India - The Indian Ocean Civilization & IOR

[Pratyush]

Another neighbor slips from the Indian orbit. Now just who is left in India's orbit?

[Singha]

Bhutan one hopes.

[SSridhar]

PRC is already making significant moves there too.

[SSridhar]

Maldivian FM speaks to Salman Kurshid

In a bid to mollify India which is upset over termination of the $500 million GMR project, Maldivian foreign minister Abdul Samad Abdullah spoke to his Indian counterpart Salman Khurshid on Tuesday and told him that a detailed communication on it will be sent to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

In a telephonic call to Khurshid, Abdullah said he was not aware of India's displeasure over the issue, sources said here.

Interestingly, New Delhi has maintained that they had conveyed their displeasure to Maldives immediately after the termination of the project and asked it to ensure that Indian interest was "fully protected".

During the conversation, Abdullah said that Maldives President Mohamad Waheed will be writing a detailed communication to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh clarifying the country's position on the termination decision.

[Prem]

Singapore stays cancellation, GMR to continue in Male

http://www.firstpost.com/business/gmr-t ... le_economy

In a major relief to the GMR Group, a Singapore High Court today stayed the cancellation of GMR’s $511 million airport contract in Maldives, enabling the company to continue operations at the Male international airport for the time being.The news sent GMR shares soaring.At 11.43 am, the stock was 4.29 percent higher, while the Sensex was down 0.22 percent.The option of legal action in Singapore is provided in the contract GMR had signed with the Maldivian government.Last week, Maldives had cancelled the airport development deal with GMR because the contract contained a $25 airport development charge per outgoing passenger which was not authorised by the Maldives parliament.The airport development contract awarded to the GMR Group in 2010 has been mired in controversy as the contract was firmed up during the Presidency of Mohammed Nasheed who was ousted in February this year.Hasan Saeed, the current president Mohammed Waheed’s special advisor, told the Business Standard that GMR’s contract was terminated because it was financially unviable and would prove to be a massive blow to the government’s coffers which would have to shell out around Rs 2,781 crore to GMR over 25 years as concession, rather than earning revenues.
“After a civil court cancelled imposition of a $25 airport development charge (ADC) and $ 2 as insurance charge from all departing international passengers in December last, Nasheed just before he was ousted in February, permitted GMR to set off the short fall amount (for the reason of non-collection of ADC charge) against the payment of future variable annual concession fee,” the Business Standard report said.
The termination was seen as a major setback in the bilateral relations of India and Maldives. The GMR-led consortium has so far invested $230 million in the project, out of which $160 million has been funded by Axis Bank. The company has 80 expatriates working at the airport and they may have to be evacuated in case the matter continues to remain unresolved in seven days.

[SSridhar]

India warns Maldives of adverse consequences in ties

India has warned the Maldives that cancelling the GMR Group’s Male airport project before the legal processes have been exhausted will have “adverse consequences” for bilateral ties.

Asking the Maldives not to take any “arbitrary or coercive measure,” the Indian response followed Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdul Samad Abdullah’s expression of inability to revisit the GMR project, in a telephonic talk with his Indian counterpart, Salman Khurshid.

Mr. Abdullah told Mr. Khurshid that a Special Envoy of Maldivian President Mohamad Waheed will bring a detailed communication to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh justifying his government’s decision to terminate the contract, even as arbitration proceedings between GMR and the Maldives were going on in Singapore.

Mr. Khurshid reminded Mr. Abdullah of high level assurances given earlier about resolving the GMR tangle amicably and asked him to ensure the situation did not “go out of hand”, in a reference to the rabble rousing going on in the Maldives against the GMR project and cases of assaults on parliamentarians who have opposed the termination of the contract.

The Maldives Foreign Minister responded by assuring that there was complete political unanimity on good ties with India.

This position has left New Delhi in a cleft stick because it has to continue supporting the Maldives, from basics such as onions, sugar, flour and rice to stabilising its fiscal position, said government sources. On the other hand, New Delhi is under pressure to take a more “robust” approach, which could mean upsetting the delicate balance that is there at present, they added.

The extent to which the political situation has changed in the Maldives can be assessed from the fact that Dr. Singh became the first foreign leader to address the Maldives Parliament (Majlis) last year. Today the Indian High Commissioner is being called corrupt and asked to go back by a person in the President’s Secretariat (he was removed from his post but accommodated in another), said the sources.

They said elections next year could be the only way out because of the complexity of the situation – rise of well resourced right wing parties, economic downturn in the Maldives and its government’s efforts to paint the previous President, Mohammed Nasheed, as corrupt.

“The Constitution of Maldives does not permit mid-term elections. This is where the whole issue got stuck,” said the sources while pointing out that political violence, a slew of court cases and arrests and even the murder of a parliamentarian were the result of political jostling as several parties and individuals tried to get the upper hand.

While the GMR project has become the standard bearer of the downturn in India-Maldives ties, the sources apprehend that the government in Male, egged on by small but vociferous right wing parties, are turning their sights on reviewing most contracts and allotments made by the previous government.

This includes about 400 islands and creeks allotted over a period of three years by the Nasheed government to foreign companies as well as to its supporters. In conversation with South Block officials, Maldivian officials had complained how shallow reefs and waters were given to Mr. Nasheed’s supporters on the basis of a simple write up.

While anti-India feelings expressed in the Maldives are centred around the GMR project, New Delhi is aware the two basic causes are the fortuitous Maldives President. Mohammed Waheed is the rise of religious extremism, which is taking on Mr. Nasheed’s secularists and moderates in other parties. Many of those involved in small but highly articulate right wing parties have been educated in Madarsas in Pakistan, some on the Afghanistan border. {I was sure about a Pakistani hand. This is from where it comes. Such tactics, like making an issue emotive and use it to further its own objectives, have a close parallel to Pakistan's attempts in J&K in the early part, first against Maharajah Hari Singh and later against elected governments. This could be a joint Pakistan-China operation.}

In order to dilute this tendency and expose prospective students from Maldives to strains of peaceful Islam, New Delhi is trying to put them in touch with Muslim religious leaders running educational institutions in India.

The sources said the Indian government would have to take all these factors into account while fashioning its response to the GMR cancellation. {GoI should not analyze this issue with a very fine tooth comb, thereby getting confused and delaying taking a decision. Too much analysis would lead to paralysis. The contours of the game are very clear and we must play accordingly. Reversing the Wahhabi/Deobandi trend is a long drawn procedure, is strategic in nature and should not be mixed with tactical decision making} Till then, the official stand in New Delhi remains that the “situation is being carefully assessed.”

[SSridhar]

As GMR deadline nears, Waheed Regime on the Backfoot - RK Radhakrishnan, The Hindu

As the December 7 deadline that the Maldivian government set for throwing out the Male airport operator, the India-based multinational GMR, nears, two developments have forced the government on the back-foot: one, a piece of legislation that has been passed in the Majlis (Parliament), and two, the main Opposition party, the Maldivian Democratic Party’s reformed ways.

Parliament on December 3 voted 41-34 to approve amendments to parliamentary rules to conduct no-confidence votes to impeach the President and members of his Cabinet by a secret ballot. The success of the vote was the first MDP victory in several months. It was an MDP initiative, and this time, it had the support of two parties that had earlier thrown its lot with the government. The MDP of the former President, Mohamed Nasheed, finding allies is the second development.

“We have submitted a petition to move a no-confidence motion to remove the Defence Minister [Mohamed Nazim] and the Home Minister [Mohamed Jameel] just a short while ago,” the MDP’s International spokesperson Hamid Abdul Gafoor told The Hindu over telephone from Male on Tuesday evening. “With the JP and the DRP supporting us in the vote [on December 3], we are sure we will have the numbers when the motion is taken up for voting,” he added.

Not satisfied with the parliamentary attack on the government, the MDP also organised street protests on Tuesday to “protest the manner in which the government was treating foreign investments.”

At the heart of the tussle is the modernisation of the Ibrahim Nasir International Airport, which was handed over to GMR after a process of competitive international bidding overseen by a World Bank body. Last year, GMR decided to levy a user development free of $25, which led to widespread protests. Later, a court order stayed the charge.

After Mr. Nasheed resigned as President on February 7, 2012, the new government, led by Mohamed Waheed wanted to review the terms of agreement granted to GMR. A few members of the Waheed government were openly against the airport operator and had been demanding that GMR leave the country. The GMR investment is the largest FDI in the Maldives.

Status quo was ordered on Monday, on a Singapore-based arbitration. The news delighted the MDP, and made some elements of the Waheed government defiant. “I am delighted to hear that the Singapore courts have intervened in this dispute and upheld the rule of law. I look forward to GMR continuing its operations and completing the construction of a new, world-class airport terminal,” Mr. Nasheed said after the verdict.

