direct control of Adheeb at the time. Still, the official line was: ‘This is not happening.’

It was the same with the leaked draft Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with the United States. Nazim and others denied they saw the leaked version on ‘social media’, but were able to confirm ‘this is not the SOFA’. So it was not.

A similar story with the PISCES system gifted by the United States: ‘This is a border control system,’ said both governments, and so it is; even though controlling borders is the least of PISCES’ concerns.

Then there were reports of the forged ‘extension’ of the agreement to extend the lease of Farukolhufushi resort, a copy of which was shown on Raajje TV. Independently verifiable evidence exists that Adheeb took US$400,000 as a sweetener from the lessee of Farukolhufushi in exchange for the extension. But, the authorities have stuck the ‘This did not happen’ label on the incident, so it hasn’t.

Latest in these series of events occurred yesterday, the day marked on the calendar as ‘The Independence Day’. Two events were held to confirm this: one at the museum and one at the Republic Square. The event at the museum was a reception hosted by Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik and his wife Ilham Hussein for local and foreign dignitaries. It was held in the hall usually reserved for the most precious of national heritage artifacts. Their storage requires specific conditions, their care and handling needs highly trained hands. This is the expert opinion. The official line, however, is different. In direct contradiction of results of years of study, the President’s Office put out a statement saying: Having the party at the museum, or having untrained labourers move the priceless artifacts will not damage them. So it won’t.

Last night Male’ watched as Maumoon Abdul Gayoom was given the highest national award of respect. For thirty years, Gayoom ruled the Maldives without respect for either human freedoms, dignity or the rule of law. It was a dictatorship that stalled economic, social, cultural and intellectual development for an entire generation. But, the national honour, the shining thing around his neck, screams ‘This is not a dictator’. So he must not be.

http://www.dhivehisitee.com/

Day News Photo

Nature of Politics

މިރާއްޖޭގެ ހުރިހާ ކަމެއް މިދަނީ ރާއްޖޭގެ ރައްޔިތުން ބޭނުންވާގޮތަށް، މިއަދު ހަގީގަތަކީ ކުރިން އަޅުގަނޑު އެވެނި މިވެނި މީހަކީ ނުބައިވެގެންވާ ނުލަފާ ޖައްބާރު މީހެކޭ ބުނާ މީހާވެސް މިއަދު ސިޔާސީ ގޮތުން އަޅުގަނޑު ތާއިދު ކުރާ ކޮޅަށް ޖެހޭ އިރަށް އެމީހަކު ނުލަފާ އަދި ޖައްބާރު މީހަކަށްވެސް ނުވޭ.....އަޅެ މީ އަރަތެއްތަ؟

ދިވެހި ރައްޔިތުންގެ ތެރޭން ސިޔާސީ ޒާތީ ނިޒާމުގައި ނުޖެހޭ ބޭފުޅުންނަ ވަރަށް ރަނގަޅަށް ފަހުމްވާނެ ބޯޑިއަމްތަކުގައި ދައްކާ ވާހަކަތަށް އަމާޒް ކޮއްފައި ހުންނަނީ ދިވެހި ރައްިތުން ގުނބޯ ހެއްދުމާ އެހެން މީހުންނާ މެދުގައި ނަފްރައްތެރިން އުފެއްދުމަށް ކަން.

ދައުލަތުގެ ބަޖެޓަކީ 50 ބިލިޔަން ކަމަށް ހަދާ ދިވެހި އެންމެހާ ރައްޔިތުން ލަގްޒަރީ ފްލެޓްތަކުގައި އުޅުނަސް އެކުވެރިކަމާ އެއްބަނޑު އެއްބަފާ ކަމުގެ ގުޅުން ނެއް އަދި ނަފްރައްތެރިކަމާ ހަސަދަވެރިކަމުން ފުރިގެންވާ ރައްޔިތަކު ދިރިއުޅޭ އެއްވެސް ގައުމަކަށް ހަމަޖެހުމެއް ނައަންނާނެ

Because we are the children of this beloved land." HEP Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan

