PG describes Mal

Prosecutor General’s Office said today that the decision of Malé City Council to compulsorily acquire the private residential property and family home of the former President Maumoon Abdul Qayyoom for the government as “very irresponsible”. PG Office stated that no person’s property can be acquired by the government without the person’s permission unless under a court order to that effect.

Referring to Article 40 of the Maldivian Constitution in a statement issued today, PG Office reminded Malé Council how the law regarded private property belonging to people. The statement also stressed the point that it was a legal duty of the PG Office to uphold the principles established by the Constitution, the law, and the personal rights and freedom of people in general.

Article 40(b) of the Maldives Constitution says that “private property shall be inviolable, and may only be compulsorily acquired by the State for the public good, as expressly prescribed by law, and as authorised by order of the court. Fair and adequate compensation shall be paid in all cases, as determined by the court.”

Malé City Council decided by unanimous agreement of Councilors present, to compulsorily acquire Kinbigasdhoshuge, a private residential property belonging to former President Maumoon Abdul Qayyoom, in an impromptu meeting of the Council today, on a red carpet on the street outside the People’s Majlis.

Amid protests around the Majlis building, the decision was made by the Malé City Council in a session where the only two Councilors representing the opposition DRP were absent, and only Councilors belonging to the ruling MDP were present at the meeting. Adam “Sarangu” Manik, who had recently resigned from his office as President of the Council, “chaired” the meeting. Sun reporter, reporting from the spot, said that the Council decided to compulsorily acquire Kinbigasdhoshuge after paying fair and adequate compensation, following a motion by MDP Councilor Hassan “Janbu” Afeef.

Dhunya Maumoon, former President Qayyoom’s daughter, told DhiFM today that the decision of the Malé City Council was a joke, and that the Council did not have an authority to do what they purported to do by the decision. She also said the decision was a response to the situation in the People’s Majlis, and that she would take measures to counter the Council decision in accordance with the laws.

Hours after the decision of Male' City Council, Mohamed Nihaan Hussein, MP for Vilimaafannu, Malé, constituency and prominent leader of the Z Faction of Divehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) said that Malé City Council’s resolve to compulsorily acquire the former President's family home was an illegal and extremely cowardly move. He said that the Z Faction would not be cowed into backing off by such threats, and that it would continue to hold the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party in check in the People’s Majlis without fear or faltering.

Political situation in the Maldives has intensified following a dispute over the composition of Standing Committees in the Majlis, which was resolved, in an impromptu meeting conducted, according to the Z Faction of the DRP, against the express provisions of the Majlis Rules of Procedure. The meeting was conducted during the night after members were given a two-hour notice via SMS. Following the incident, the Z Faction has consistently stated that they would disrupt the meetings of the Majlis until violations of the Rules stopped, and kept their word by interrupting three meetings of the Majlis within a short period little longer than a week. In response, President Mohamed Nasheed has called on the Maldives National Defence Forces and the Maldives Police Services to ensure "smooth functioning of the Legislature", and the MNDF and Police today dragged three members belonging to the DRP, after they tried to disrupt Majlis session.