Ministers Mr. Nazim and Mr. Jameel refused to back off and GMR was given seven days to clear out. As a first step to hindering operations, Maldives Immigration refused to renew the work visas of the foreign staffers whose visa was due for renewal.

Dr. Waheed has adopted a double-speak that is central to the problems that India, and Indian firms have faced in the Maldives since the transition since February this year. For instance, speaking at a function to mark the 47th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Male and New Delhi, Dr. Waheed said that the Maldives would always welcome Indian investments. “International businesses that have done well are those that are built on mutual trust and respect… small countries are very conscious of their national pride and sovereignty… It is not a secret that we are currently facing some difficulty with some Indian companies, we must overcome these difficulties and adamantly resist such difficulties from affecting our very close and brotherly relationship.”

Dr. Waheed has repeatedly made such commitments, and said he believed in solving issues through negotiations. Despite the assurances, the Maldives is now forcing India’s hand on the GMR issue.

[SSridhar]

IFC comes in support of GMR

The beleaguered GMR group, whose 25-year concession to develop and operate the Male International Airport has been terminated by the Maldives government, got a shot in the arm, with International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank, coming out in its support.

“This is very disappointing. [We] hope that the sanctity of the contract is upheld and the matter is resolved as per the contractual framework and in line with Maldivian and international laws,” the IFC said in a letter to G.M. Rao, Chairman of the Group.

IFC was the agency that managed the global tender process for award of concession for development and operation of the Male airport in 2010.

“I want to emphasise that IFC, as the lead transaction adviser to the Government of Maldives for this project in 2010, provided advice to the Government of Maldives that complied with Maldivian laws and regulations and followed international best practices at each step of the bidding process to ensure the highest degree of competitiveness, transparency and credibility of the process,” says Karin Finkelston, Vice President, Asia Pacific, IFC.

Meanwhile, Mr G.M. Rao, Group Chairman, GMR Group has alleged that the termination is “totally political” and does not follow due process. In an interview to The Hindu group of publications at its office in Chennai, Mr Rao said: “They don’t want settlement, they want to cancel, that is their aim.”

He pointed out that GMR had complied with all the demands of the Maldivian government including agreeing not to charge Airport Development Charge (ADC) to Maldivian nationals, consider building an emergency runway to address the constraints of a single runway and upgrade the existing runway. Yet, the government slapped a “stop construction” notice on GMR in July saying due approvals were not taken; GMR says that it has all approvals. The nub of the controversy is over the $25 ADC which GMR was entitled to charge every departing passenger from Jan.1, 2012 as part of the terms of the concession agreement. According to Mr Rao, all the bidders structured their bids by factoring in the ADC revenues into their calculations. As per the successful GMR bid, it had to pay $78 million upfront, a 1 per cent gross revenue share up to 2014 and 10 per cent after that. GMR was also required to share 15 per cent of the fuel revenues until 2014 and 27 per cent after that adding up to a total bid value of $529 million, which was the highest among all bidders.

In December last year, the Maldives Civil Court ruled that ADC cannot be charged as there was no enabling legislation from Parliament for that. GMR requested the Maldives Airport Company Ltd. (MACL), equivalent of the Airports Authority of India, to allow it to set-off the ADC against the revenue share payable to the latter which MACL agreed to. Trouble began with the change of government in Male in February this year. The new government cancelled the set-off arrangement forcing GMR to go for arbitration in Singapore where the case is still on.

MACL, meanwhile, filed a case against its former Chairman seeking a declaration that the letter issued by him allowing GMR to set-off the ADC is not binding on MACL. GMR went to the Singapore High Court in July and obtained an injunction against this. MACL unsuccessfully contested this last month after which came the termination notice.

“The Singapore court mentioned that this is one of the best, transparent agreements that it has seen and complimented IFC for this,” Mr Rao said pointing out that the Maldives government now wanted to somehow cancel the agreement without paying compensation. “That is their dream,” he said.

According to him, the contract can be annulled without paying compensation only on three grounds: corruption, safety and security. “They evaluated all three parameters and have not been able to find anything,” Mr Rao said.

As per a working by the Maldives government, compensation could run up to $700 million if the agreement is cancelled. “How will they pay it when they have no money to pay salaries to government staff?” he remarked. As per a tripartite agreement between MACL, GMR and Axis Bank, which has lent up to $160 million for the project, the bank should be served a 60-day notice before termination which has not been followed, according to Mr Rao.

“They have alleged that IFC has funded GMR but the truth is that we have not borrowed a single dollar from IFC. The project is fully funded with Indian money from Axis Bank,” Mr Rao said. Till date GMR has invested about $180 million in the project according to him.

[shyamd]

Simple - the govt probably wants to recoup their investments from the coup and one of the ways to take bribes is probably to re-tender contract. The GMR one is probably the biggest way to earn more before the elections which could happen as soon as August. They are cancelling many other companies contracts signed by previous govt

[Sanku]

They are cancelling many other companies contracts signed by previous govt

Really? List please?

[shyamd]

2 malaysian contracts (1 is MAHB - partner to GMR airport project) per the Malaysian foreign minister for example. They led a delegation last week to try and resolve the problems of the contract cancellations of Malay companies.

------------------------
GMR row: India warns Maldives of dire outcomes if legal course not followed

Last Updated: Wednesday, December 05, 2012, 18:23
0 0
Tags: Maldives,GMR,GMR airport row,Male Airport,GMR-Male airport
New Delhi: Taken by "surprise" over GMR issue, India has conveyed to Maldives that it will have serious consequences on the bilateral ties as it is considering a "series of options", including slowing down cooperative programmes, if legal course is not followed.

India acknowledges that the Maldivian government's decision to cancel GMR's contract for building Male airport is a domestic issue but it is upset over "anti-India sentiment being whipped up" in connection with the issue there.

Sources said the possibility of some external forces playing a role in the cancellation of the airport contract cannot be ruled out even though there was no clear evidence of Chinese angle so far.

India has conveyed to Maldives that the matter should be addressed legally.

However, if the Maldivian government chooses to "flout" the legal option and an anti-India atmosphere continues to be whipped up, it will have "serious consequences" for the bilateral relations, the sources said.

In this context, India is considering a "series of options", like slowing down the cooperative programme, they said, adding the impact could be felt on all aspects of the bilateral ties, including defence cooperation.

This comes against the backdrop of Maldivian government's refusal to accept Singapore court's stay on cancellation of the contract.

The cancellation of the contract came as a "suprise" to India, the sources said, adding the issue of any wrongdoing, as alleged, was never raised by Maldives during a series of contacts between leaders and officials of the two countries over last one year.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, during his visit to Male in November last year, met two opposition leaders but this subject was never raised even though some "fringe parties" had been creating controversy over the issue, the sources said.

The controversy, which came to the fore during the tenure of former President Mohamed Nasheed, remained "dormant" ever since his ouster in February, they noted.

But the cancellation of the contract in the last week of November came as a surprise to India which sees the decision linked to President Mohd Waheed's growing ambitions to contest next year's Presidential polls after legitimacy was bestowed on his regime by a Commission of Inquiry. His predecessor Nasheed had been claiming that he was ousted in a coup by Waheed.

India feels Waheed decided to "ride a tiger and now he does not know how to disembark".

Waheed apparently took the hard position of cancelling the contract deliberately because of competitive politics.

India is disappointment that the Maldivian government did not challenge the order of a local court which had termed the proposal to levy Airport Development Charge as "tax", which is prerogative of the government only. This was the root cause of the controversy that led to cancellation of the contract.

Not sure whether ADC amounted to taxation, India feels a way out on this could have been exempting Maldivian nationals from the charge of USD 25 per internationally departing passenger.

This offer was, in fact, made by GMR before the contract was cancelled but it was not considered by the Maldivian government.

[AbhiJ]

There is no other way to outdo Anti-India is unless and unless the Indian Military over runs them.

Like we saw in Bangladesh, Cactus.

[SSridhar]

GMR suspects foreign hand connection in Male crisis

Days after it was unceremoniously thrown out of Maldives airport project, GMR Infrastructure today said involvement of a foreign country in Island nation’s decision cannot be ruled out.

“I can’t say that for sure. But, looking at the political situation and political framework in Maldives, I can’t rule out anything,” GMR Airports CFO Sidharth Kapur told reporters here.

He was responding to a query that whether GMR saw involvement of a foreign country like China in cancellation of over $500 million contract to build and operate the Male airport.

Kapur, however, did not elaborate on the possibility of the involvement of foreign nation.