" I am standing in front of the national flag. Behind the national emblem. We are all gathered near the spot where Shaheed Hussein Adam sacrificed his life for this country. Where I can see the Islamic Centre, which is the symbol of the country’s Islamic identity. As I stand here tonight, my heart is trying to comprehend the thoughts of young Shaheed Hussain Adam, the twenty-year old soldier, as he lay breathing his last breadth, having tried with his own life to defend his country’s independence. What he must have willed to the people who came after him, who are now responsible for defending this country’s independence. The hope he must have had for the country he had just sacrificed his life for. It is our responsibility to fulfil his wishes. To let the light of independence shine bright. Take care of these responsibilities. Because we are Maldivians. Because we are the children of this beloved land." HEP Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan

Cabinet RESIGN - The start of Loose 2011

“Tomorrow President Nasheed will resign,” Umar Naseer predicted. ”Now it is the time to hold mid-term elections.” June 2010

The entire cabinet of the Maldives has resigned in protest against “scorched earth politics” of the opposition-majority parliament, leaving only President Mohamed Nasheed and Vice President Mohamed Waheed Hassan in charge of the country June 2010.

Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) had arrested the leaders of several opposition parties, including Jumhooree Party (JP) leader MP Gasim Ibrahim and People’s Alliance (PA) leader MP Abdulla Yameen (DRP), who have reportedly been taken to the prison on Dhoonidhoo island.

Out of control Situation and Plan Fail situation came..

This was the change of entire MDP Government since they don't have enough seats in Parliament they lost most important Ministries like MNDF most trust person Ameen Faisal  could not get seats from Parliament and could not get the post and given Advisor Post which it was conflict with New Defense Minister that time.

IT WAS THE MAIN REASON LOOSE DEFENSE MINISTRY  BY MOST TRUST PERSON ANNI HAD THAT TIME.

Former Commissioner of Police Ahmed Faseeh could not control Police  commands and he knows now Police Commissioner Riyaz influencing to seniors and planning the plot but he was also among failure to handle this matter until it became big scenario.

The Question now I must ask why these two years 300 police officers were suddenly recruit?

What was actual strategies to recruit these officer's?

To our Boys

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY TO ALL OFFICERS OF IMMIGRATION

Special Force 7th Anniversary...

Special Forces Team is the elite Special Forces unit of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).

The unit is specifically involved in situations where it is impediment to regular infantry forces. They are tasked in carrying out a variety of operations in any environment in any part of the country.

Origins and Training Volunteers from 18th Special Task Forces Team were selected to undergo extensive training. The unit completed its first anti-terrorism tactics training from the Girifushi Training Center.  20 officers were selected from the center to undergo advanced training.

The training was divided into 6 different tasks which was completed in L.Kahdhoo & Gdh.Kadehdhoo. Special forces were trained in Maldives by instructors from various countries.

The most difficult and most important training was in weapons and tactics, some of which was completed in Sri Lanka.

They were also trained by the Commando regiment school and Special Forces training academy in Maduru Oya, Sri Lanka.

24 officers completed anti-hijacking, hostage rescue, helicopter rapelling, land navigation, and parachute courses in Sri Lanka.

Special forces units are also trained in advanced modern mortar and combat arms training, which is an 8 month course located at the Special forces academy in Maduru Oya, Sri Lanka.

Source: MNDF Media

Inapproriate Decicion from the policy makers.

COMMENT BY ; Anonymous July 26, 2013 at 3:48 PM

Work Visa processing has become a herculian task due to inapproriate decicion from the policy makers of Immigration.

They have adopted and incomplete software made by NCIT which has given hard time for the immigration officers as well as the employers. Expatriates has faced several problems due to the delay caused in visa process.

Expatriates are also facing the problem of being subjected to various indignities from the employers. These include withheld their salary and passports. The authorities has never done enough to ensure an end to these problems faced by expat community.

The worst of all is that government agencies also hold passport of their foreign employees. This is unacceptable. Government should put extra effort to eradicate these malpractices.

Maldives was enjoying tremendous growth under the British

Maldives celebrates Independence Day on Monday July 26, marking the 48th anniversary of the country’s independence from Britain.

