Former President H.E. Ibrahim Nasir dies

The former President H.E. Ibrahim Nasir, Rannabandeyri Kiligefaanu, N.G.I.V, KCMG, has passed away on 22 November 2008 in Singapore at the age of 82. He had been ill for a long time.

Former President Nasir is the hero of Maldivian Independence and the Father of modern Maldives.

It was his skilful negotiations that gave us our full sovereign independence from the British in 1965 without having to compromise any territory.

It was under his rule first as Prime Minister and later as President that the Maldives first began to modernize itself. From the age-old tradition of using sail dhonis, he modernized the fishing industry by mechanization of fish vessels as well as establishing a tuna canning plant. The education system in the Maldives was revolutionized and English was first used as the medium of instruction.

It was during his tenure that the Maldives joined the UN system and became a fully participating member of the international community. Furthermore, the first hospital was built in the Maldives and priority was given both to preventative and curative health measures.

However, he will be most remembered for establishing the tourism industry in the Maldives, which has now become the mainstay of our country. An international airport was build for this purpose, manned at the time mainly by Maldivian youth.

He also was instrumental in establishing a modern communication system in the Maldives and started both radio and TV broadcasting. Additionally the first international telecommunication system was established in the Maldives.

The late President was also a controversial figure. His rule, especially during the latter years, was rather autocratic. But for most Maldivians, his biggest folly was to handpick Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom as his successor, someone who later ridiculed the former President and treated him with great disrespect.

Former President Nasir had five children, Ahmed Nasir, Ali Nasir, Mohamed Nasir, Ismail Nasir and Aishath Nasir. He will be buried in the Maldives with full state honours.

Dhimaku offers its sincere condolences to the family of the former President. May Allah Almighty grant him the eternal blessings of paradise.

Maldives adopts new constitution

President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom signed and ratified the new constitution of the Maldives at a ceremony held at Dharubaaruge.

The ceremony took place at 10:00am today and President Gayoom addressed the nation before he signed the document adopting the new constitution. The signing was followed by a seven-gun salute, courtesy of the Maldives National Defence Force, and a special short prayer was also recited by the President of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs Sheikh Mohamed Rasheed Ibrahim.

Government spokesperson Mohammed Shareef said that the new constitution also embodies, for the first time, independent bodies for human rights, judiciary, police, defense, elections and corruption investigation.

Dhiyamigili and Madifushi present money to national team

Male', Maldives - Dhiyamigili and Madifushi islands of Thaa Atoll presented cash to SAFF championship winning team of Maldives. Dhiyamigili presented a total of MRF 7950.00 and Madifushi presented MRF 10,000.00 to the team. Island chief of these islands presented the money on behalf of citizens of the island and on behalf of Maldives national team; goal keeper trainer Iqbal accepted the money.

According to maldivesoccer.com journalist, there wasn’t any action against the trip from these two islands.

“There were several events in Madifushi to welcome the trip members” he said.

“But in Dhiyamigili, there weren’t many activities but there wasn’t any action against the trip as well”

The money was presented during the ongoing trophy trip, where the trip members are in Thaa atoll right now and the journey will reach Laamu today.

The journey to take the SAFF championship trophy to all the islands started on July 1st and there are five more atolls to cover. The journey is expecting to be completed in the coming two weeks.

www.maldivesoccer.com

Maldives Dictator labels his political rivals liars

Maldives Dictator Golhaabo seems to be going through a rough patch these days, talking absolute bull, in his party rallies and press conferences.Earlier this week, he denounced his opponents as liars and named the top five of a long list he had.

They were, MP for Raa Atoll, Shaheed Zaki,, MP for Dhaalu Atoll, Ahmed Nashid (ADK), MP for Male’ Atoll and MDP Chairman Mariya Ahmed Didi, Vice President of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Ibrahim Hussain Zaki and founding MDP member Mohamed Latheef.As always, Golhaabo’s comments were preposterous and rather pathetic.