[SSridhar]

All eyes on Singapore as GMR deadline nears

No activity at the Ibrahim Nasir International Airport here on Wednesday indicates that it is amid a political storm that will hit the island-airport in hardly 48 hours. Employees go about their jobs, scheduled flights carrying — largely — Chinese tourists make their landing on the appointed time through the day. Customs officials make enquires with the infrequent south Asians arriving amid a sea of Chinese tourists.

Come Friday midnight, and the airport’s operator, India-based multinational, GMR, will have to handover the airport to Maldives Airports Company. GMR has dug its heels in and has said it can’t do as directed. Either way, GMR will not be able to operate the airport after 23:59 on December 6 as the Civil Aviation Authority will revoke the aerodrome license from then.

Despite its professed and publicly-declared intention of throwing out GMR, the Maldives government — in a strange move — has appealed against Singapore High Court order. Sources familiar with the development said the Singapore Supreme Court is expected to take up the case on Thursday, barely a day ahead of the December 7 deadline.

[Victor]

GMR to Maldives: Will not vacate airport by Friday

Armed with an injunctive relief from the Singapore High Court on vacating the Male airport, infrastructure major GMR has made it clear that they will not vacate by Friday night — the deadline given by the Maldives government..

..we have been assured that no force will be used against us in vacating the airport..

..Kapur also said that the Indian government has assured them full support on the issue without clarifying it further.

Stage set for something to give on Friday. Hope GoI forces the issue with the emphasis on "force". Nothing else will work. If there is violence against GMR staff in Male, we get the justification to land a few troops there so in a perverse way, I hope there is (w/o serious injury or loss of life). A costly punitive legal action should be leveled against Maldives for damages regardless of the outcome of this tamasha. India has the full backing of international law and it must leverage this to hit them hard enough to hurt.

[SSridhar]

There must be a coup by Nasheed and his supporters who should immediately request Indian help. INS Jalashwa should be hovering nearby and immediately intervene. This will give our intervention legitimacy.

[SSridhar]

We waited for 45 days to meet PM Manmohan Singh to explain why deal was unsustainable: Maldives

"We wanted to explain to the Prime Minister the anger among the people of this country, the pressure the government was under and how ruinous this deal was for Maldives. We wanted to seek his intervention in perhaps convincing GMRBSE -0.25 % to renegotiate. But we received no response for a month and a half.

Time takes a toll on everyone. And then we had no option but to terminate the deal," Masood Imad, press secretary to the President, told ET, speaking on telephone from Male.

India's external affairs ministry confirmed receiving a request, but denied that no response was made. "Yes we did receive this request. We responded saying we will receive him at an appropriate level," an external affairs ministry spokesperson said.

[SSridhar]

Maldivian President's Special Adviser Plotted the GMR ouster

Hassan Saeed, the Maldivian president Waheed's special adviser, is being seen as the Machiavellian force behind Male's decision to terminate the GMRBSE -0.50 % agreement. According to high-level sources, this Malaysia-educated president of a tiny Dhivehi Quamee Party has convinced Waheed to use this issue as a platform for forthcoming presidential elections due next year.

Masood Imad, spokesperson for Waheed, denies this. "Saeed is only a special advisor and is currently not even in the country," he said.

Imad said Indian companies continue to be present and welcomed in the Maldives. "The Maldivian government had offered to send a special envoy of the president, the defence minister, to India to explain our stand on the GMR issue. But that request is still pending with the MEA," he added.

MEA sources said the government had received the request for a special envoy, to which the Indian government had responded by saying he would be welcomed and received appropriately. As it turned out, the envoy did not come, and the Maldivian foreign minister Abdul Samad Abdulla arrived here last week for consultations with his Indian counterpart Salman Khurshid.

Saeed had dashed off a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking India to help terminate the agreement. The GMR issue was so explosive, he said, it was contributing to the rise of extremism and anti-India, anti-GMR sentiment inside the Maldives. GMR, he alleged, had paid off politicians in the Maldives which had turned public opinion against them. Apart from levying an airport tax, Saeed said, GMR had evicted local workers and replaced them with Indians. GMR sources indicated the converse was true.

Maldives has given GMR until December 8 to get out of the Male airport. GMR's CEO AndrewBSE -1.43 % Harrison, in a statement, said, "The injunction clearly prevents them from taking the action outlined in their notice issued to us stating that the airport would be taken over at the end of the 7 day period. We remain resolute in our position and there is no question of an offer being made and certainly no question of any alleged offer being accepted as we will simply not agree to our rights nor the injunction being undermined in any way."

This can only have an ugly ending. While there has been no communication with Waheed, Abdulla told Khurshid that they were determined to evict GMR. India can either look the other way, or adopt strong-arm tactics neither of which has any good implications.

Ousted president Mohamed Nasheed wrote this week, "India should have foreseen the consequences its investments would later face in endorsing a regime consisting of elements that had previously shown its disapproval towards major Indian investments. India should have taken its time to assess the political situation of the country and should have confirmed the legitimacy of the controversial regime before accepting it. However, failure to do so resulted in the scrapping of its single largest investment by the very government it had recognized."

[Sanku]

2 malaysian contracts (1 is MAHB - partner to GMR airport project) per the Malaysian foreign minister for example. They led a delegation last week to try and resolve the problems of the contract cancellations of Malay companies.

Do you have links showing a Malaysian contract not connected to GMR also cancelled.

However do note that right now there is no material backing the assertion

They are cancelling many other companies contracts signed by previous govt

First 2 != many, and even for 2 one is supposedly a sub-contract of GMR (in your own words) and we know nothing about the second.

[SSridhar]

Singapore Court Rules in favour of the Maldives Government

Singapore Court of Appeal rules that Maldives government has authority to take back the airport from GMR, Maldives President's Press Secretary Masood Imad said.

A judge at the Singapore Supreme Court ruled in the Maldives favour, meaning it can go ahead and cancel the contract, effectively taking control from GMR.

[brihaspati]

It must be a great relief for GOI. Its only the beginning. GOI will face more and more opposition in all the Muslim majority neighbours, including Malaysia. But then its something that India will have toa ccept. Its the price of allowing the Saudis/Gulf to mediate bewteen India and regional Muslims, and shouting a lot about how crucial it is to pander to Gulf Islamism for "growth and progress".

Overt the longer term horizon short term profits cancel off against larger losses in societal, political and military reverses at territorial and demographic level. Every prior association with Islamic Gulf has proceeeded, initially through the rosy glasses of investment/trade/growth/prosperity/bonhomie - followed up by Indian political regimes becoming complicit to protect trasnnational Islamic interests on its fronties, eyes and ears inside under the guise of peaceful scholarly and trade interests, and then inevitable ambush by the Islamists.

I would love to hear from all those who had been referring to the apparent "strong ties" and the buisness/educational links that India developed with Maldives - as trumping "islamism" and anti-Hindu/India backlash in Maldives.

Singling out China is no excuse. China can only use - if Islamists are willing to get used. Islamist hatred for the Hindu is much stronger than any economic or "progress" concern.

[member_20292]

^^^ brihaspati. let it be known that I look forward to your posts. excellent! (in Shao Khan voice)

[Singha]

Maldives islamists would want to hook up with kindred souls in north kerala and karnataka coast like bhatkal.

[ramana]

Sanku, Please take your inquires with ShyamD to the off topic thread.

Thanks,

ramana

[Prem]

I Singling out China is no excuse. China can only use - if Islamists are willing to get used. Islamist hatred for the Hindu is much stronger than any economic or "progress" concern.

The Worst part is that this knowledge is very common and known even to children. But not to our Ruling/ Ruining Elites busy tyring to do fruitfull fishing in the Islamist pee pond.

[RamaY]

To put things in perspective

Maldives GDP is $2.8B.

This project alone is valued at ~$511M. This is ~20% of their GDP.

The main source of Maldives GDP is tourism and Airport is the main (only?) mode of travel to this location. So this is a project of national importance.

Can Maldives build a project of this size on its own? I do not think so.

Can they expect Pakis to do it? I do not think so.

Who else can execute a project of this size? Only Chinese.

I also agree with ShyamD that the coupsters need some money to run their agenda. So they need to go with their financiers.

I will not be surprised if the new partner/project, if and when it happens, will end up being more expensive to Maldives people and net loss to the nation because it has to finance the coupsters in addition to project cost.

And one need to think about Chinese quality levels.

[Lilo]

Maldivian President's Special Adviser Plotted the GMR ouster

Hassan Saeed, the Maldivian president Waheed's special adviser, is being seen as the Machiavellian force behind Male's decision to terminate the GMRBSE. According to high-level sources, this Malaysia-educated president of a tiny Dhivehi Quamee Party has convinced Waheed to use this issue as a platform for forthcoming presidential elections due next year.