The truth will be the truth. Maldives was enjoying tremendous growth under the British. I believe today Maldives would have been in the same level as Singapore or Hongkong had we stayed under the British banner.

You should be more offended by your people for making silly fairy tales and lies to cover up the history of the Maldives. Nobody but an idiot would believe such stories, yet we proudly put it down as history.

You might be proud of your constitution, yet it is the biggest piece of crap ever created and the source of the all the nonsense we experience today.

Fighting for power and fighting for destroy of people in media and working for Majlis members and politician by Independent Commissions.

This is the nature of Independence Day we celebrate today..

Maldives the nation I love and Happy Independence Day

Today is the day that Maldivian must celebrate ‘Independence Day’ and I know some Politicians and Political parties  never Celebrate the day because of egos they have to the Government.

The Birth Place and  Mother tongue born here and  Media and Independent Commissions given freedom Independently to investigate things and not spoil people's name and reputation but this Independence too much freedom gives to our Nation to go wrong direction and forget about the NATION Value.

Red for Brave Hero's that fought our Nation and White is our Religion that syblum that we are Muslims brothers and sisters Green is our country One of the beautiful nation with sea and sand and green trees spread in Indian Ocean..

Happy Independence Day to all Maldivian 2013

VISA PROBLEMS??

Many visa renewal problems for the teachers working in the Ministry of Education but still the agencies recruiting many teachers by collecting a huge amount around IRS.1.5 lakh .

This is a big corruption deal going in the Ministry of Education. The newly recruited teachers through the agencies from India are asked to bring money in US dollar, they say , they have to give equal share(Bribe) to some officials in the Ministry or Agencies.

The Ministry It self will know these deals that given a famous Agency in Maldives to bring huge amount teacher's and so many visa unsolve and improper way last 4 years Ministry and Agency worked.

Why cant the ACC here Maldives take necessary action!!!! MOST Corrupt Commission that control by Politicians in Maldives.

Source Comment by a Reader

Xpat System Solving Issues

Since  9 months is enough time to make a software and solve problem.

By Neil Merrett | July 24th, 2013 | 

Minivan News

A growing number of foreign nationals are finding themselves forbidden from leaving the Maldives by immigration staff, due to the failure of state and private employers to renew visa documentation.

The Indian High Commission in the Maldives told Minivan News it was now demanding government intervention after receiving complaints from expatriates claiming they have been blocked from boarding planes at Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (INIA), and stranded in the country indefinitely.

Minivan News has learned of cases where expatriates from India, the UK, the US and the Philippines have been blocked from leaving the country due to issues with visa documentation attributable to the negligence of state authorities and employers – in some cases, government ministries.

Unable to leave – and in some cases fined extortionate sums on behalf of the employer – foreigners are complaining of being trapped without funds, accommodation or legal representation.

As employers are responsible for arranging work permits on behalf of their foreign employees, foreign nationals are unable to submit or collect their own visa documentation, effectively stranding them in the Maldives at the mercy of their employers and state authorities while renewals are underway.

One UK national, seeking to ensure his own work permit was processed, even told Minivan News he was refused service at the immigration office on the grounds of “Where’s your owner?”.

An Indian High Commission source this week accused authorities of persecuting foreign nationals for the failure of the state and private employers to correctly renew or register foreign staff in the required time, depriving expatriates of their freedom of movement.

In just the past few days, the high commission said two Indian nationals had missed flights and been stranded in the Maldives while waiting for employers and government authorities to resolve the outstanding issues with their paperwork.

One of those affected, licensed pathologist at the state-run Indira Ghandi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), Dr Anjula Jain, was prevented from returning to India last week after completing her contract with the Ministry of Health.

She was forced to wait several days before receiving approval to book another flight with her own money.

Dr Jain has since filed an official complaint over her treatment with the Indian High Commission.

A High Commission source said Dr Jain had been told at immigration counter that she could not leave the country as her work visa had expired, despite the Health Ministry being in the process of renewing her documents.

