Days of façade republic are past – President Nasheed

President Mohamed Nasheed has said no ruler in the Maldives can any longer govern the country under a façade republic.

Speaking at an official function held on the Republic Day, which also marks the first anniversary of his government after the first ever multi-party democratic elections, the President said: “The uncivilized culture of [façade republic] was [destroyed] by the people themselves.”

He said: “History shows that autocratic regimes fall and become democracies only when people advance the cause of meaningful change instead of material benefits.”

The President said Maldivians voted for regime change on 11 November 2008, because they longed for an ideology that made human dignity and honour as its centre.

“Maldivians [voted for change] because of their desire for dignity and honour; because they wanted to be free from anxiety and fear,” said the President.

The President promised to fulfill his duties as President and consolidate the values of good and benevolent governance in the society.

“There is no government in the history of the Maldives that had not persecuted a political prisoner in the first year of office except my government,” the President emphatically stated.

He said: “What we started a year ago was not merely aimed for today or tomorrow. We assumed the responsibility [of government] because we have the necessary thinking, wisdom and courage.

“We have a vision the benefits of which will be long lasting.”

He said the policies of his government were not merely aimed for the citizens currently living or merely for the MDP [Maldivian Democratic Party] or the DRP [Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party] or any other political party.

“My government’s policies will also benefit the future generations,” added the President.

“I have no doubt that [our] aspirations and justice will be realized.”

He praised the role of the Supreme Court during the past year and expressed his confidence that the People’s Majlis will evolve into a better democratic institution in the days to come.

“The political competition and democratic spirit we see today in the People’s Majlis was a living example of democracy consolidating in the Maldives.

“I therefore praise the hard work of the Honourable Members of the Majlis.”

He concluded saying that, “The transformation we desire is to prevent any person from ruling by a ‘crown of Kohinoor’, hiding behind the curtain of glory and majesty of power.”

“As Sultan Hassan Thajudeen had said, for worldly kingdom, I will not take a path that will lead to an impoverished end.”

Before delivering his address at the official Republic Day function, which was held at Dharubaaruge, the President also presented National Awards of Honour and National Awards of Recognition.

LiveJournal Tags: Maldives,President Mohamed Nasheed,Dhivehi Observer,Republic Day

‘V 11’ Nations Commit to Low Carbon Future

Heads of State and Ministers from some of the world’s most climate vulnerable countries agreed to show leadership in the global fight against climate change today, by committing to greening their economies as their contribution towards achieving carbon neutrality. 

Meeting in Bandos Island, the Maldives, the eleven countries of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (V11) adopted a groundbreaking declaration in which they called upon all countries to “follow the moral leadership shown by the Republic of Maldives by voluntarily committing to achieving carbon neutrality.” 

The declaration further called on countries to “turn their backs on carbon intensive modes of production established in 19th Century Europe.”

The V11 declared that those countries that embrace green economic development would be “the winners of the 21st Century.”

Speaking at a press conference shortly after adopting the declaration, President Mohamed Nasheed, who hosted the summit, said: “We want to show an example to the world by unilaterally adopting green development. We want to show the way by committing to carbon neutrality. We want to argue for climate change action from the moral high ground.”

“Leadership is not about following public opinion but leading it,” Nasheed said.

“We need to prick the conscience of the world,” added President Tong of Kiribati.

Tanzanian Environment Minster Hon. Batlida Burlan said: “We will do something. We will go further by going into carbon neutrality, and invite like-minded countries to do the same.”

Christopher Hacket, the Barbados Special Envoy and Permanent Representative to the UN, said: “We shouldn’t expect others to do what we are not willing to do ourselves. We fully support the need to go green and go for renewables.”

The vulnerable developing countries were meeting in the Maldives on Monday and Tuesday to thrash out a common position ahead of the Copenhagen climate change negotiations in December.

The V11 nations expressed grave concern over reports of a downgrading of expectations for the Copenhagen talks and called on world leaders, including President Obama and the leaders of major emerging economies such as India and China, to personally attend the Copenhagen talks and “redouble their efforts at reaching a binding, ambitious, fair and effective agreement.”

Furthermore, V11 nations underlined the need for financial and technical help from the developed world in order to achieve carbon neutral status. In this regard, they called for an ambitious financial package to be agreed at Copenhagen.

The V11 nations include: Bangladesh, Barbados, Bhutan, Ghana, Kenya, Kiribati, Maldives, Nepal, Rwanda, Tanzania and Vietnam.

The V11 nations agreed to hold a second meeting next year in Kiribati.

Related:

• Maldives opens Climate Vulnerable Forum with appeal for carbon neutrality

LiveJournal Tags: Maldives,Vulnerable Countries Conference,Dhivehi Observer,Climate Change,V11,Low Carbon Economy

‘No Confidence’ vote on Foreign Minister Shaheed fails

Update:
02:27pm - The motion did not pass, 37 votes in support. 39 required. 2 abstained out of 73 attendees.

02:21pm – As the debate finished on time, the parliament is now getting ready to vote on the matter.

The Parliament of the Maldives is today debating the case of no-confidence vote on the Foreign Minister, Dr. Ahmed Shaheed. The case was lodged by opposition alliance of DRP-PA, parties headed by former Dictator Gayyoom and his brother Abdulla Yameen.

The case was based on renewing diplomatic ties with Israel and also because Dr. Shaheed’s foreign policy is deterrent to the Islamic Unity of the country as claimed the opposition.

The debate is quite heated up, whilst the President has written to the Speaker of the Parliament alleging that the house did not give the minister sufficient time period of 14 days as prescribed in the constitution.