Though this guy's dress sense exudes all the external trappings of a suave business man, digging a bit deep - he is a jihadist to the core and his past book arguing about the in-applicability of death penalty to apostates in light of the supposed larger quranic injunctions is just a cover to embellish his moderate credentials in wiki and else where. Wonder how many indian commentators/analysts were fooled by his carefully cultivated external persona of a moderate muslim ?

In contrast his views on future of Maldives is reflected in this pamphlet circulated by him before the Maldives coup to discredit the then incumbent.
Especially note his attacks on idol worshippers, Israel , Apostates , laws contradicting Sharia etc and most importantly his adherence to views of Zakir Naik (this guy is the perfect example of the Islamist pasand elements of the ruling dispensation in Delhi which allows him to operate his "Peace" TV from Mumbai and getting walk the talk exposure in prime time by the likes of Shekhar dupatta etc). Ironically one can expect this Peace TV streaming into maldives as the most potent force driving the grassroot Islamist radicalization of Maldivians - which ultimately resulted in GMR ouster...

President Nasheed's Devious Plot to Destroy the Islamic faith of Maldivians
Maldivian National Party (Divehi Qaumee Paatee - DQP)
23 December 2011
Original Divehi language download: DQP pamphlet - 3 MB (right click:save link as).
The English translation below was first published by Minivan News on 20 January 2012.
All photos and captions are from the original Divehi pamphlet.
Occasional notes (on coloured background) added by Maldives Culture editors.

http://www.qaumee.org.mv
Tel: 33045048
© Dhivehi Qaumee Party
2011-12-23

This pamphlet was prepared by the Maldivian National Party (Divehi Qaumee Party, DQP) to examine the devious plans of this administration to erase the age-old holy religion of Islam from the hearts of Maldivians, provide opportunities for religions other than Islam, and demolish the religious unity and faith of Maldivians. The pamphlet sheds light on the administration's actions against Islam so far.

The high honour accorded to Islam
It is certain that the religion we have followed without wavering for over 800 years is the true religion and the last religion revealed by God Almighty. In verse 5 of the al-Maida Surah of the Holy Quran, God reveals, 'I... have chosen for you Islam as your religion.'

Maldives Culture:
The quotation is from verse 3, not verse 5.
Abdullah Yusuf Ali's translation: 'This day I perfected your religion for you, completed my favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.'

And in verse 19 of the al-Imran Surah, Allah says, 'The only religion approved by God is Submission (Islam).'

Maldives Culture:
Abdullah Yusuf Ali's translation differs: 'The religion before Allah is Islam (submission to His Will). Nor did the People of the Book dissent therefrom except through envy of each other, after knowledge had come to them.'

Constitutional role of Islam in the Maldives
The Maldives is a nation based on Islamic principles. Islam is the state religion. Islam is the main basis of Maldivian law. No law contrary to Islam can be enacted in the Maldives. Only Muslims can be citizens of the Maldives.

Even the fundamental rights guaranteed in the constitution can only be protected in a manner that is not contrary to any tenet of Islam. No one has the right to commit any act that is forbidden under Islamic sharia. Freedom of expression is provided to citizens as long as it is not used in a manner contrary to any tenet of Islam. Submitting to Islam, obeying and inducing love for it, are encouraged in the education system.

The high status of Islam is not just accorded some fluent phrases in the constitution. Article 67(g) of the constitution obliges all citizens to preserve and protect Islam. This constitutional responsibility is entrusted mainly to the head of state as the nation's ruler.


Degree of Islamic faith in the Maldives when Nasheed took office

Saying it is not necessary to wear the headscarf Religious matters had not been handled ideally when Nasheed took office. Over 19 years had passed without a Divehi translation of our most sacred book, the Holy Quran. Permission to give sermons and counsel was granted to those who shared the Gayoom administration's thought and philosophy. People were locked up and punished over issues like qunooth, an issue of contention among scholars of different Islamic sects. Beards of religious scholars were shaved with chilli sauce.

Maldives Culture:
Qunooth is part of the dawn prayer, fajr, calling for deliverance from calamity. Maldivian children were once taught that the qunooth prayer would repair a copper wall, which surrounded and protected the world, from the scratches and damage inflicted each night by the Dajjal.


Although the head of state [President Maumoon Gayoom (1978-2008)] was an al-Azhar University-educated scholar, he was saying openly that penalties clearly stated in Islamic sharia were unsuited for the times. In addition, he said that matters like wearing the veil were not compulsory, and his wife and children appeared unveiled in public.


Nasheed's golden opportunity and how he used it
Nasheed became the ruler of this Islamic state on 11 November 2008 through the hard work and prayer of many political, religious and social organisations as well as many sincere citizens. Who among us has forgotten Sheik Ilyas Hussein's emotional prayer in the pouring rain on the last night of the second round of the presidential campaign?

Monument set up in Hitadoo island, Addu atoll, has statues designed for worship.

Nasheed had a golden opportunity to take all those individuals and groups along, change the way religion had been treated before, strengthen Maldivians' Islamic faith and spread the bright light of Islam across the entire country.

However he missed this wonderful opportunity. Instead of strengthening the Islamic faith of Maldivians, he tried to weaken it. Instead of preserving the Islamic identity of Maldivians, he worked in ways that would allow other religions onto Maldivian soil. Instead of aiding Muslims and the Islamic umma, community, he tried to please the adversaries of Islam and aid them.

As a result, the situation has deteriorated to the point where we question whether our 800+ year-old Islamic nation would remain an Islamic nation. Today, visitors to our country have been encouraged to challenge our religion, sharia and constitution in the highest levels of this Islamic state.

Nasheed's big project to wipe out Maldivians' religious identity
Since assuming office, Nasheed has been working ceaselessly to weaken the Islamic faith of Maldivians, allow space for other religions, and make irreligious and sinful behaviour common. His administration's behaviour does not exhibit the necessary and important characteristics a ruler and senior officials of an Islamic state must possess. They have reduced ties and relations with Muslims and Islamic nations, and fostered relations with the adversaries of Islamic nations.

Weakening the Islamic faith of Maldivians
From the day Nasheed took office to the present day, he has undertaken many efforts to weaken the Islamic faith of Maldivians especially the younger generation of Maldivians. Below are some of these efforts:
Nasheed began the work of weakening Maldivians' Islamic faith by targeting young children. When Nasheed's administration established diplomatic relations with the nation [Israel] that is the biggest adversary of Muslims, it was agreed to teach young Maldivian children, at the state's expense, good things about the Jews by including it in school curriculums.

Along with that, Nasheed tried to make Divehi and Islam optional subjects for higher secondary students. And senior officials of Nasheed's administration tried to convince the public on national television that the decision was a good one. Nasheed's administration acted like this after turning a deaf ear to school heads who had repeatedly talked about the importance of the Divehi and Islam subjects at the symposium on revising the national curriculum. Nasheed's purpose is to turn those who would play a leading role in running the country tomorrow into strangers to Islam and the mother tongue of Maldivians.

While Nasheed's government was trying to make Islam an optional subject it also tried to teach Maldivian students about different religions.

Nasheed's government sent a letter to the relevant authorities seeking the opinion of Maldivian scholars on building temples in the country.

While working on the one hand to reduce the importance of religious subjects in the national curriculum, Nasheed's government was also trying to close down schools that provided Islamic education. In this vein, the plot of land used by Arabiya school, which had been providing Islamic education to young Maldivian children, was taken and the building was demolished. The government did not make adequate temporary arrangements for its students. Nasheed's government acted in a brutal manner towards the parents of Arabiya students when they gathered outside the President's Office to protest peacefully. They were treated in a brutal manner, worse than that meted out to serious criminals.

Parents of Arabiyya school children outside the President's Office.

Mauhad Islamic College is an old institution that played one of the most important roles in strengthening Islamic faith among Maldivians. Nasheed's government tore down its walls, placed insurmountable obstacles to its development and has been working ceaselessly to close it down.

Allowing other religions
Considering the actions of Nasheed's government, the goal of his administration from the start has been to allow religions other than Islam. Below are some of these efforts:
Nasheed's government made a lot of excuses not to broadcast live on national television the lecture by world famous religious scholar Dr Zakir Naik in his visit to the Maldives in May 2010. Moreover, Nasheed's government offered a lot of empty rationalisations and tried very hard to prevent the stadium area being used for this event.

Nazim announcing that he does not believe in Islam.

During the public 'question and answer' session following Naik's lecture, and as a consequence of this government's ceaseless efforts to weaken the Islamic faith of Maldivians, a Maldivian named Nazim, born of a Maldivian mother and father, found the daring to proudly proclaim that he did not believe in Islam.

