Mr. Abbas Ibrahim

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  www.kalhala.com/2007_04_01_archive.html - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 4/1/2007    Last Visited: 3/22/2008  

  Abbas resigns - replacement to be elected on Wednesday
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  Male', Maldives 30th April 2007 (www.kalhala.com) - Abbas Ibrahim, the President of the Special Majlis resigned yesterday as expected.Ibrahim submitted his letter of resignation to the Vice President of the Special Majlis, Shaaheen Hameed.
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  The election of the first President of the Special Majlis, Ibrahim was embroiled in much controversy.
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  Abbas to submit resignation today
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  The general consensus in the DRP Parliamentary Group is that a change of the Chair in the Special Majlis (Constitutional Assembly) can be used to give a push to the work of amending the Constitution, a fact that Ibrahim himself accepts in the light of looming deadlines in the Roadmap for Reform.Although Thursday's vote established that Ibrahim still commands enough support in the Special Majlis for him to comfortably retain his position, the DRP's leadership feels the resignation would have the added bonus of being taken as a goodwill gesture towards opposition groups.
  
  Ibrahim who will remain in his position as President at the Dhivehi Bahaa Thaarekhah Khidhmaiy Kuraa Qawmee Majlis (the National Center for Historical and Linguistic Research) and MP for Huvadhoo Atoll Dhekunu Buri (Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll, hence automatically Member of the Special Majlis) is expected to dedicate more time for party work within the DRP, and is expected to spend more time with family.Sources close to Ibrahim inform Kalhala that Ibrahim feels that he can contribute more to the reform process "by being able to actively participate in debates on the floor".
  
  DRP Parliamentarian Abdul Rasheed Ali told Kalhala "Abbas [Ibrahim], is well-known across the country as an eloquent and experienced debater.He has in-depth knowledge of the Maldives' Constitution second to none.He has dismantled adversarial arguments on the floor with logical precision on innumerable occasions.He will be an invaluable asset for the DRP back [on the floor].
  
  "Abbas [Ibrahim] has had his fair share of controversy.
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  Outcome of no confidence motion on Abbas Ibrahim will be verdict on ruling on referendum voting age
  
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  Anti-DRP alliance not enough to oust Abbas
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  Male', Maldives 27th April 2007 (www.kalhala.com) - The embryonic alliance between the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and the People's Association (PA) got off on the wrong foot with the result in yesterday's motion of no-confidence against Special Majlis President Abbas Ibrahim.
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  I have nothing against Abbas [Ibrahim] and he has to be commended for the work he has done thus far, but I feel impetus can be given to our work with a change."
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  Abbas vindicated as DRP stand firm
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  Outcome of no confidence motion on Abbas Ibrahim will be verdict on ruling on referendum voting age
  
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  Male', Maldives 26th April 2007 (www.kalhala.com) - The motion of no confidence against the incumbent President of the Special Majlis (Constitutional Assembly) Mr Abbas Ibrahim has been defeated.
  
  In the voting, the motion was supported by only 49 members.
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  Outcome of no confidence motion on Abbas Ibrahim will be verdict on ruling on referendum voting age
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  Although the petition does not cite the ruling as a factor that has led to loss of confidence in Ibrahim, it was presented as a direct reaction to the ruling that prevented the Special Majlis from going to a vote on the issue.
  
  The MDP's position on the no confidence vote was presented by Chairperson Mohamed Nasheed Annie speaking at last Friday's MDP rally.Annie said: "I call upon the youth of the country to congregate near the Majlis building on Thursday to bring down Abbas [Ibrahim].
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  If Abbas is ousted, it will mean that people 18 and over can vote in the referendum."
  
  The DRP Parliamentary Group Leader Aneesa Ahmed has pledged her Party's full backing for Abbas.
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  In the event Ibrahim is defeated, a new Special Majlis President will have to be elected who would find Ibrahim's stance on the referendum voting age indefensible.However, the issue would then still have to go to the floor for a vote which may well return a rejection of the MDP's arguments.
  