Despite possessing papers showing the renewal process was ongoing, the doctor was still refused permission to leave.

Dr Jain was then asked to obtain a letter from the Health Ministry confirming the renewal of her documents was underway, before finally obtaining clearance from the Department of Immigration to leave the country days later.

The High Commission source said it was extremely concerned that Maldives employers, especially state authorities such as the Health Ministry, were continuing to employ foreign nationals even after their visas had expired, resulting in serious difficulties for the workers.

“There is a serious problem here for expatriates working for private and government companies where a visa is not renewed in time, with some people even having their bank accounts frozen and being deprived of their rights,” the source said.

“One call is too many,” the source said. “Concerns have been raised with [State Foreign Minister] Hassan Saeed as some similar cases have been brought to our attention. [The commission] will be checking with authorities that a systematic resolution can be found by the government to resolve this issue.”

Trapped in Male

Several foreign staff of varying nationalities working in areas ranging from tourism to the NGO sector have told Minivan News they are effectively barred from leaving due to problems with paperwork they are unable to resolve without the assistance of ambivalent employers and immigration staff.

One US national working in the NGO sector told Minivan News that she remains blocked from leaving the country due to a delay in obtaining a visa stamp in her passport, after discovering at the immigration counter that a previous employer had failed to pay outstanding visa charges.

Speaking to Minivan News on condition of anonymity, the woman said that during a recent attempt to fly to Sri Lanka for a medical reasons, immigration staff  had summoned an airline official, who had ripped up her ticket in front of her.

“I spent a year working for my former employer. It took six months of demanding my passport be returned to me before it was, however I was constantly reassured all my documentation was in order and there were just processing delays. So I was very surprised to discover they had failed to pay the appropriate work visa fees,” she said.

“This has not only caused problems for my current employer, it has put me in a very vulnerable position as an expatriate worker. I’ve been prevented from leaving the country – urgently for health reasons – by the Immigration Department because of these unpaid fees resulting in my documentation not being properly updated.”

The US national said she was now effectively at the mercy of previous employers to resolve the outstanding payments, as she was unable to afford the the MVR 15,000 (US$1000) in fines demanded by immigration authorities to allow her to leave the country.

“Despite being in constant contact with my former employer about these issues, and some of the members showing genuine concern, they have still failed to resolve the issue nearly seven months later. Instead they blame me for these issues, when it’s clearly their own professional incompetence. It’s a foul betrayal to have dedicated so much time and energy, as well as made numerous personal sacrifices, in order to partner with this organisation to achieve their mission, merely to be blatantly disrespected as a professional and individual,” she said.

“Foreign workers in the Maldives – of any nationality – are treated like slaves, or indentured servants at best.  As a professional woman, it’s worse because you have to navigate the sexism and endure a lot of harassment – which would never be allowed if this was a country that respected its foreign employees.”

By contrast, the US national believed the only method to have visa documentation approved in a quick manner was to go through recruitment ‘agents’, alleging that corruption seemed to be endemic within the system, despite tight restrictions imposed on foreign professionals.

“The most ridiculous part of the situation is that in addition to my former employer’s incompetence, the department of immigration has been in a state of flux since Feb 2012, but this is not taken into consideration by the government. They don’t care. Illegal foreign workers are brought into the country and exploited in droves, but immigration punishes legitimate workers claiming they know what they are supposed to do,” she argued.

Employees must take responsibility: Immigration

The Department of Immigration confirmed it was aware that foreign nationals had been prevented from leaving due to their employers not having obtained visas correctly.

However, the immigration authority argued that the Maldives, like countries all over the world, required foreign nationals to have the correct visa documentation to enter or leave the country, even to their homeland.

Immigration Department spokesperson Ibrahim Ashraf said all expatriates would be aware that, in order to stay in a foreign country, it was mandatory to have the correct and valid visa.

Ashraf said that there had been a “huge backlog” of visas that were required to be processed by employers such as the health and education ministries, claiming that immigration authorities had made special arrangements to fast track visa renewals.

“This should not be happening,” he said of expatriates being prevented from boarding flights out of the country.