This Nazim who declared his apostasy before all Maldivians, actively participated in the demonstration on 10 December 2011 calling for religious freedom. This demonstration was held as a result of President Nasheed speaking in a way that suggested he supported UN human rights representative Pillay after she called for omitting the article in the constitution that requires all Maldivians to be Muslims, allowing space for non-Muslims and omitting punishments clearly stated in Islamic sharia, during a visit in November this year.

Long before Pillay visited the Maldives, Nasheed had sent letters to the relevant authorities seeking the opinion of religious scholars on building temples or places of worship for other religions in the Maldives. Could there be any reason to do this, if he did not want to build such places in this country? Certainly not.

In an interview with the magazine Forbes Asia in December this year, Nasheed said, 'In the past there was a desire to segregate the Maldives from certain influences, but it also kept us from ideas and knowledge. Maldivians are Muslims but modern. The time has come to end the segregation from the outside world.'

*No caption in original Divehi pamphlet

Among the channels in the service provided by India's Airtel in the Maldives, there is one named 'God' channel. It specialises in spreading Christianity. Although the service is available in many Maldivian households, the administration has not done anything to stop it.

The pictures and drawings released as a theme for the recent SAARC summit prominently and openly depicted Christianity.This drawing was prepared by Nasheed's government through a Maldivian with the consent and approval of cabinet. Even based on proportion, Christianity is not among either the first, second or third religion of SAARC nations.

The true purpose of putting up these drawings in Male' and elsewhere across the country is to familiarize, acquaint and slowly bend Maldivians to the portraits, drawings and monuments of other religions.

Nasheed's government erected numerous idols in Addu atoll for the SAARC summit. These things were brought from various SAARC countries and placed according to instructions from Nasheed's government.
First, unlike the other monuments, the idols were put up at the last minute; in the early hours of the morning so that people would not see. They were concealed with cloth.

When the people of Addu, realising they were idols, started raising their voices, the monuments were protected by the might of the military on the orders of Nasheed in his capacity as commander-in-chief.

Moreover, numerous youth who protested and spoke out against the idols were arrested and are being investigated.

After importing idols into the country, and protecting them; and locking up those who spoke out against them; and when opposition parties started raising their voices saying it was a serious crime both legally and under sharia, Nasheed said he only heard of the idols after one was destroyed. Everyone, young and old, would know that he lied. Below is a photograph taken while Nasheed is watching with the Sri Lankan President at the inauguration of one of these idols.

President Nasheed with the President of Sri Lanka viewing the monument (budhu).

The Prophet's hadith illustrates Nasheed's words and actions: 'He has denied everything he said. He has broken all his promises. He has betrayed his responsibility and trust.'

The idols imported into Maldives in the name of the SAARC summit are not children's toys or items in tourist shops. The idols are representations of god or objects used for worship.

God reveals in the Holy Quran that idols are unclean.

Under article 4 of the Contraband Act, importing idols into the country is not permitted. Such a thing cannot be authorised regardless of whether it is done by the government. And those who commit this offence, or are involved in it, can be sentenced to jail for a period of three to eight years.

Making alcohol common
This is the type of alcohol apparently drunk by President Nasheed.

The Prophet says in a hadith that alcohol is the mother of all evils. And God reveals in verse 90 of al-Maidha surah: 'O you who believe! Intoxicants (all kinds of alcoholic drinks), gambling, Al-Ansab, and Al-Azlam (arrows for seeking luck or decisions) are an abomination of Satan's handiwork. So avoid strictly all that abomination in order that you may be successful.'

Maldives Culture:
Abdullah Yusuf Ali's translation: O ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, dedication of stones, and divination by arrows, are an abomination - of Satan's handwork; eschew such abomination, that ye may prosper.

Consuming alcohol is a crime with a punishment prescribed in Islamic sharia. Those who commit this crime would not fulfil the requirements for head of state, minister, MP or senior posts of the state. And if such a crime was committed by an official, that person must be removed.

Nasheed and senior officials of his administration show in words and deeds that alcohol is good and that it is something Maldivians should accept. Below are some of these matters thus noted:
During the first official visit to India after assuming office, the newspaper Business Standard wrote and published that Nasheed gave an interview while drinking a brand of alcohol called Sula Shiraz.

Maldives Culture:
Sula Shiraz is a medium bodied red wine blended from 85% shiraz and 15% cabernet sauvignon grapes. Hand harvested in the 'hills and gentle slopes' of the Nashik region north of Mumbai, Sula Shiraz has an alcohol content of 13.5%, according to the website Wine Poole.

The 2010 vintage, prepared by award-winning winemaker Kerry Damskey from California, is described as 'deep purple colour, spices and smokiness on the nose followed by blackberries and pepper on the palate. Hints of dark chocolate, vanilla and jammy fruit characters coming through, medium bodied with round tannins.'

Despite this being a crime with a punishment prescribed in Islamic sharia and the kind of thing that could get him impeached, he remains silent about it. And politicians are saying openly that that was what really happened.

When Nasheed was accused of committing acts forbidden in religion during his visit to Italy on 17 February 2009, and the relevant parliamentary committee summoned ministers who travelled with him to find out truth of it, MDP MPs opposed it, caused havoc in the committee and prevented the investigation from proceeding.

Nasheed's government has tried repeatedly to sell alcohol in inhabited islands of the country. The regulations needed for this were formulated and published in the government gazette. The government was forced to stop, due to the sincere efforts of Maldivian people who love religion.

Even after the Maldivian people came out and defeated efforts to sell alcohol in inhabited islands, Nasheed did not stop. To make alcohol available in inhabited islands, Nasheed's government is now declaring places or areas as uninhabited islands when they want to sell alcohol there. Different areas of Addu atoll and Fuah Mulah have been declared uninhabited islands to permit the sale of alcohol. Under this principle, the way is now open to sell alcohol anywhere in the country.

In many different functions and ceremonies Nasheed has spoken in ways that suggest using alcohol and drugs is not a problem. He has said you do not have to stay sober for 24 hours and a person could 'for a moment' become intoxicated.

Empty bottles of alcohol have been found in places used by ministers in Nasheed's administration.

A large amount of alcohol was found in the car of the MDP's (Nasheed's party) parliamentary group leader Reeko Moosa Manik.

Alcohol bottles, found in the car of MDP parliamentary group member Reiko Moosa Manik, set up for a photograph.

In addition to alcohol, persons once found guilty of drug use are kept as senior officials of Nasheed's administration and as close allies. They are paid high salaries with the people's money. Nasheed's spokesperson Zuhair was found guilty of the crime of drug use.

Similarly Fahala Saeed, who Nasheed keeps in the President's Office with a high salary from the people's money, is a person who, along with all his family members, was sentenced for drug use.

Maldives Culture:
Fahala Saeed was not employed in any capacity by Nasheed's President's Office.

When the son of Sarangu Adam Manik, a senior official of Nasheed's administration elected to the Male' City Council on an MDP ticket who served as mayor and is still a council member, was sentenced to life imprisonment by a court in Sri Lanka after being caught trying to smuggle a large amount of drugs, he was brought back to Male', freed and given a high post close to Nasheed. No President of any country in the world, especially the ruler of an Islamic nation, should dare do such a thing. Even if it was done, the people of that country should not accept it. And adequate efforts have not been made to bring back Maldivians in foreign jails for lesser crimes.
The Prophet said that exempting rulers from the law while enforcing it against the poor will be the ruin of a nation.

Helping the Jews instead of aiding the poor people of Palestine
From the days when Israel came into being in 1948 to the present day, the Israelis have been brutalising Palestinians and, aside from committing massacres and war crimes, they are enslaving the people. Since 2006, Gaza, a place where many millions live, has been blocked by land, air and sea and all its inhabitants enslaved and locked up. Nevertheless after coming to power, Nasheed's main priority was fostering ties with Jews. Nasheed's government has done a lot of work to form close ties with Israel, including those listed below:

President Nasheed meeting with the Israeli delegation at the President's Office.

Nasheed's administration first decided to establish relations with Israel less than ten days after the UN representative decided they had committed war crimes against the poor people of Palestine. At the time, the whole world was speaking out against Israel and condemning Israel's actions. The actions of Nasheed's government told Maldivians and the world that this one hundred percent Muslim Maldivian state approves of Israel's war crimes.

While Nasheed's government disregarded war crimes and established diplomatic ties with that nation, on the initiative of Adalath party the Maldivian people were collecting donations to help the innocent Palestinian people and families who were subjected to Israel's atrocities!

The Israeli attack against vessels travelling to Gaza on 31 May 2010 to assist the poor people of Palestine enslaved by the Jews, which martyred 15 people and injured many others, was loudly condemned by the Christian nations of Europe, and Hindu nations like India and other nations with idol religions. But Nasheed's administration did not say anything in an official capacity. When it became the target of criticism from opposition parties, Nasheed said something at Haruge, the MDP meeting area in Male', to entertain MDP activists where foreign parties would not hear, and the issue ended.

