Often, when you start to dream about taking a holiday, what you're craving above all is simplicity. You want to strip life down to its essentials, to spend a week or two somewhere far away from the cares of the world. I live in East London, and it's been a stressful year. I've been running around like the proverbial blue-arsed fly, and Islamic radicals seem particularly attracted to my local bus routes. Winter is closing in, and there's no way I'll make it through the grim and slushy months without feeling the sun on my face at least once. I want to chill out. I want to amble from my hammock into the sea, then swim around wondering what to have for lunch.

So the Maldives looked perfect. Where could be more simple? A bunch of green dots in the middle of the Indian ocean. Nothing much to engage with, no great feats of sight-seeing to achieve. Just me and the beach and a few fat novels - the ones I've been saving for an occasion when I could really take a run-up at them. As the official tourist board website puts it, "sun, sand and sea, a thousand 'Robinson Crusoe' islands, massive lagoons with different depths and infinite shades of blue and turquoise, dazzling underwater coral gardens; a perfect natural combination for the ideal tropical holiday destination." Nice, I thought. Where do I sign up?
"However," the tourist board site goes on, "there is more to the Maldives than just that". Too bloody right there is, as I found out the other day when I attended a meeting of PEN, the writers organisation. PEN campaigns for freedom of expression, working with people around the word who've been imprisoned or otherwised abused for writing or saying things their local authorities don't like. The Maldives, while it's one of the world's third-division nations, turns out to be premier league in the torture, imprisonment and disappearance stakes. Since 1978 it's been ruled by the avuncular-looking President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.

You can check him out, hob-nobbing with the British High Commissioner, Bill Clinton, and other notables here. President Gayoom was elected for a record sixth five-year term in 2003. Though there were no other candidates, we should still congratulate him on becoming Asia's longest serving leader. His unprecedented popularity is assisted by his total control over the Maldivian media, and his practice of imprisoning anyone who criticises his regime.

Source: Dhivehi Observer

Tons of fresh tuna thrown away in Maldives

From Lhaviyani Naifaru, 29 November 2005
Naifaru - Local fishermen in the island are complaining because dictator Gayyoom of the Maldives has not been able to buy their catch through the monopolised Maldives Industrial Fisheries Cooperation (MIFCO) which is a 100% government company.

"They are just buy 2 tons from each Dhoni (fishing vessel) today, and the rest we are trying to sell in the local markets in the island, but we have more than 50 tons, this is more than what you can sell even in Male' (capital island)," said a fisherman on the phone earlier.

This problem is not new to Gayyoom as it has been happening over the last 7 years. Every time the fishing season gets underway, Gayyoom decides to control the quantity he buys from the people. These skipjack tuna caught with pole and line only, are second to none in the world, yet over the years Gayyoom has purposely ignored the potential of this industry so that our people remain poor. A fresh or chilled 3 kg skipjack tuna weighing 3 kg can fetch more than 30 US$ in EU markets but our fish are being thrown away because there is no market for it and Gayyoo is still controlling the purchase, processing and export of Maldives Tuna. Even the private companies that were given the license recently are unable to buy all the catch from the fisherman, which further proves that the only way forward is deregulation.

Maldivian fisherman across the country are struggling to make ends meet yet Gayyoom and his cronies are living like millionaires.

Below are some pictures from the two local markets of Lhaviyani Naifaru which close to the only fish canning factory in Maldives. The whole area is controlled by Gayyoom. No one else can buy and export fish from this region.

Source: Dhivehi Observer

Commonwealth legal expert says Maldives in need of securities legislation

Mr. Makbul Ibrahim, a legal expert of the Commonwealth Secretariat has said that Maldives currently in need of a securities legislation to develop the capital market of the country.

He made the statement in an interview with Television Maldives. He said that with the passing of the currently formulated securities bill, the capital market of Maldives would develop in many aspects such as providing legal recognition for institutions and individuals like dealers and brokers.

He also noted the listing of a 4th company in the Maldives Stock Exchange as an important step towards development.

President briefs Queen on tsunami recovery efforts in Maldives

President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has briefed Queen Elizabeth II on the ongoing national recovery efforts from the effects of the December 2004 tsunami disaster. Speaking with the British monarch Friday at the official reception given by Queen Elizabeth II for invited delegates and civil society representatives, the President highlighted the extensive damage caused by the tsunami and the ongoing endeavours to attain full national recovery.

Highlighting that the assistance from the donor community had been overwhelming, the President noted that more aid was needed to overcome the nationwide effects of the disaster. He also briefed Queen Elizabeth II on the efforts of the Government to attract more donor assistance towards the reconstruction phase of the programme. He expressed his gratitude to the Government of the UK for its assistance towards the tsunami recovery programme.

The Heaven for Honeymoon - It is not expensive that you thought

PRLEAP.COM) Maldives - The Heaven for Honeymoon - It is not expensive that you thoughtSun, sand and sea, a thousand Robinson Crusoe islands, massive lagoons with different depths and infinite shades of blue and turquoise, dazzling underwater coral gardens; a perfect natural combination for the ideal tropical holiday destination.

However there is more to the Maldives than just that. Male would certainly count as one of the smallest capitals in the world in terms of its physical size. A third of the country population, about 75,000 live in Male. Different from any other island in the country, Male is a city of high-rise buildings and paved roads. Not only do you discover aspects of the planet denied to most people, but you make a lot of good friends as well! The Maldives is famed for its rare underwater beauty. The profusion of psychedelic colours and the abundance and variety of life underwater have fascinated divers and snorkellers since Maldives was discovered as a diving destination.

The room availability in Maldives is very important for travellers because there are limited number of rooms and acoomodations. You have to make the advance booking for this destination.