Ashraf claimed the Immigration Department had not been made aware of any concerns raised by the Indian High Commission over the issue of stranded workers, suggesting some issues may have been related to a “huge misunderstanding” of the visa system by employers.

“Payments for visas have to be made to the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA), with passports then officially needing to be processed with the Department of Immigration once payment is complete,” he said. “The visa sticker has to be there in the passport.”

Ashraf stressed that a correct visa sticker was requested by airlines as well as foreign authorities to allow a foreign national to board any international flight.

Health Ministry backlog

Responding to the Indian High Commission’s concerns about Dr Jain, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health Geela Ali told Minivan News said she was unaware of the case.

However, she accepted there had been issues with foreign doctors not being able to leave the country as a result of problems relating to visa extension issues, such as the transfer of staff from health corporations established under the previous government back to the ministry.

Geela insisted there were no longer recurring problems with visa extension of expatriates working for the health ministry, despite a backlog of outstanding documentation preventing staff from leaving, and said many issues had been resolved.

“The matter is now under control, but obviously there will sometimes be employees who cannot leave over visa issues,” she said.

Geela said IGMH was responsible for its large foreign workforce, and any workers who were facing issues leaving the country.

Indian authorities meanwhile last year slammed the government and some private employers for failing to reissue visa documentation to expatriates who were forced in some cases to wait weeks in Male to return home for visits and emergencies, including one worker’s own wedding.

In January, the high commission provided local media with a list of 11 grievances affecting its relationship with the Maldives, including discrimination, the keeping of passports of Indian nationals by employers, and the failure to repatriate mortal remains of foreign workers.

The source expressed confidence that authorities would find a resolution to the various grievances raised, despite claiming that no progress had made on any of the issues raised at time of press.

Source Minivan News 

Powers of the Police and Military has been leaked on social media.

( MDP’s national council member and former Youth Minister Hassan Latheef said that all their policies will be announced in the presence of the media)

It reasons that the people have lost faith in the country’s security forces and describes the police and the military as obstacles to molding the country to the party's vision.

But it will be very dangerous to put forward and implement such a change. considering the already extremely polarized councils.

Even Male’ city council works like a separate government with its President more powerful than the President of the country.

Taking example from the US model is a big joke, we are not even close to that.. It will take two more generations for the common Maldivians to understand the true values of Democracy, Human Rights and Rule of Law.

Moreover, the young democracy is already facing serious challenges from radical islam within the country.

Flexible Job in Majlis

According to the Maldivian constitution chapter 03/73 states that the qualifications of people majlis are       

a-Is a citizen of the Maldives;

b-Is a citizen of the Maldives;

c-Is not a citizen of a foreign country;

Is a Muslim and a follower of a Sunni school of Islam;

d-Has attained the age of eighteen years; and Is of sound mind.  

The attendance of MPs is maintained throughout the sitting. However, MPs are free to leave and come in as they please, and the proceedings are not affected if the legal quorum of 25% of the total number of 77 MPs is present 26.

Also, it’s a flexible job and one doesn’t have to attend it regularly no does one have to really prepare for the sessions.

You could just go there and say a few things and vote. Many feel that it is an easy way to make a good living.

A Member of Parliament cannot be arrested even for murder while inside the Majlis Chambers, or on the way or returning back to/from the Majlis.

·         No Court Summon can be handed over to a MP while within the Parliament Compound.

·         If a Member of Parliament is to be searched, the person doing so should have proof beyond doubt (not reasonable doubt), of a crime. Even in a Court of Law the requirement is beyond reasonable doubt.

The President, Vice President, members of the Cabinet, members of the People’s Majlis, including the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, members of the Judiciary, and members of the Independent Commissions and Independent Offices shall be paid such salary and allowances as determined by the People’s Majlis.

Year 2010 members of the parliament increase their salaries to 65200 by themselves. 

In addition approximately more than MVR 80,000 can get every month. But still they are struggling to increase their salaries and benefits.