The ship that travelled to Palestine to provide help for the poor suffering Palestinian people. 15 people were martyred while it was in international waters.

While Nasheed's government was establishing ties with Israel, his administration inserted stories about Israel, the Jews and their history into Maldivian culture, the media and the education system, and told Maldivians of their virtues. These are things even non-Muslim nations are hesitant to do with the issue of Israel.

To familiarise Maldivians with the Jews and Israel, to show their virtues and induce love and empathy for Jews into Maldivian hearts, Nasheed's government has brought different teams such as doctors and agriculturists into the country.

Nasheed's government has also authorised Israeli flights to land in Maldives. As the people of Israel do not visit this country as tourists, there is no need for flights from that country to come to the Maldives. Moreover, it is likely that with the commencement of flights from Israel, the Maldives will face unimaginable security risks, great dangers and the devastation of the country's tourism industry. However Nasheed's government pays no heed to such dangers.

Nasheed's government has decided to give numerous plots of land and uninhabited islands to Israel.

Some of Nasheed's family members and some senior members of his administration have business ties with Jews.

Nasheed's current foreign minister 'Kerafa' Naseem is a person who voted on behalf of the Maldives at the UN to recognise Israel as an independent nation. Naseem's action was contrary to the view of the government at the time.

There is no doubt that there are hidden secrets behind why they are trying so hard to establish relations with people who have been so antagonistic towards Muslims.

Israel has always made various proposals and assisted small nations to show the Muslim world and other countries that Israel's inhumane actions are good. This is not a novel ploy in the international area. It is certain that a country like Israel would not find it hard to discern that Maldives has come out begging with an economic coconut bowl, and the country has a leader keen for international awards.
Allah reveals in the Quran: 'Never will the Jews nor the Christians be pleased with you, O Muhammad (Peace be upon him), till you follow their religion.'

Activities against Muslim nations
While on the one hand Nasheed's government was establishing closer ties with the biggest adversary of Muslims, it was also becoming hostile towards Muslim nations. Below are some of Nasheed's government's actions in this vein:
At a time when Israel was very openly announcing it would attack Iran's nuclear plants, Nasheed's government accepted the responsibility of observing and reporting on human rights in Iran. With the consent of the Maldivian administration, the UN human rights council made the decision on 17 June 2011. Nasheed gave the responsibility to his former foreign minister and current foreign affairs advisor, Dr. Ahmed Shaheed.

There is no reason to give such an honour to a small and poor country like the Maldives. The Maldivian government has arrested politicians without a court order, hijacked state media in violation of the constitution and law, defied orders from majlis (congress) and the courts, and intimidated and continues to intimidate judges.

Instead of giving an opportunity to this government to pass judgment on the human rights of others, Nasheed's government's atrocities should be looked into and investigated first. Therefore, there is no doubt that this appointment was a gift in recognition of Nasheed's government's ceaseless efforts to establish ties with Israel and please the Jews. The plans and philosophy of the Jews are based on dividing Islamic nations, and the Jews also want Islamic nations to weaken each other.

While European nations and America were still recognising Gaddafi during the civil unrest in Libya earlier this year (2011), Nasheed's government announced in April that it did not recognise the Libyan government.

Examination of the visits of Nasheed and senior officials of his government to other countries shows that trips to Islamic nations are disproportionately low. This reveals that in the government's view, Muslims and Islamic nations are of little importance.

Making sinful behaviour common
Consideration of the administration's actions reveals that the standard for government stature and performance is an increase in sinful behaviour and shaping your lifestyle any way you please. Below are some of matters to be noted in this vein:
State ministers and deputy ministers of Nasheed's administration, and other close allies of Nasheed, carried out many sinful acts naked on the Internet. None of the people who committed this sinful behaviour were removed from their posts. And no response has been made to a letter sent by the DQP on 23 February 2011 requesting that they be temporarily fired until the investigation was completed.

Instead of investigating the senior officials who committed such sinful acts and giving them fair punishments and firing them from their jobs, Nasheed gave them financial promotions. When his administration's first cabinet secretary Abdulla Saeed committed such an act, he was sent to Singapore after arranging for him to be paid about Rf100,000 a month from the people's money. This is a much higher salary than his previous one.

Instead of investigating the sinful acts committed by senior officials, Nasheed's government took action against those who brought the sinful acts to public notice!

Some people among Nasheed's ministers and close associates have served sentences for engaging in sexual relations, recording the images and making them public.
The Prophet has said that if you lack shame, you would do anything you pleased.

Becoming modern and ashamed of being Islamic
Nasheed and senior officials of his government are trying to make Maldivians believe that the way of Maldivians and Muslims is outdated. Nasheed and senior officials are working ceaselessly towards this end. Below are some notable matters:
Part of the 2011 France's beauty queen pageant was held at a resort on Male' atoll. As it turned out, the event was planned for the night of the holy Haj day. However instead of worshipping, Nasheed and senior officials of his government spent that holy day in mixed sex dancing and singing. He did not remember the holiness of the day, and that he was the head of state of a 100% Islamic nation.

Nasheed dancing with Mariya Didi. This is the example the commander-in-chief shows to the younger generation.

Nasheed is someone who commonly dances at events other than just the one mentioned above. The purpose of his actions are to make Maldivians believe that these are the sort of 'modern' things that even the ruler of this Islamic state must do.

On 11 November 2008 after taking office, MDP's then-chairperson and current Machangoli North [Male' ward] majlis member Mariya Ahmed Didi came to the function in a skirt. None of the representatives of foreign nations at the function wore a skirt. The MDP leaders wanted to show even on the first day how 'modern' they were.

*No caption in original Divehi pamphlet.

During Nasheed's visit to France on October 12 this year, when he met the country's Ecology, Sustainable Development, Transport and Housing Minister, she was wearing clothes that covered her face, arms and legs. This was an act of respect because she was meeting the ruler of an Islamic nation. But Dr. Farahanaz Faisal who took part in President Nasheed's visit arrived wearing a skirt! Just to show how modern Nasheed's administration is.

One of the first events held under Nasheed's rule was a disco dancing show at Darubaruge, the Male' convention centre. Despite repeated objections from the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Nasheed's government defied him and did it anyway.

One of the most sacred relations in Islam is that of marriage. Marriage and the marriage ceremony in Islam is organised and carried out on the advice of religious scholars. However when military weddings and other types of marriage ceremonies are introduced, it shows that we seem ashamed of the noble principles of our religion of Islam.

Christian priests as Nasheed's consuls

Maldivian flag raised at the house of Christian priest David Hardingham.

Among those who help Nasheed make decisions on important matters are people who promote different religions. The most notable of these is an English priest named David Hardingham. He is one of those who helped Nasheed the most when he was an activist. Hardingham and his friends were then acting under the name of 'Friends of Maldives'.

On 9 July 2010, Nasheed established an office for Hardingham in Salisbury, England. As a result, through the wishes of the ruler of this Islamic nation, the money of Maldivian citizens is being spent on a Christian priest.

Maldives Culture:
David Hardingham is not, and never has been, a Christian priest.
For many years, he has actively supported the movement for Maldivian democratic reform through the UK-based Friends of Maldives organisation.
Hardingham first met President Nasheed when they attended school together in the UK.
After the tsunami in December 2004, Hardingham and other British volunteers organised tons of emergency aid for the atolls. The Gayyoom regime at that time declared him an 'Islamic-Christian terrorist', and banned his entry to Maldives.


Opposing the punishments of Islam
Nasheed has created doubt in people's hearts about clearly stated punishments in Islamic sharia, and he has opposed such punishments. Below are some notable matters:
Nasheed said in his 19th radio address that he does not believe that capital punishment and amputation for thieves, that are clearly stated in Islamic sharia, should be included in the punishments specified in the penal code.

When UN human rights representative Pillay, who visited Male' in November this year, said she did not accept sharia punishments like flogging fornicators, instead of condemning her statement, Nasheed, as head of state, supported her.

Pillay further said President Nasheed assured her of national level conferences in the country next year to discuss whether or not we should have divinely revealed punishments like flogging in the Maldives. She said this during a press conference at the UN building in the Maldives. Nasheed has not refuted her remarks.

Bringing scholars into disrepute
Nasheed and his administration has characterised the Maldives as a nest of terrorists and portrayed Maldivian scholars as terrorists. Below are notable points:
Nasheed's administration has characterised people like Sheik Fareed and Sheik Ilyas as extremists and terrorists.

