Mohamed Nasheed

Mohamed Nasheed މުޙައްމަދު ނަޝީދު
President of the Maldives
Incumbent
Assumed office 11 November 2008
Vice President	Mohammed Waheed Hassan
Preceded by	Maumoon Abdul Gayoom
Personal details
Born	17 May 1967 (1967-05-17) (age 44) Malé, Maldives
Political party	Democratic Party
Spouse(s)	Laila Ali Abdulla
Children	2 daughters
Residence	Muliaage (Official)
Alma mater	Liverpool John Moores University
Religion	Islam

Mohamed Nasheed (Dhivehi: މުހައްމަދު ނަޝީދު) (born May 17, 1967) is a Maldivian politician. He is the current President of the Maldives. He is the founder of the Maldivian Democratic Party and was its presidential candidate in the October 2008 presidential election, defeating long-time President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom in a second round of voting. He was sworn in as President on November 11, 2008.

He is a former member of Parliament for Malé. He was an outspoken critic of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and his policies. Due to his criticism of the government over the years, he was arrested and sentenced several times.

Mohamed Nasheed is a holder of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean (GCSK).

1990–2003

Nasheed was held in prison for an article in the political magazine Sangu, published in 1990, in which he alleged the Maldivian government had rigged the 1989 general election. Because of his imprisonment, he was made an Amnesty International Prisoner of Conscience in 1991.

After being held in solitary confinement and reportedly tortured, he was accused of withholding information about a bombing plot. On April 8, 1992, he was sentenced to three years in prison on that charge.^[1] He was released in June 1993, then re-arrested in 1994 and 1995. In 1996 he was sentenced to two years imprisonment for an article he had written about the 1993 and 1994 Maldivian elections.^[2]

In 2000, he was elected as a member of the parliament representing the people of Malé. Six months later, in 2001 he was tried and sentenced to two and half years banishment for the theft of unspecified government property from H. Velaanaage - the former residence of former president Ibrahim Nasir. Though supporters of Nasheed believe that it was a fabricated charge against him motivated by political desires, former attorney general Dr Munavvar claimewd what was stolen was the main door key and other keys of Velaanaage building and later using the keys he had taken some old documents from the building in which there was some details of the illegally taken government funds by former president Nasir. Nasheed himself agreed he acquired the said documents. However he didn't reveal how he got the documents. This was later proved to be so, when Dhivehiobserver (of Ahmed Shafeeq Ibrahim Moosa) published a leaked letter, sent by then Minister of Construction and Public Works Umar Zahir to the former Minister of Defence (later the High Commissioner to Delhi) Anbaree Abdul Sattar. The letter, dated on October 31, 2001, was published on the website on October 10, 2005. According to this letter, Nasheed did take some files from the residence which were about to be destroyed as they were of no value to the government. According to Umar Zahir there was no restricted area for the public in the residence. In his letter Umar Zahir stated "Later that day I did check the storage place from which Mohamed Nasheed apparently took that material. Those things have now been burned by Mohamed Nasheed."

Maldivian Democratic party

In November 2003, Nasheed left the Maldives and joined Mohamed Latheef to help establish the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), in exile, in Sri Lanka and the UK. He was recognized as a political refugee by the British government in 2004. After about 18 months in self-proclaimed exile, Nasheed returned to Malé on April 30, 2005.

After returning to the Maldives he began promoting the MDP before it was officially recognized by the Government. With the decision to allow political parties in the Maldives, on June 2, 2005 and the official recognition of the MDP's existence, Nasheed accelerated his support campaigns for the party. He made several trips to the Atolls, and neighbouring countries on behalf of the party.

On August 12, 2005, Nasheed was arrested again when he was sitting in the center of the Republican Square, with supporters of MDP, to mark the second anniversary of the Black Friday. His arrest provoked civil unrest in Malé and some other Atolls. After his arrest, acting Government Spokesman Mohamed Hussain Shareef told reporters that Nasheed had been detained for "his own safety." However, on August 22, 2005, the state announced that Nasheed was to be charged with terrorism under the Terrorism Act. He then ran for election in 2008 and won.

2008 presidential election

Main article: Maldivian presidential election, 2008

Nasheed stood as the MDP Itthihaad's candidate together with Mohammed Waheed Hassan as the Vice Presidential Candidate in the October 2008 presidential election; this was the first time the country had held a multiparty presidential election by popular vote. In the first round, Nasheed and Dr. Waheed placed second with 44,293 votes (24.91%), placing second behind President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom of the governing Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP), who received 71,731 votes (40.34%). In the second round, Nasheed and Dr. Waheed were backed by the unsuccessful first round candidates and won 54.25% of the vote against 45.75% for Gayoom.