A Statement was given today by Dr. Shaheed on the alleges and said that he did not act against the interest of the country. He also said that the government has not yet signed any bilateral agreements to renew diplomatic ties and said this allegation was based on hearsay rather than real facts. He further added that this vote was not a vote on him but on the current government stating that the basis for this case as prescribed in the constitution has not been properly applied.

Several Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) supporters are protesting outside the parliament house, demanding the MPs not to vote Dr. Shaheed out of office.

DRP-PA lodged the case with 35 signatories, whilst a vote can only be passed with a real majority of the house, which will require 39 votes.

Some opposition MPs, such as Alhan Fahmy has today withdrawn his support for the case stating that the case has no basis.

The vote is expected to take place tomorrow.

Related:

• Dr Shaheed not given 14-day notice, says president

 

LiveJournal Tags: Dhivehi Observer,Dr. Ahmed Shaheed,Maldives,Maldives Parliament

Maldives opens Climate Vulnerable Forum with appeal for carbon neutrality

Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed called on fellow vulnerable, developing countries to embrace a carbon neutral future, during his inaugural address to the 'Climate Vulnerable Forum', which is meeting in the Maldives on Monday and Tuesday.

In the Forum's keynote address, Nasheed lamented the lack of progress being made in international climate change negotiations and called on poor, vulnerable countries to show “moral leadership” by shifting from fossil fuel to renewable energy.

Delegates at the Climate Vulnerable Forum include President Tong of Kiribati, as well as foreign and environment ministers from Bangladesh, Nepal, Vietnam, Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania, and representatives from Barbados and Bhutan.

China, Denmark, France, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, the UK and the United States are attending the Forum as observers.

“We are gathered here because we are the most vulnerable group of nations to climate change. Some might prefer us to suffer in silence but today we have decided to speak...we will not die quietly,” Nasheed said.

“To my mind, countries that have the foresight to green their economies today, will be the winners of tomorrow,” the President added.

Nasheed called on developing countries to break away from carbon-based growth and embrace green technology as a way to shame larger polluters to clean up their act.

“A group of vulnerable, developing countries committed to carbon neutral development would send a loud message to the outside world,” Nasheed said.

“If those with the least start doing the most, what excuse can the rich have for continuing inaction?

“At the moment every country arrives at [international climate] negotiations seeking to keep their own emissions as high as possible. This is the logic of the madhouse, a recipe for collective suicide.

“We don't want a global suicide pact...we want a global survival pact,” Nasheed stated.
Maldivian organisers of the Forum say the aim of the gathering is to amplify the voices of vulnerable, poor nations, who often go unheard in international negotiations.

Organisers say they hope the Forum will mean a better outcome at Copenhagen for vulnerable, developing nations.

“The countries represented in this room are diverse but they have one thing in common: their vulnerability to climate change,” Maldivian Environment Minister Mohamed Aslam said in his welcome address to the Forum.

“We have waited for over a decade for something to happen. But nothing has happened. We refuse to sit and do nothing,” added Aslam.

Environmentalist Mark Lynas, who helped draw up the Maldives' 10-year carbon neutral plan, also addressed the Forum.

“Don't let anyone tell you it is too late to stop climate change....it is possible to stop it with political will,” Lynas said.

“The world needs to quit carbon....abandoning a form of development we now know to be wrong,” Lynas added.

In March this year, the Maldives announced plans to become the world's first carbon neutral nation.

The carbon neutral plan includes proposals to switch from oil to 100% renewable energy production.

Earlier this month, President Nasheed unveiled plans to build a 75 Mega Watt wind farm in North Male' atoll, which would provide 40% of the country's electricity and cut the Maldives' carbon dioxide emissions by a quarter.

Related:

• President Nasheed’s address to the Climate Vulnerable Forum
• Photos - Inaugural session of the Climate Vulnerable Forum 

LiveJournal Tags: Maldives,Dhivehi Observer,Climate Forum,Climate Change,Copenhagen Summit

The President speaks on the need to begin social protection programmes for the needy

In this week’s radio address, President Mohamed Nasheed has spoken on the need to begin comprehensive social protection programmes for the needy.

He noted that about 1,6000 Maldivian citizens live below the poverty line. He added that unless they are enabled to live a life of dignity, the country would not prosper. He said, therefore, it was important to provide them with subsidies for electricity and food as well as providing assistance to single-parents and people with disabilities.

In his radio address, the President said that during the past year, the government has made considerable achievements while at the same time there were things that were yet to be achieved.

He further said that the government’s hope was to better the life of the people and bring prosperity to the nation.

The President also highlighted the developmental projects undertaken by the government and spoke on the progress made in those projects.

In this regard, he noted that an agreement has been signed with Falcon Energy to build and operate a wind farm in Gaafaru Island.

The wind farm will produce clean electricity for North Male’ atoll, which includes Male’ island, the Maldivian capital, the international airport island of Hulhule’ and a number of luxury tourist resorts.

The President further revealed that an agreement would be signed today to build a wind farm in Addu Atoll.

In addition, the President noted that a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with GMR Infrastructure Global Limited to develop a trendsetting international airport at Hanimaadhoo in the Upper North Province.

On housing, the President said that an agreement on the housing project would be signed with Tata group in the coming weeks.

Download / listen to radio message on www.vom.gov.mv

LiveJournal Tags: Weekly Radio Message,President Nasheed,Maldives,Dhivehi Observer,Hanimaadhoo Airport,Hulhule' Airport