He said that Zaki had switched allegiance and that he was left out of the cabinet in 2003 for bad discipline. Perhaps Golhaabo should have done the same with his family members in the cabinet long time back, like his own brother Abdulla Hameed, a well known gay paedophile and his brother in law Ilyas Ibrahim, who is famous for preying on young women in islands that he visits. In response to these comments, Zaki said that Gayyoom had lied to the people for 30 years and the people were now ready to come out and oust him from power.ADK Nashid was accused by Gayyoom of going back on his word. Gayyoom claimed that Nashid had said that he would still support the dictator despite leaving the DRP.

Nashid dismissed the remarks by saying that the man is too old to remember anything now.The allegation against Latheef was that he was the one behind the 2003 September riots in Male’, which in fact was a public reaction to the murder of Evan Naseem and his friends in jail by Maldives police. It seems that Gayyoom has forgotten all about it and is now claiming that those riots were designed to disrupt the 2003 Presidential referendum, held in October that year. Like the others, Latheef dismissed the remarks by saying Gayyoom is a congenital liar and that his lies were becoming more and more childish now.

There are now reports that Ibrahim Hussain Zaki and Mariya Didi as well as the other 3 political leaders who were accused of being liars by the ‘Demented One’ may file defamation cases against the dictator.Of course, the dictator didn’t stop at that. He even accused the reformists, especially the members of the National Unity Alliance, of causing the death of a popular figurehead Saikuraa Ibrahim Naeem who passed away earlier this week at the age of 73.

The dictator said that late Naeem died as a result of shock after watching the NUA members and their supporters converge on the palace and protest demanding a meeting with him last week.Finally, Golhaabo claimed that he was in campaigning mode, which means similar stupid remarks, comments and statements will be more and more frequent in the coming days and weeks.

DRP’s reputation is at stake and unless someone stops this mad man, the party will be doomed in no time.

www.do2004.com

Teachers strike bring schools across the national to a standstill

Thousands of teachers in the Maldives are striking demanding pay rise.

Most schools are almost at a standstill as local teachers have stayed at home as they threatened to do. Ameeniyya, Majeedhiyya, Kalaafaanu, Arabiyyaa and Iskandhar are all disrupted as in some cases all local teachers did not report to work today. Across the country, reports say almost all schools in Addu are also disrupted, similar reports are coming from Huvadhoo, Lhaviyani and Noonu Atoll as well.

As expected, teachers have stayed united and made the education minister Zahiya 'Burger' Zareer eat her own words rather than burger for breakfast.

Well done teacher, let us hear your side of the story. Tell us which school you are from and how you feel about your actions.Parents, are you in support of this action by teacher?There are report that the military and Golhaa Force may be assigned the task of teaching the nation until this issue is resolved.

Supporters give memorable reception to national team

Male', MALDIVES - The jubilant supporters of Maldives handed their heroic national team the perfect reception on their return after winning SAFF championship in Colombo.

Maldives beat defending champions India 1-0 in the final, thanks to Mukhthar Naseer’s 87th minute long range strike.Maldives national team arrived on a chartered Island Aviation flight and the president himself was in the airport to greet the team.

President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom handed a cash prize to every member of the national team during their stay in the VIP lounge. After the reception in the VIP lounge, members of the national team then headed to the capital Male’ on a specially decorated Dhoni.

President himself travelled with the team on the Dhoni to Male’ where they were welcomed by thousands of supporters in the republican square.From the republican square, the team then rode across the capital on a lorry and thousands of supporters followed them to the national stadium.

At the national stadium more than 15000 supporters cheered the historical team and the supporters were given the opportunity to take photographs with the trophy.At the end of the ceremony, each player and official left the stadium in a separate car printed their jersey number and name on it.At the VIP lounge, president Maumoon said every member of the national team is a national hero and added it is unity that can keep the trophy in Maldives again.

