Total of Seven Arrested For Gayoom Assassination Attempt

Police have arrested a total of seven people in connection with the attempted assassination of President Gayoom on 8 January, they announced at a press conference today.

They told reporters Mohamed Murushid, 20, has confessed to being the attacker and has said he intended to kill the President.Mohamed Hafiz, 18, has also confessed to being involved in the plot to kill Gayoom, according to police.

More ArrestsPolice arrested five people from Haa Alif Hoarafushi at the time of the attack, including Murushid and Hafiz.Assistant Commissioner of Police Abdullah Riyaz confirmed today that another two people had been arrested on the evening of 10 January.

Police did not name the two, but several sources have told Minivan News they are Ibrahim Adam and Ibrahim Amir, both teachers at the private Thauleemul Bayaan Koran school on the island.Until 11 January police had maintained Murushid was the only person detained in connection with the attack, but the new arrests bring the total to seven. more

Total of Seven Arrested For Gayoom Assassination Attempt

MDP Calls National Protest

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has announced a nationwide protest in response to the recent violence and arrests.“We have called the protest to highlight the continued police brutality, the most recent manifestation of which is in Addu, but it is continuing,” said Hamid Abdul Gafoor, Secretary General of the MDP. The demonstration has been scheduled for February 25, which was the same date as the opening of the People’s Majlis. But the President’s Office announced on Thursday that the ceremony for the opening of parliament will be brought forward to February 22. The MDP’s National Council will meet this evening to decide the final details for the protest, including whether to change the date. But Acting President of the party, Ibrahim Hussein Zaki, told Minivan News on Thursday that if the MDP brings forward the protest, the government will again change the date of the Majlis opening, so there is “no point” in altering the date. Some MDP supporters are worried that February 25, more than two weeks away, is too late for a protest, as it will give the authorities too much time to prepare, but it is thought the National Council will stick to the original date. more

MDP Calls National Protest

Risk Of Civil Disobedience, If President Refuses To Allow Interim Government?

There is a risk of civil disobedience, if President Gayoom refuses to ratify a potential Special Majlis bill concerning transitional arrangements, MDP Chairman Mohamed Nasheed (Anni) told Miadhu.The ruling DRP have rejected the notion of a transitional Government to implement the country’s new constitution ahead of next year’s multi-party elections. Gayoom told Dhaalu Meedho islanders recently there is no reason why Maldives should have a transitional Government, and said it is unnecessary for free and fair elections.The alliance, made up of opposition parties, says a free and fair election is not possible if Gayoom, himself a presidential candidate, presides over it. more

Risk Of Civil Disobedience, If President Refuses To Allow Interim Government?

Violence In Hoarafushi

Two Maldives Police officers have been attacked by a gang from Hoarafushi, Haa Alifu atoll, Monday, state newspaper Haveeru reports. The officers were responding to reports of a fight, at around 7:15pm on Monday night, the paper says, citing Sergeant Nahid Hussein.“Our officers acted on information received via a phone call, and went to the house of the person we heard was about to be attacked,” said Sergeant Nahid. “The person was under our protection when a group of around 15 men came to the house and started making a commotion.

One of them attacked the officers and then they all fled the scene.”The newspaper goes on to say both the officers “had welts and bruises on their backs and faces” as a result of the beating. The paper says the alleged attacker, Ahmed Shameen, 23, of Jeans Villa, in Hoarafushi, is now in custody.

Police are quoted as saying he had a history of arrests for various criminal offences.Two foreign construction workers were injured in an attack by a Hoarafushi gang last Sunday. Eleven Hoarafushi residents attacked the two Indian and Bangladeshi workers with metal pipes and wooden planks, leaving them both with head injuries.

Four police officers also suffered minor injuries at the time. Haveeru reports eleven individuals who reportedly attacked the workers and police are now under arrest. They are between16 to 35 years of age.

Violence In Hoarafushi

Laguna Maldive

LAGUNA This is a good all-rounder: not too large to sacrifice that desert-island ambience, not so “honeymoonish” that parents will be constantly wishing their offspring came with a mute button, and not so quiet that active guests risk boredom. Many of the 115 rooms are in two-storey blocks, set back from the beach and shaded by lush vegetation. It has wonderful sweeps of beach and, although every island in the Maldives has a frill of magnificent turquoise water, the shallowness of the lagoon here means that the sea retains that stunning Tiffany colour as far as the eye can see. The pros: food is a cut above offerings in many other resorts. The cons: dated decor. Best for: groups of thirty- or fortysomethings. The package: Kuoni (01306 747008, www.kuoni.co.uk) has seven nights, B&B, from £747pp, including charter flights and transfers. more

Laguna Maldive