President Nasheed Biography
Education
Nasheed attended Majeediyya School in the Maldives, between 1971 and 1981. He continued his secondary school education overseas at the Overseas School of Colombo, from 1981 to 1982 until he completed his GCE Ordinary Level Certificate. In August 1982 he moved to the United Kingdom where he completed his Higher Secondary Education at the Dauntsey's School in Wiltshire. Straight after his A-Levels, Nasheed moved north to Liverpool where he spent the next three years reading for a Bachelor of Arts in Maritime Studies at Liverpool Polytechnic - later Liverpool John Moores University, graduating in 1989.Imprisonment
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 8 April 1992, he was sentenced to three years in prison on that charge. 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.
Political career
In 2000, he was elected as a member of the parliament representing 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 claimed 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 31 October 2001, was published on the website on 10 October 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 recognised as a political refugee by the British government in 2004. After about 18 months in self-proclaimed exile, Nasheed returned to Malé on 30 April 2005.After returning to the Maldives he began promoting the MDP before it was officially recognised by the Government. With the decision to allow political parties in the Maldives, on 2 June 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 12 August 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 22 August 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
In 2005, Nasheed vowed that if president Gayoom secured more than 2000 votes he would quit his political career. In 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 of elections, President Nasheed's MDP, created a coalition with Dr. Hassan Saeed (Gaumee Party), Gasim Ibrahim (Jumhoory Party), Sheih Hussain Rasheed (Adhaalath Party, Islamic Party), Ibrahim Ismail (Social Democratic Party) and Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik (Gaumee Ithihaad).
In the second round, Nasheed and Dr. Waheed were backed by the unsuccessful first round candidates (Watan Edey Coalition) 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 11 November 2008 in a special session of the People's Majlis at Dharubaaruge.
Presidency & Resignation
In less than a year into the presidency the cabinet members representing the political parties in the coalition started resigning stating lack of governance with respect to the constitution and transparency. The last Major Party to server its ties to the ruling party was Adhaalath Party (Islamic Party). Protests became a frequent occurrence in the streets of the capital city, Male' after the president’s coalition slowly dissolved.An opposition alliance (Madhanee Ithihaad) was formed on December 2011, which also included the parties that supported the President in his 2008 presidential race. Those parties include, Gaumee Party, Jumhoory Party and Adhaalath Party(Islamic Party). On 23 December, the capital city was rocked by protests by the opposition against the President Mohamed Nasheed . In relation to the protests Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed was summoned twice by the Maldives Police Service, later held in arrest in a nearby island (Gaamaadhoo Jail) . This arrest sparked violent protests near the Republic Square.
The Judge of the criminal court investigating the arrest, called to summon both parties to the court. Instead, the next opening day (16 January 2012) Chief Justice Abdulla Mohamed was arrested from his house, by the Military (Maldives National Defense Force)
After the government and the Military did not disclose any information to the public, the protests started gaining momentum, and demands were for an immediate release of the Chief justice from military detention to house arrest. They also called for an independent investigation into the Judge and to arrest him according to the constitution and for the president to stop using executive power over another institution..The call was echoed through the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives., Judicial Services Commission, Prosecutor General’s Office , International Commission of Jurists and The United Nations Human Rights Commissioner .
The protest extended for over 22 days in the Republic Square and on 6 February 2012, the Maldives Police Service declined to use force to control or disperse the protests and joined the protest for the release of Judge Abdulla Mohamed . In early hours of 7 January 2012, President Mohamed Nasheed was seen inside the Military headquarters of the Maldives issuing orders to the Military
The Maldives National Defense Force fired rubber bullets at the protesters , later the army refused to engage with the police force and regiments of the army joined the protests. President Nasheed resigned on 7 February 2012. His resignation statement read: "I believe if I continue as the President of the Maldives, the people of the country would suffer more. I therefore have resigned as the President of Maldives. I wish the Maldives would have a consolidated democracy. I wish for justice to be established. My wish is for the progress and prosperity of the people. And I thank you all for your support and contributions to achieve success for the past three years
On 8 February 2012, the Maldivian Democratic Party convened an emergency executive meeting and announced for all its members across the country to go into streets in protests. President Mohamed Nasheed led the protests to Republic Square, before his march reached Republic Square protesters were dispersed by Maldives Police Service. Many MDP activists later burnt down police stations and courts around the nation. the total loss for the police was reported to be around 112 million Ruffiya.