He also stated that every citizen of the nation will get the opportunity to touch the trophy as it will be taken to all inhabited islands.

I can’t express my feelings says heroic Mukhthaar

Colombo, MALDIVES - Mukhthaar Naseer, who scored the decisive goal against India last night, was jubilant after the win and said this is the happiest moment of his life.

“I don’t know how to express my feelings. This is the happiest moment of my life” He said to maldivesoccer.com at Maldives’ team’s dressing room after the final match.

Mukhthaar, an important player in Valencia’s squad, had a superb season last year claiming the best player award of Cup Winners Cup and included among the top five players of the season. That were the main reasons for his inclusion in the national squad and he proved his worthiness.

Mukhthaar further added that he had given decisive assists in local tournaments to score the winning goals in finals and semi finals but the feeling he had after scoring the winning goal against India was completely different.

In an interview given to Television Maldives after the final match, He said: “Before the game starts, I though myself how nice it would be if I score the winning goal”

Messages of praise from every corner of the country is now addressing to the national team, especially Mukhthaar for his wonderful goal.
Maldives beat India 1-0 to become the regional champions for the first time. Maldives duo Ali Ashfaag and Ibrahim Fazeel were named as best player of the tournament and top scorer respectively.

maldivesoccer.com

India 0 - 1 Maldives: New champions

Colombo, SRI LANKA - Maldives crowned the champions of South Asia after a thrilling 1-0 win over India in the final played in Sugathadhasa Stadium tonight.

Mukhthar Naseer was the hero of the match scoring the historical goal in the 87th minute from a long range shot.First half was equally balanced where both Maldives and India had their opportunities to get opener but neither team found the target

.Ali Ashfaag was unstoppable in the half and suffered a serious injury when Indian defender Anwar brought him down inside India half. Anwar was booked for the foul and Indian defence cleared Maldives free kick.Maldivian defenders played well holding the speedy strikers of India, but the nervous men in red had poor miss passes but there was always another to recover it.Maldives best opportunity in the first half fell into Ahmed Thoriq when the ace striker, who missed the semi final through injury, headed the ball but was only on target to the vertical bar.It was totally a different Maldivian side in the second half, where they were on full attack and kept the Indian side under constant bombardments.

Maldives keeper Imran had few moments to show his capabilities but on the other side Indian keeper had no time to breath as Ashfaag, Ismail Mohamed, Mukhthar Naseer, Ahmed Thoriq and Ibrahim Fazeel’s deadly attacks were too much for themMaldives kept knocking on Indian door and an hour mark Ashfaag’s powerful shot went across the face of the goal.Few minutes later another powerful shot from skipper Assad went across the goal.But just three minute before full time, Mukhthar Naseer fired a thunderbolt outside Indian penalty area and Indian keeper had no time to save the ball which glued on the net.

A nation was on their feet and the nearly five thousands Maldivian supporters in Sugathadhasa stadium rocked the atmosphere.Even in the dying minutes of the second half Maldives had chances to increase the lead, but who cares? A win is a win and Assad and Co showed a performance that deserves to bring an end to a dream that lasted 17 long years.

Ali Ashfaag was named as the man of the tournament and Ibrahim Fazeel, who scored three goals, named top scorer.

maldivesoccer.com

Maldives National Football Team for their dramatic win of the SAAF Championship 2008 by Beating India 1-0

Today is a great day for the people of Maldives.

For the first time our national team has written history by becoming the Champions of the SAAF Football Championship. The Maldives National Team beat India 1-0 to become the proud champions of SAAF foot ball Championship.

Mukhtar Naseer’s goal toward the end in the 87th minute was the only goal of the match as Maldives beat India 1-0 winning their first ever SAFF Championship title in Colombo. Maldives had previously finished as runners-up twice but never won. Maldivian across the world is elated and celebrating this grand victory.