In an interview with al-Jazeera, Nasheed said that while over a thousand students are being educated at Arabic-medium schools run by the Maldivian government, those places teach children to become extremists and that he would put a stop to it.

The state of the country at the end of Nasheed's big project
Considering the direction of Nasheed and his administration and the rate of change, if their plans and speed are not defeated, there is no doubt that Maldivians would have to face bitter consequences like those noted below:
Maldives will not remain a 100% Muslim nation.

The faith of Maldivians, especially today's children and tomorrow's young generation, will be extremely weakened.

Sinful and unacceptable behaviour will become common.

The noble principles of Islam and the right path will be characterised as shameful.

Followers of other religions and their places of worship will be established in the country.

We will become estranged from Islamic nations and the adversaries of Islam and Muslims will become friends of Maldivians.
What should be done to be freed from Nasheed's plotting
A lot of work has to be done to save ourselves from Nasheed and his administration's dangerous actions. Every citizen should resolve to do everything possible with tongue and pen, financially and otherwise, within the confines of Islamic sharia and the law.

Not supporting or voting for Nasheed and those who give precedence to the philosophy of his administration or anyone among their allies and friends, and urging those who might vote for them not to do so, and explaining the consequences if they did. And especially not to support or vote for Nasheed in 2013.

To not give any financial assistance to Nasheed or his ruling party, and urging those who might provide such an assistance to not do so, and explaining the consequences if they did.

Do everything possible to strengthen the faith of our children without relying on this government, its institutions and the current education system.

During each Umra, each Haj, after each prayer and act of worship, pray to God to protect our nation and religion and keep our beloved nation always as a 100% Islamic nation.

Call senior officials of the government, send SMS and use modern facilities like Facebook and Twitter to raise your voices against such things.

Since the most important constitutional responsibility of the government is laid upon members of the People's majlis (People's congress), every citizen should call his/her majlis member and urge them to stop this administration's irreligious activities and to increase calls for holding the administration accountable. And in the future do not vote for majlis members who do not comply.

Conclusion
Under divine law, Almighty God has given us the opportunity to change our condition. Allah reveals in the Holy Quran, 'Verily! Allah will not change the good condition of a people as long as they do not change their state of goodness themselves.'

Let us resolve in the right way to change our condition.

View the whole pamphlet with pics and formatting -- >> here

But one would have hoped that the views of such a key guy in the post coup dispensation would have been more widely known (an dissipated) when the coup took place - especially in indian circles who have so much riding on continued cooperation with Maldives.

Spoke to a former minister in the Gayoom govt.

Was it a coup? Yes it was.

He totally rejects the fact that the Def min and Home minister (mohammed jameel ahmed) are islamists. {now GOI is pushing for their ouster when the damage has been done} The source has known both of people very well and especially the Home minister. They both worked on the New Maldives movement http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Maldives

He says most of the islamist stuff the HM used to attack the Nasheed govt is just rhetoric and it was perceived that the Nasheed govt was weak in this area. But 90% of the criticism of the opposition was on policy. The use of religion as a tool to attack the government is popular and there has been a long track record of it. MDP and the others attacked Gayoom saying that he wasn't a muslim. This is just part and parcel of maldivian politics, one needs to know it to understand and see below the surface of rhetoric.

In fact, Dr Hassan Saeed was accused of herecy for a book he wrote with his brother. This damaged his campaign. So this is not a new phenomenon to Maldivian politics. The current home minister, Dr Saeed and Dr Shaheed were accused of colluding with jews during the last presidential campaign.

Asked if allegations of corruption that Nasheed was digging up on Gayoom were true. His response was that yes it is true, that there is an allegation about Gayoom's brother Yameen was involved in illegal oil trade. But there is talk on the grapevines of evidence of embezzlement of millions, but nothing has come to light on this.

On the coup:
The coup took place as a result of several serious blunders by the Nasheed (who is also my friend). Its his activit mentaly that prevented him from thinking strategically to deal with his opponents. People were really angry with the way he confronted the whole judiciary andthreatened the SC ad HC judges. Nasheed never thought it would come to this. This has no link with Pakistan or China. Pakistan now is trying to get involved now that India has recognised this government by trying to appeal to Nasheed. But I doubt that will work.

However, after the coup, (it was the MNDF who forced Nasheed toquit) , there is a huge support for Nasheed as people didn't lke the wa all this happened.

He thinks Nasheed will make a strong comeback in the next elections. He will be on attack and the others will be defencive.

On relations with India:

Our current defence deals with India are very important and must be maintained. It is in Maldivian interest to provide India with strategic depth in the Indian Ocean.

The source has already spoken to the Home minister - he is keen to maintain all previous agreements and the GMR agreement (on the airport). Although there will be some areas of the deal that will be discussed with GMR.

All the key players are keen to strengthen ties with India even more. Defence minister Nazim is new to politics and depends on the advice of the Home minister Jameel.

The current President Waheed depends on the ministers for his support and most policy will now be decided by the ministers rather than just one man as was in the case of Nasheed.
.....

Nasheed is playing his cards well. He enjoys huge support with the youth and will probably sweep back into power in a landside.
.....

GMR and Nexbis deal will go through. No radical change will be made.

----------------------------
I guess lets see what happens.

TFWIW

ShyamD ji,
juxtaposing one of your past post's above, i think a source who has a chance of being a covert Islamist (or a representative of) should never be trusted - mainly because his future actions can never be gamed by simple economic motives (the "rational economic man" based theories etc ) . Better give least weight to all such suspects and give more weightage to your own deductive thought after identifying the recurring memes in analyzing an Islamist influenced situation - as examples few here are doing this very well..

My sincere 2 paisa.

[SSridhar]

Maldives should control quarters harming bilateral ties: Salman Kurshid

Amid a diplomatic row over cancellation of the contract, the government today asked Maldives to control any quarters which may be trying to harm bilateral relations saying the issue should not put a "question mark" on the ties between the two sides.

"If they have to take a decision in interest of their society and country and if that decision is taken properly as per laws there, what objections can anyone have there. We would want that whatever is the decision, it should not put any question marks on our friendly relations," External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid told reporters.

The Minister was asked to comment on the developments in the GMR issue outside Parliament House complex.

"If any quarters there (in Maldives) want that our relations should be harmed, then they should be controlled. I think Maldives and its people know this thing properly and I am sure that they will do the same thing," Khurshid said.

Asked if the Indian Government would "intervene" in the issue, the Minister said, "For commercial enterprises no one intervenes, but we have been assured about the security and safety of our citizens and interests there. To that extent, it is our right and we have also told them about this right."

"On the commercial discussions, we don't have the right and there is no justification for it. Try to understand the issue in right context and I think there is nothing to worry about," he said.

[ramana]

This Telegraph news report was missed.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1121207/j ... 284867.jsp

New envoy for Maldives, setback for GMR- Court rules in favour of island nation in airport row with Indian firm
OUR BUREAU
New Delhi, Dec. 6: New Delhi announced a new envoy to the Maldives on a day Indian firm GMR suffered a setback in a legal battle sparked by the island nation’s decision to scrap a deal with the company to run Male airport.

The announcement that Rajeev Shahare will replace D.M. Mulay as the high commissioner in Male came hours after an appeals court in Singapore upheld the annulment and allowed the Maldives government to take back the GMR-built airport. Both New Delhi and GMR said they were “studying” the judgment.

Shahare, now a joint secretary in the external affairs ministry, is expected to take charge in Male early next year, sources said.

Mulay, whose role in handling the fluid political situation in the archipelago came in for criticism from Maldivian political parties, will be India’s consul-general in New York and assume charge there in March, ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said.

Mulay has completed three years and seven months in Male and his transfer is routine, Akbaruddin claimed. The ministry follows a convention under which an officer is not given more than three years in a post. But Mulay was granted an extension primarily to ensure “continuity” in New Delhi’s handling of the situation. Also, most other diplomats weren’t keen on Male, considered a “category B”, or not a high-profile, posting.

Shahare, who currently handles the ministry’s North Africa and West Asia desk, was to be posted to Botswana. But the recent crisis in Male over the GMR row appears to have made the ministry realise it needs a “more seasoned” hand in what has become an “extremely sensitive” posting.

The sources said Mulay couldn’t handle the political upheavals with the desired equanimity and hoped that Shahare, a soft-spoken officer known for his “mature” handling of difficult diplomatic assignments and with his background in student politics, may be a better bet.

{So sources cut throats without any blood showing!!! Why does IFS need enemies. They are all within.}

Shahare will not only need to resolve the GMR imbroglio but also handle parties tactfully in the run-up to the presidential elections in July next year.

For now, the airport row appears to have taken centre stage after the Singapore court verdict today prompted an aide of President Mohamed Waheed to indicate that it could take less than 48 hours for the government to take back the airport.