Following the election, Nasheed and Dr. Waheed were sworn in as the President and Vice President of the Maldives on November 11, 2008^[3] in a special session of the People's Majlis at Dharubaaruge.At Dharubaaruge at his First speech as President he said he will hold a mid term presidential election but after a month as a president his tone was changed and said it was a philosophy not for real and because of this the Ithihaad who joined Nasheed after the first round of election are trying to bring his government down. Nasheed has been criticized for not being able to fulfill many of his numerous pre-election promises.^[4][5]

Policies

With regard to the threat posed to the very low-lying islands by changes in sea level caused by global warming, in March 2009, President Nasheed pledged to set an example by making the Maldives carbon-neutral within a decade by moving to wind and solar power. He argued that the cost of the change would be no higher than what the Maldives already spends on energy.^[6] As part of a wider campaign by international environmental NGO 350.org's campaign publicizing the threats of climate change and its effects on the Maldives, Nasheed presided over the world’s first underwater cabinet meeting on Oct. 17, 2009, off the island of Girifushi with the meeting participants underwater in Scuba diving gear.^{[7][8][9][10][11]}. Nasheed presided over the foundation of the Climate Vulnerable Forum.

Presidency and Political Turmoil

Cabinet

Main article: Cabinet of the Maldives

The new government of Mohamed Nasheed abolished the ministries of the previous regime, and created 14 new ministries.

June 2010 En Masse Cabinet Resignation

On 29 June 2010, Nasheed's 13 cabinet ministers resigned en masse, protesting the behaviour of opposition MPs who they said were “hijacking” the powers of the executive and making it impossible for the cabinet Ministers to discharge their constitutional duties and deliver the government’s election manifesto.^[12] The ministers called on the President to investigate why certain MPs were blocking the government's work, citing allegations of corruption and bribery in parliament.

On 29 June, Maldives Police Service arrested two parliamentarians, Abdulla Yameen, leader of the People’s Alliance party and former President Gayoom’s half brother, and Gasim Ibrahim, head of the Jumhooree Party, on suspicion of bribing fellow parliamentarians to vote against the government. The police are investigating the two MPs for corruption, along with a third MP, Mohamed Mustapha, of the ruling MDP.

On 7 July, President Nasheed reappointed all thirteen Ministers of the Cabinet, at a ceremony held at the President’s Office in Male'. Speaking at a press conference held shortly after presenting the Ministers with their letters of appointment, President Nasheed said his government would “work towards fulfilling its pledges to the people.” The President noted that the government has investigated the reasons why cabinet members felt they had to resign and the police have taken appropriate action. The President reiterated that only a small number of MPs are implicated in alleged corruption. “The reputation of the People’s Majlis should not be tarnished because of corruption allegations against a few parliamentarians,” the President said.^[13]

Parliament Rejection of Cabinet Members

After the reinstallation of the cabinet on July 7, the cabinet was sent to the parliament for endorsement.

On November 22, the parliament voted and declared that only 5 out of the 12 appointees would be accepted. They also called for the rejected ministers to step down immediately.^[14][15] This resulted in heated arguments between ruling party MDP and opposing DRP, who holds majority seats in parliament. The parliament ruled that the rejected appointees would not be considered as ministers, and refused to allow Finance minister, Ali Hashim present the 2011 state budget for parliament approval.^[16] Members of MDP responded to this by declaring that neither parliament or supreme court had rights to dismiss ministers and threatened high members of the parliament.^[17]

On December 10, 2010, the Supreme Court of Maldives ruled that the ministers not endorsed by the parliament cannot remain in their posts; and requested their immediate resignation from office.^[18][15]

On December 13, 2010, President Nasheed appointed 2 new ministers and acting ministers for 4 more offices. He also reappointed the rejected Attorney General, Dr. Sawad.^[19]

Awards and honors

In May 2009, Nasheed was presented with Coral Cultivation Initiative Award by Huvafen Fushi Resort and Underwater Spa, Maldives in recognition of his active participation in cultivating coral in the resort’s nursery as well as for his efforts in creating greater awareness on the impact of climate change in the Maldives.^[20]

President Nasheed during the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference.

In June 2009, the Anna Lindh Memorial Fund awarded Nasheed, the 2009 Anna Lindh Award^[21] for the instrumental role he played in bringing democracy to the Maldives and in recognition of his efforts on the world stage to highlight the dangers of climate change by bringing people and their human rights at the heart of the debate.^[22]

In the September of 2009, at the global premier of the "Age of Stupid" Nasheed was presented with a "Not Stupid" Award for his efforts to tackle climate change and for the Maldives' announcement to become the first carbon neutral country in the world.^[23] In the same month, Time magazine named Nasheed #1 in the "Leaders & Visionaries" category within its annual list of "Heroes of the Environment (2009)".^[24]

On the Earth Day of 2010, Nasheed was awarded the Champions of the Earth Award, the United Nations’ most prestigious environmental prize at a gala event in Seoul, Republic of Korea which was in conjunction with the B4E Business for the Environment Global Summit. The summit was attended by more than 1,000 representatives from business, government, and civil society. According to a press release by the United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP the award was in recognition of Nasheed, being "an articulate voice for the vulnerable and the poor facing the challenges of global warming and also a politician who is showcasing to the rest of the world how a transition to climate neutrality can be achieved and how all nations, no matter how big or how small, can contribute".^[25][26]