Our football players have accomplished a mission worth millions for our nation and they should indeed be hailed as national heroes.

Dhimaku congratulates the Maldives national team and all Maldivian on this historic day. yesterday night our country is crammed with heroes comprising of each and every member of our football team and of those that have helped them to achieve that we have been reaching for, for a long time . Fans are flocking to the streets of Maldives and celebrating the success wearing red, the colour that that represented our team in the final match.

The golden goal scored by Mukuthaar Naseer was a great performance for a first timer in the national team. The best player was also from the Maldives team Ali Ashfag. One Maldivian described it as, “ a dream come true”. While Male’ is the epitome of all the celebrations, the people of each and every atoll of Maldives alike is celebrating. What a great end to a lot of anticipations, highs and lows. Pure glory worth smiling for all the Maldivian alike.

The president of Maldives His Excellency Maumoon Abdul Gayoom who flew to Sri Lanka to support the National Team has declared Sunday June 14th a National Holiday in order to mark and celebrate this spectacular win.

Around five thousand Maldivian fans flew to Sri Lanka to see the match and supported the Maldives team all the way. Once again MISDD congratulates our team members, brothers and sisters and our motherland, Maldives a nation that will not sleep yester day night.

ޖަމިއްޔާގެ ހިންގާކޮމިޓީގެ މެމްބަރުންނާއި މަގާމުތައް

1. 
   ރައީސް
   އަހުމަދު ރަޝީދު މުހައްމަދު / އަސްރަފީގެ، ތ.ދިޔަމިގިލި
   
   ނާއިބު ރައީސް / ރައީސާ
   މުހައްމަދު މުނީރު / ދެކުނުގެ، ތ.ދިޔަމިގިލި
   މުނީރާ އިސްމާއިލް / ކުދިމާގެ، ތ.ދިޔަމިގިލި
   
   ހިންގާ ސެކްރެޓަރީ
   އަޙްމަދު މޫސާ / ފީރޯޒުގެ، ތ.ދިޔަމިގިލި
   
   ނާއިބު ސެކްރެޓަރީ
   އަބްދުއްރަހީމް ޔޫސުފް / ޒަމާނީކުލަ، ތ.ދިޔަމިގިލި
   އައިމިނަތު އަރޫޝާ / ބަށިމާގެ، ތ.ދިޔަމިގިލި
   ޢާއިސަތު ނުޒުހާ / ތަޑިރަތްމާގެ، ތ.ދިޔަމިގިލި
   ޙަސަން އަޒުމީލް / ޝޭޑީގުރޯ، ތ.ދިޔަމިގިލި
   
   
   ސެކްރެޓަރީ
   އަހުމަދު ސިރާޖު / ރަނައުރާގެ، ތ.ދިޔަމިގިލި
   ހުސެން ޙަބީބު / އޯޒޯން، ތ.ދިޔަމިގިލި
   އާރިފާ އިސްމާޢީލް / ބީޗްހައުސް، ތ.ދިޔަމިގިލި
   
   
   ޚަޒާންދާރު
   މުޙައްމަދު ލިޝާމް / ފީރޯޒުގެ، ތ.ދިޔަމިގިލި
   
   ނާއިބު ޚަޒާންދާރު
   މުހައްމަދު އަހްމަދު / ނޫރާނީގެ، ތ.ދިޔަމިގިލި
   
   ހިންގާ ކޮމިޓީގެ އިތުރު މެންބަރުން
   ސަންފާ އިސްމާޢީލް / ފީރޯޒުގެ، ތ.ދިޔަމިގިލި
   އަހުމަދު އާމިރު / ބީޗްހައުސް، ތ.ދިޔަމިގިލި
   އަރުޝަދު މުހައްމަދު / ބަށިމާގެ، ތ.ދިޔަމިގިލި
   އަބްދުއްނާސިރު / މާގަސްދޮށުގެ، ތ.ދިޔަމިގިލި