“By Friday midnight, we will take over,” Masood Imad, media secretary to President Waheed, said hours after the court order. A spokesperson for GMR did not immediately spell out the next step, saying the company would go through the order first.

With the nod for the takeover — the court had offered GMR a reprieve earlier this week by staying the deal’s termination — the focus shifted to compensation for GMR in the $500-million airport project. New Delhi reiterated that it would like to see “fulfilment” of legal processes and adherence to all relevant contracts and agreements on the damages.

Earlier, New Delhi had also conveyed to the Maldives that it expected no arbitrary and coercive action pending the outcome of the GMR case, warning it would have adverse consequences on bilateral relations.

The Maldives indicated compensation would be given but the two sides haven’t yet agreed on the terms. Under the contract signed in 2010 during the regime of previous President Mohamed Nasheed, Maldives would have to pay about $400 million (Rs 2,200cr) for the deal’s termination.

The island nation’s government, though, sought to play down signs of rancour. Imad, the media secretary to current President Waheed, said none of the GMR officials would be asked to leave immediately. “We shall not witch-hunt. All GMR staff who want to stay can stay,” he said.

But the standoff could cloud foreign investor sentiment on the Maldives — the GMR deal was the largest overseas investment in the nation — at a time it is seeking overseas cash for ambitious hotel projects to sustain tourism, the country’s mainstay

I get this sinking feeling that a sense of shcadenfreude is in the Indian press reports on the GMR loss.
At same time GOI appears like the Grand Mughal court which couldn't control even the littoral seas like Arabian Sea.

[RamaY]

^ I sincerely believe GMR should take the money and leave and GoI makes sure that Maldives pay it ASAP.

It will interesting to see if the backers of Maldives would be interested to spend $400m as compensation and also spend another $300m for completing the work.

That means Maldives ends up paying $700m for the $500m project. That is $200m less for jeehard.

I also would like to see Chinese fking Maldives left right and center. And Pakis too.

When push comes to shove, all key assets of Maldives can be put to rest with 5-6 Brahmios = $10m cost.

Good business deal net net.

[Victor]

It will interesting to see if the backers of Maldives would be interested to spend $400m as compensation and also spend another $300m for completing the work.

That means Maldives ends up paying $700m for the $500m project.

Actually it may be a lot more than that. AFAIK, although the amount of compensation may be $400m, GMR has already spent about $300m and that would have to be returned to it for a total to GMR of $700m. That's an excellent 130% return in 2 years for GMR. Maldives would have to spend much more than $300m to finish the airport if stuff is priced today instead of 2 years ago and has to come from China or further away instead of India, so it may eventually go well beyond $1 billion. Then there is always the possibility that the contract could come back to an Indian company, even GMR itself, when it goes out for open bid again. Nobody knows the project better than GMR. If Maldives is not transparent in the award, it could face a lot of trouble from India, legal and otherwise.

I also would like to see Chinese fking Maldives left right and center. And Pakis too.

No need for others, they have done a good job of fking themselves. Waheed has made sure his ass is squarely in Indian cross-hairs in the coming elections and at every moment till then--if he lasts that long.

[Chandragupta]

Cr@p, I had already stocked popcorn & beer for some heavy action in the Indian Ocean.

[johneeG]

I get this sinking feeling that a sense of shcadenfreude is in the Indian press reports on the GMR loss.
At same time GOI appears like the Grand Mughal court which couldn't control even the littoral seas like Arabian Sea.

So true!

Just a noob question: What is the geopolitical rationale behind India not annexing 'countries' like Maldives, Nepal and Bhutan (and even Myanmar) immediately after 1947? I mean, if Hyd can be annexed, why not Maldives or Nepal?

Similarly, why can't India annex Maldives, today? What is the rationale in not doing so? I mean China annexed Tibet, right?! Why can't India do it? I could understand, if these states were pro-India. But, even when the local politics is centered around anti-indian stances, why does not India annex these tiny nations?

[chetak]

I get this sinking feeling that a sense of shcadenfreude is in the Indian press reports on the GMR loss.
At same time GOI appears like the Grand Mughal court which couldn't control even the littoral seas like Arabian Sea.

So true!

Just a noob question: What is the geopolitical rationale behind India not annexing 'countries' like Maldives, Nepal and Bhutan (and even Myanmar) immediately after 1947? I mean, if Hyd can be annexed, why not Maldives or Nepal?

Similarly, why can't India annex Maldives, today? What is the rationale in not doing so? I mean China annexed Tibet, right?! Why can't India do it? I could understand, if these states were pro-India. But, even when the local politics is centered around anti-indian stances, why does not India annex these tiny nations?

How soon before GMR hikes rates in India to compensate for the maldives loss?

Do we then get to kick these gougers out of India too??

The process followed to win the contract in both countries was probably the same

[Singha]

I get this sinking feeling that a sense of shcadenfreude is in the Indian press reports on the GMR loss.
At same time GOI appears like the Grand Mughal court which couldn't control even the littoral seas like Arabian Sea.

So true!

Just a noob question: What is the geopolitical rationale behind India not annexing 'countries' like Maldives, Nepal and Bhutan (and even Myanmar) immediately after 1947? I mean, if Hyd can be annexed, why not Maldives or Nepal?

Similarly, why can't India annex Maldives, today? What is the rationale in not doing so? I mean China annexed Tibet, right?! Why can't India do it? I could understand, if these states were pro-India. But, even when the local politics is centered around anti-indian stances, why does not India annex these tiny nations?

nepal and bhutan were left alone as they were independent kingdoms of sorts not under a great deal of strategic need for India and had kings in place. after chinese invaded tibet I guess they were left alone as buffer states to reduce the cost of patrolling such borders too.
till date I believe cheen has not made territorial claims inside nepal and bhutan.

[SSridhar]

. . . till date I believe cheen has not made territorial claims inside nepal and bhutan.

I do not know about Nepal. But, PRC has made territorial claims on Bhutan.

China has been claiming Doklam, Charithang, Sinchulimpa and Dramana pasture lands in Western Bhutan leading up to the Chumbi Valley which is a wedge between India (Sikkim) and Bhutan. The idea of the Chinese is to increase the shoulder leading to the narrow Chumbi valley to enable building road and rail network. The Chumbi Valley is hardly 500 Kms from the strategic and narrow Siliguri Corridor (or, ‘Chicken’s Neck’). In June, 2012, China proposed to establish its diplomatic mission in Bhutan and demanded Bhutan conceding 400 Sq. Kms of land leading up to the Chumbi Valley.

[RamaY]

I get this sinking feeling that a sense of shcadenfreude is in the Indian press reports on the GMR loss.
At same time GOI appears like the Grand Mughal court which couldn't control even the littoral seas like Arabian Sea.

So true!

Just a noob question: What is the geopolitical rationale behind India not annexing 'countries' like Maldives, Nepal and Bhutan (and even Myanmar) immediately after 1947? I mean, if Hyd can be annexed, why not Maldives or Nepal?

Similarly, why can't India annex Maldives, today? What is the rationale in not doing so? I mean China annexed Tibet, right?! Why can't India do it? I could understand, if these states were pro-India. But, even when the local politics is centered around anti-indian stances, why does not India annex these tiny nations?

First India should annex what is India, PoK and AksaiChin.

But our resident experts tell us it is not worthwhile. Now do you want me to chanikyaise why Maldives annexation is not in Indian interests?

It will start with hurting minority sentiments, even though Islam is not an unifying farce. Then why do you want to have 300k Muslims added to india eventhough India is secular constipated country. Then it would hurt the multilateral institutions like UN. Then church is against forced annexations. Then there are no toilets for millions of Indians. Then I have a pot hole in my backyard and India is full of corrupt people. Then Hindus should first solve their caste issues...

[RamaY]

How soon before GMR hikes rates in India to compensate for the maldives loss?

Do we then get to kick these gougers out of India too??

The process followed to win the contract in both countries was probably the same

Are you for serious?

[chetak]

How soon before GMR hikes rates in India to compensate for the maldives loss?

Do we then get to kick these gougers out of India too??

The process followed to win the contract in both countries was probably the same

Are you for serious?

Very much so

They have gouged all customers in India too by hiking all airport charges for passengers, services and airlines. All airlines & cargo operators, foreign and domestic are unhappy.

[RamaY]

^ do you know that international airports get ~$250 per passenger as airport fees from airlines? If the airport construction contract stipulates that the contractor (BOT guy) have to develop his own revenues, it gets translated into airport fees.

If you don't know the difference between the fees agreed upon as part of the contract and gouging by private contractors, it is a problem.

It should be ministry of civil aviation that need to be blamed not GMR