In August 2010, Newsweek named President Nasheed in its list of ‘world's ten best leaders’ he was also referred to as a hero among environmentalists.^[27]

In 2010, he was named by Foreign Policy magazine to its list of top global thinkers.^[28]

In march 2011 ,following his official visit to the Republic of Mauritius ,he was decorated by president Jugnauth and was awarded the highest distinct order of merit in the country . He was elevated to the rank of Grand Commander of the star & key of the Indian ocean (GCSK) during the official lunch offered by the president at the Château of Réduit .^[29]

A documentary about Nasheed's efforts to halt climate change, The Island President was filmed throughout 2009 and 2010, and will appear at film festivals in 2011. It was produced by Actual Films.^[30]

World records

World's first underwater cabinet meeting was held by president Nasheed to highlight the danger faced by global warming and climate change.^[31]

References

1. ^ "Mohamed Nasheed". The English Centre of International PEN. http://www.englishpen.org/writersinprison/writersinexile/mohamednasheed/. Retrieved 2009-09-22. 
2. ^ "Continued detention of prisoner of conscience, Mohammed Nasheed". Amnesty International. 1996-05-01. http://asiapacific.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA290021996. Retrieved 2009-09-22. ^{[dead link]}
3. ^ "New Maldives president sworn in". BBC News. November 11, 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7721335.stm. Retrieved 2008-11-11. 
4. ^ www.miadhu.com.mv, Nasheed sworn in as Maldives new President
5. ^ news.bbc.co.uk 'Anni' heralds new era in Maldives, BBC
6. ^ Carbon-neutral goal for Maldives, BBC
7. ^ First photos coming From Maldives Underwater Cabinet Meeting for 350! | 350.org
8. ^ Official Site
9. ^ Press Release
10. ^ "Maldives Holds Underwater Cabinet Meeting To Bring Attention to Climate Change : TreeHugger". www.treehugger.com. http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/10/maldives-underwater-cabinet-meeting.php. Retrieved 2009-10-20. 
11. ^ "The Hindu : News / International : Maldives cabinet to meet underwater to highlight perils of climate change". beta.thehindu.com. http://beta.thehindu.com/news/international/article34170.ece. Retrieved 2009-10-17. 
12. ^ http://www.presidencymaldives.gov.mv/4/?ref=1,5,4683
13. ^ http://www.presidencymaldives.gov.mv/4/?ref=1,5,4745
14. ^ Parliament only approves 5 out of 12 ministerial appointees | Minivan News
15. ^ ^{a b} http://www.miadhu.com/2010/12/featured/supreme-court-rules-that-rejected-minister’s-cannot-remain/
16. ^ Speaker and Deputy Speaker will be unable to enter parliament if Hashim cannot, claims Reeko | Minivan News
17. ^ Supreme Court has “no authority to dismiss ministers”, claims Reeko Moosa | Minivan News
18. ^ Supreme Court rules rejected ministers cannot remain in their positions | Minivan News
19. ^ President reappoints Sawad as Attorney General | Minivan News
20. ^ "President receives Coral Cultivation Initiative Award", www.presidencymaldives.gov.mv
21. ^ "President receives 2009 Anna Lindh Award", www.miadhu.com.mv
22. ^ "Anna Lindh Prize 2009 to President of the Maldives", www.annalindhsminnesfond.se
23. ^ "Maldives President 'Not Stupid'", doreview.blogspot.com
24. ^ "Heroes of the Environment 2008: Leaders & Visionaries: Mohamed Nasheed", Ishaan Tharoor, Time
25. ^ Press Releases April 2010 - Green Economy Takes Centre Stage at UNEP 2010 Champions of the Earth Awards - United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
26. ^ [1]
27. ^ "Cowen named in top 10 world leaders". The Irish Times. August 18, 2010. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0818/breaking33.html. Retrieved November 13, 2010. 
28. ^ http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/11/29/the_fp_top_100_global_thinkers?page=0,32 "Foreign Policy Magazine"
29. ^ http://www.perfectislands.com/blog/mauritius-awards-highest-order-to-president-of-the-maldives/
30. ^ http://maldivestraveller.mv/details/Local+News/the-island-president-set-to-hit-big-screens
31. ^ Miadhu News – Maldives holds first under-sea cabinet meeting. President makes frantic call for urgent actionon climate change

External links

• Official website of the President of the Maldives
• Presidend Nasheed's interview with OneClimate at COP15 in Copenhagen
• Free expression groups protest crackdown - IFEX
• First day of Mohamed Nasheed's 2005 trial
• Maldivesculture.com article about Nasheed's 2001 arrest
• ZeeNews.com, Mohamed Nasheed: Profile

Political offices
Preceded by Maumoon Abdul Gayoom	President of the Maldives 2008–present	Incumbent

Persondata
Name	Nasheed, Mohamed
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	May 17, 1967
Place of birth	Malé, Maldives
Date of death
Place of death