Mal

Malé City Council has annulled its resolution made yesterday to compulsorily acquire Kinbigasdhosuge, the private property of former president Maumoon Abdul Qayyoom for the government. The decision has been kept aside by the Council in less than 24 hours, in a meeting held today.

Ahmed Samah Rasheed, Deputy Mayor, who presided over today’s meeting said that the annulment was carried out as proposed by Council member Mohamed “Rukuma” Abd al-Kareem. He said that four members voted against annulling the resolution, while four voted to annul, and that he himself cast the deciding vote. Adam “Sarangu” Manik, who had recently resigned from his office as Mayor, and who presided over yesterday’s meeting which saw the confiscation-resolution passed, was not present at the meeting today. Also, Lufshan Shakeeb was absent from today’s meeting.

When asked why the resolution was annulled, Samah, who voted affirmatively to pass it yesterday, said that he had since known that it was against the majority view of his party, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and that President Mohamed Nasheed himself did not approve of the decision. “When the resolution was proposed yesterday, I was shocked. I thought it was a decided matter presented to the Council just for rubber-stamping. However, later I came to know that it was an on-the-spot idea. When I met the President today, I noticed that he was not very happy with the decision either. It was not an MDP party decision, and so I discussed the matter with many, and decided that annulment of the resolution was the best course of action”, Samah said.

Malé City Council has annulled its resolution to confiscate former president’s private property in the capital city after the decision has been heavily condemned by many, including MPs, the PG Office, the Human Rights Commission, and some political parties.

Labour party files complaints with PG and HRCM

Before the Council resolution of confiscation was annulled, the Labour Party filed complaints with the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) and the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM), requesting investigation of Malé City Council decision to compulsorily acquire former President Maumoon’s private property.

In a letter sent by Ahmed “Red Wave” Saleem’s Labour Party to PGO, it was stated that Malé Council resolution to confiscate former president’s private property was a “criminal” action, against the Constitution, the Decentralisation Act, and the legal powers of the Local Government Authority. Saying thus, the letter filed a request for immediate enquiry into the matter, and also requested appropriate actions to be taken. “We implore you to summon those who perpetrated these crimes of terrorizing and threatening to plunder of people’s homes and property, to investigate their criminal activities and to take appropriate action against them”, the letter read.

The Labour Party, which had long being in a coalition with the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and recently broke up the coalition and joined the ranks of the opposition sides, stated that the decision of Malé City Council was “the beginning of a long series of confiscation and plunder of private properties belonging to opposition leaders”, and that this should stop at once.

The 3-page letter, of which Sun has obtained a copy, stated that if the Council decision was allowed to stand, Councils all over the country would soon start following the precedent and, there would be a floodgate of confiscation of private property around the country, starting a war between the government and the people. “If majorities of a particular political party in local councils created in every island and atoll of the country follows precedent, and start compulsory acquisition of private property in meetings conducted on the street, on the beach, and everywhere else, then no person in this country would have any security and guarantee about his property, business, or investments”, read the letter.

HRCM condemns Council decision

Before the Council decision was annulled, it was condemned by the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM). In a statement published today, HRCM said that the decision to compulsorily acquire the private property belonging to former president Maumoon Abdul Qayyoom was made in violation of the Constitution, statutory provisions, and fundaments principles of human rights.

HRCM statement said that the Council decision was against Article 40 of the Constitution, which stated 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 authorized by order of the court, and that fair and adequate compensation shall be paid in all cases, as determined by the court.

HRCM statement also stated that such a decision would create uncertainty and fear in the hearts of the people that their private homes and property could in this manner be grabbed by the government at any time. “This Commission, therefore, calls the Malé City Council to perform its legal duties appropriately, by respecting the people’s fundamental human rights”, said the statement.

The City Council decision was annulled not long after the statement of HRCM was published.

The Council decided to confiscate Kinbigasdhoshuge yesterday, in an impromptu meeting conducted on the street outside the People’s Majlis, amid protests by the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) supporters against disruption of parliament sessions by the Z Faction of the opposition Divehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP). The Z Faction is a break-away group of dissenters within DRP, consisting of senior leaders who have rallied behind former President Maumoon who founded DRP, in opposing the leadership and policies of current party leader Ahmed Tasmin Ali, who has been accused by the Z Faction of secretly conniving with MDP. The City Council meeting, in which 8 Councilors belonging to MDP sat and the remaining 2 members who belonged to DRP were absent, made the decision, in the opinion of many, in an effort to attack Maumoon and threaten Z DRP into compliance.