Newly opened Hilton Maldives garners prestigious awards

Just four months after opening its main island following a 15-month US $30 million total renovation, the Hilton Maldives takes first place amongst luxury resorts in the Maldives.

The resort’s renowned undersea restaurant – the only one of its kind in the world – won the hotly contested ‘Best Innovative Concept’ prize by the internationally recognised Worldwide Hospitality Awards at a glittering ceremony in Paris.

A week later, the prize-giving moved to London where the resort’s General Manager, Carsten Schieck, came on stage at the prestigious Sunday Times Readers’ awards to collect the prize for ‘Best Hotel Worldwide’. That same week, the resort also received accolades from Virgin Holidays, whose clients voted the resort ‘Silver Award for Best Hotel Middle East, Africa and Indian Ocean’.

Fiesta Holidays' 2006 Mauritius & Maldives brochure launch

Fiesta Holidays recently celebrated the launch of its 2006 Mauritius & Maldives brochures by holding six Movie Night Preview Screenings across Australia.

Fiesta Holidays presented its new brochures prior to the screening of the newly released movie Prime, featuring Meryl Streep and Uma Thurman. Great reviews were received by many of the 500 plus consultants who attended the evenings and Steve Douglas GM Fiesta Holidays labelling the launch as a huge success. Fiesta Holidays, in association with One & Only Resorts Mauritius, provided 6 night accommodation prizes staying at either Le Coco Beach, Mauritius on an All-Inclusive basis or Sugar Beach, Mauritius on a Half Board basis per screening totalling six in all. The prize winners only had to attend the screening to be in the draw to win.

This is the first time Fiesta Holidays have launched a new brochure range via Preview Screenings but will certainly be looking to repeat the event next year. If you missed out this year, please be sure to keep an eye out in October/November 2007 for your next opportunity.

Fuel X introduced in Maldives

Fuel X, a popular brand used in the International market, to reduce the expense of fuel and gas has been introduced in Maldives.

Marketing and Sales service, the main agent for the brand in Maldives say that by installing the gadget, they can reduce the amount of consumption of fuel and gas used by motorbikes, lorries, pickups and gas stoves. As such, 25 percent in petrol, 20 percent in diesel and 30 percent in gas will be reduced with the help of Fuel X.

India to transfer naval patrol craft to the Maldives

As part of ongoing endeavours to reach out to the maritime nations in the Indian Ocean Region, the Indian Navy will transfer the Fast Attack Craft INS Tillanchang to the Maldives early next year.

Admiral Prakash said the Indian offer included a Rs 6 crore- component for technical, material and training assistance over a three-year period following the transfer.

The Indian Navy already provides training and hydrographic assistance to the Maldives. Naval ships visit the Maldives on a regular basis and there have been as many as seven such visits so far this year. The Indian and the Maldives Coast Guard have also held regular exercises under the 'Dosti' series.

Built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, she was commissioned in March 2001 and is presently deployed with the Andaman & Nicobar Command.

Jennifer Latheef - Freedom of Speech in the Maldives

Jennifer Latheef, a photographer with the daily Minivan News and a human rights activist, was sentenced to 10 years in prison on 18 October for a supposed “terrorist act,” of throwing a stone at a policeman during a demonstration in Malé on 20 September against the death of five prisoners while being tortured. Five other protesters were given long jail sentences.

She has denied throwing any stones and said she was at the demonstration gathering information about victims of repression. However, the courts, controlled by President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, accepted the prosecution’s arguments, including contradictory police evidence. Her father, Mohamed Latheef, is the main leader of the democratic opposition and is in exile in Sri Lanka.

Four other journalists are in prison in the Maldives and a dozen more are being prosecuted for supposed terrorism or violating the press laws. Minivan News is a major target, as the only paper openly critical of President Gayoom’s regime. Its printer has refused to handle it since August because of threats by the authorities.

Gayoom creates record by being present at all SAARC summits

Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has set a unique record by participating in all the SAARC summits since the launch of the seven-member grouping in 1985.

He attended the first summit in Pakistan along with then Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Nepalese King Birendra and President Zia-ul Haq of Pakistan -- all of whom were later assasinated. The grouping was the intiative of former Bangladesh President Gen Ziaur Rehman, who was also assassinated in 1982.

He has also hosted the 1997 SAARC summit in Male.

Cyprus Gives Maldives Financial Assistance

Cyprus’ Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Andreas Mavroyiannis, handed a cheque worth 110 thousand dollars to the Ambassador of the Maldives Mohamed Latheef collected by the Cooperative Movement in Cyprus in aid following the catastrophic tsunami of last December in south-east Asia.Delivering the cheque, which was accompanied by a letter by Cyprus Foreign Minister George Iacovou, Mavroyiannis expressed Cyprus’ solidarity with efforts being made to reconstruct the country as well as its willingness to support the country, as an EU member state.
He said that Cyprus, as a small state, is aware of the problems faced by island states especially in the field of security and expressed the government’s readiness to promote development of relations between the Maldives and the EU. This contribution by the Cooperative Movement, Mavroyiannis added, is an expression of Cyprus’ solidarity with the Maldives.
Latheef expressed gratitude to the Cooperative Movement and the people and government of Cyprus for their assistance, noting that Cyprus can share with the Maldives its experience and knowledge.
The Maldives ambassador expressed hope that with the contribution of the EU, the US and international organisations, his country will be able to secure the 400.000.000 dollars required to reconstruct the country.

Members still want to debate over basic policies and principals of Special Majlis

Even when six People’s Special Majlis (constitutional assembly) sessions have gone discussing basic principals and policies of the Majlis some members still want to debate over it.When Sunday’s Majlis session concluded some members still wanted to talk regarding the basic policies and principals of the Majlis, the Majlis office reported.