Maldivian MP was said to be equivalent to US$ 7,083

The benefits

1-Any Member of Parliament who has served for one term (5years) is entitles to : 30% of Salary (for 2 terms 45% and 3 terms 60%) of a Member of Parliament.

2-A Medical Insurance.

3-An Official Passport

4-A Title of State Honorary and to be addressed as MP for the Constituency served.

5-All Members are entitled to a duty free car every 5 years.

6-All Members are to be provided with a Diplomatic passport and VIP Lounge facilities at all airports in Maldives and abroad where available.

7-All Members, spouses and children under 18 years are to be provided Medical Insurance applicable in SAARC and ASEAN Countries.

8-Land Transportation for the Speaker

It's quite accepted that most of our People's Majlis are not capable of their work and salary

Look at how these debts had accumulated .

The country total debt in the beginning of 2009 was 350 millions and end of 2011 total debt had increased to USD 993 million and at the end of 2012 the debt was 984 million.

The basic rate of pay for MPs is Rf42,500 (US$2,759) per month whilst the highest ranking civil servant receives Rf20500, according to local media reports. This is around the same amount MPs involved in committee work can expect to receive each month on top of their basic salary.

Crazy PARLIAMENT...

Big Companies choose Forign workers

Illegal immigration plays an active role, either positive or negative –

There are several reasons why illegal immigration is good for the countries like Maldives. 

Most of the Maldivian employers save money for giving low wages to the illegal immigrant labours.

Most of the farmers use illegal workers to plant and harvest less expensively. On the other hand, illegal immigration causes negative effects to the societies as well.

Every year illegal and legal immigrant sends million of us dollars outside the country. Low wagers trends of foreign labour force make more unemployment young generations. 

That was happen to Maldives now...

Resorts and other places jobs are given foreigners and even good job that maldivian can work category jobs also given to foreigners.

Maldives big companies choose foreigners this must stop by goverment and our people...

LACK OF GOOD DATA WHAT WAS HAPPEN?

The increasing of workers would create large impact of crime. The overall picture of workers and crime remains confused due to a lack of good DATA and contrary information in Maldives.

Last 3 years Immigration Department were tried to install most advanced system with 3rd Level security but because of Political reason and Maldives Anti Courrption Commision stop due to political reason the system were too expensive but the support from Anti Courrption APIS system same amount charge without system was implement last year this is the proof politicians were behind these trades.

But some media reports elaborate most of the immigrants engaging the crime of Maldives. The major crime like, prostitution, theft, drug dealing, trade violate and child abuse, the most recent

Maldives is pulling record numbers of legal and illegal immigrants to fill the low-status, low-paying, or hard jobs that Maldivian natives reject.

The number of Bangladeshis in this country is around 50,000 now and one-third of them are either working or staying there illegally. In addition, the information session which was conducted by immigration the past 03 years of foreign labours statistics  70'000 Illegal immigration has impact on many political, economical, social and ethical issues.

The largest migrant stock of any country worldwide, while six of the top ten countries with the largest foreign-born populations are USA, Russia, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Canada, France, UK, Spain, India and Ukraine (IOM, 2010)

According to Maldivian immigration statistics all most all immigrants of this country have almost always confronted some sort of discrimination like hardest low wages jobs, Poor accommodations and other survival needs. In the Maldives, larger proportion of low-skilled labours work mostly in construction industry. But other industries like agriculture, manufacturing, foreigners such a laboured force is not very common. Most of the maldivian foriners change their leagal condition to illegal for various reasons. Instead of low wages, most of the employers hold their salaries for long duration and also, fraud recritment also help to hide their identities. According to maldivian media reports, the numbers of human trafficing activities has been introduces in maldives very recently, and the most of the victims are illegal immigrants. “In addition to Bangladeshis and Indians, some migrants from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Nepal reportedly experienced recruitment fraud before arriving in the Maldives,”

The Maldives did not provide access to services such as shelter, counseling, medical care, or legal aid to foreign or Maldivian victims of trafficking. The government did not conduct any anti-trafficking or educational campaigns in the Maldives, nor did it take any measures to reduce demand for forced labour within the country.”