Vice President Mohammed Waheed Hassan, who claims to have opposed Abdulla Mohamed's arrest was sworn as the new president of Maldives on the same day in accordance with the law of the Maldives. Nasheed now describes the event as a coup d'etat in which Waheed was complicit..
Cabinet
President Mohamed Nasheed's 1st cabinet included 14 Ministers. The posts where handed to politicians from the coalition with respect to the contribution to the "Watan Edhey" Coalition. As per the coalition agreement, President Nasheed created the first ever Islamic Ministry in the Maldives, with a cabinet post representing it.Within 4 months after his first cabinet was formed, President of Jumhoory Party, Mr. Qasim Ibrahim resigned as home minister citing lack of transparency, this was followed by the President of Gaumee Party, Dr. Hassan Saeed , Civil Aviation Minister Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed, and Attorney General Fathimath Dhiyana Saeed. The Next appointment for the attorney General, Mr. Husnu Suood also resigned, followed by Finance Minister Mohamed Inaz.
Current Home Minister, Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed and Fathimath Dhiyana Saeed also known as former Secretary General of SAARC, resigned citing that Mohamed Nasheed was going in the same route as Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. Fathimath Dhiyana Saeed resigned as SAARC Secretary General on 16 February 2012, to protest against the Military detention of Judge Abdulla Mohamed.
After the en-mass resignation of the cabinet in June 2010 Crisis, Later the remaining main party in the Coalition, Adhaalath Party (Islamic Party) cut ties with the ruling MDP , citing religious matters. In the end of the 1st year of the presidency, President Nasheed's cabinet contained only Ministers from the Ruling Party, MDP and members defected from the coalition political parties.
His cabinet also holds the notable distinction of having the world's first underwater cabinet meeting, which was held to highlight the danger of global warming and climate change in 2009, shortly after the United Nations' General Assembly's Opening Session where small island states like the Maldives called for a concerted effort to tackle the phenemenon.
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, 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.As part of a wider campaign by international environmental NGO 350.org's campaign publicising the threats of climate change and its effects on the Maldives, Nasheed presided over the world’s first underwater cabinet meeting on 17 October 2009, off the island of Girifushi with the meeting participants underwater in Scuba diving gear.Nasheed presided over the foundation of the Climate Vulnerable Forum.June 2010 crisis
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.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 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 at that time said they were investigating the two MPs for corruption, along with a third MP, Mohamed Mustapha, of the ruling MDP. However, the Supreme Court of the Maldives ruled that the arrest of both Abdulla Yameen and Gasim Ibrahim was unconstitutional.
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.
After the re-installation of the cabinet on 7 July, the cabinet was sent to the parliament for endorsement.
On 22 November, 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. 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.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.
On 10 December 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.
On 13 December 2010, President Nasheed appointed 2 new ministers and acting ministers for 4 more offices. He also reappointed the rejected Attorney General, Dr. Sawad.[44]
Awards, honours and praise
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.In June 2009, the Anna Lindh Memorial Fund awarded Nasheed, the 2009 Anna Lindh Award[64] 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.
In September 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. In the same month, Time magazine named Nasheed No. 1 in the "Leaders & Visionaries" category within its annual list of "Heroes of the Environment (2009)".
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".
In 2010, he was named by Foreign Policy magazine to its list of top global thinkers.
In March 2011, following his official visit to the Republic of Mauritius, he was decorated by President Anerood 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 and key of the Indian ocean (GCSK) during the official lunch offered by the Jugnauth at the Château of Réduit .
A documentary about Nasheed's efforts to halt climate change, The Island President, was filmed throughout 2009 and 2010, directed by Jon Shenk and produced by Actual Films. The film won the Cadillac People's Choice Documentary Award at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival and is scheduled to open in New York City on 28 March 2012, followed by limited release in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
In a 2011 interview with The Guardian, British Prime Minister David Cameron described Nasheed as 'my new best friend' and said that he, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Nicolas Sarkozy and John Key would be the five world leaders Cameron would invite on his stag weekend.
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