  More worryingly, Foreign Minister Dr Ahmed Shaheed says a defeat for Ibrahim may provoke a "Constitutional Crisis."
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  For the motion to remove Ibrahim to pass, it needs 57 votes.
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  Ibrahim has already survived one such motion.His original election to the position in 2004 was also shrouded in controversy when some Members staged a walkout.
  
  Ibrahim has attracted criticism from both sides of the political divide for varying reasons.The MDP is critical of his personal life while the DRP has been demanding Ibrahim display a stronger hand in dealing with the unruly, disruptive and disrespectful actions of some MDP Members wishing to delay the progress of Majlis work.
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  The rally had seen a series of inflammatory speeches by Annie and Zaki among others condemning the stance of the President of the Special Majlis, Abbas Ibrahim in relation to the issue of voting for under-21s in the upcoming public referendum to determine a suitable form of government for Maldives.
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  Abbas, the son of the Speaker of the Special Majlis (Constitutional Assembly), Abbas Ibrahim fled the country after leading the attacks on Police Constables and torching a number of Police vehicles during the riots of September 2003.It is believed that the Attorney General's office is in possession of video footage of the events that show Abbas during the riots.
  
  Abbas who was previously convicted for dealing and the abuse of narcotic drugs during the 1990s was arrested in August 2003, along with Jennifer Latheef, Abdulla Alexander, Ahmed Moosa Jordan, Abdulla Shabir and Ikuleel Ibrahim.
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  Abbas jumped bail and fled to the United Kingdom where he was granted political asylum.
  
  During his stay in the UK, Abbas was actively involved in the clandestine activities carried out by the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) through their Salisbury based International Wing, fronted by the "Friends of Maldives" and the Mini Van Group.It is reported that Abbas was under immense pressure from his mother, Anwary Ahmed (active MDP ‘writer' and wife of Rado Zahir) to be in constant contact with Chairperson Mohamed Nasheed Annie and Ahmed Naseer (Bondhu), who were also in self-imposed exile in the UK at the time.
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  A close friend of Abbas, resident in Colombo who introduced himself as Andy told Kalhala that Abbas, later had a falling out with the MDP, "due to the MDP abandoning ‘the MDP's first foot soldiers' such as himself [Abbas] and Fala [Maakun Falah]".The source also revealed that, since relocating from Salisbury Abbas was involved in numerous shady drug deals in East London (County of Essex) that "went bad".The source confirms that Abbas was beaten up several times and that he finally left the UK fearing for his life, due to the numerous death threats he was receiving on a daily basis.
  
  The granting of political asylum to Annie, Bondhu and Abbas by the UK government has raised several questions about theintegrity of the asylum seekers.
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  "Surely the UK government would have been provided with substantial evidence that they [Annie, Bondhu and Abbas] would be unjustly imprisoned for political reasons.

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  www.maldiveshighcommission.org/NEWS_2005/news_07_2005.h - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 7/1/2005    Last Visited: 3/24/2008  

  The Special Majlis President Abbas Ibrahim chaired today's meeting.The meeting was attended by 78 Members.A detailed account of today's meeting can be viewed in Dhivehi language at Majlis website www.majlis.gov.mv
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  The Special Majlis President Abbas Ibrahim chaired today's meeting.The meeting was attended by 80 Members.A detailed account of today's meeting can be viewed in Dhivehi language at Majlis website www.majlis.gov.mv
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  Today's Meeting was chaired by the President Abbas Ibrahim and was attended by 75 Members.A detailed account of today's meeting can be viewed in Dhivehi language at Majlis website www.majlis.gov.mv

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  www.maldiveshighcommission.org/NEWS_2005/news_03_2005.h - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 3/1/2005    Last Visited: 3/24/2008  

  22 March, 2005 Mr. Abbas Ibrahim takes his oath of office before the President after being re-elected as President of the People's Special Majlis
  
  Mr. Abbas Ibrahim, who was today re-elected President of the People's Special Majlis, took his oath of office before the President at a ceremony held this afternoon at the President's Office.
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  Of the 78 Members of the Majlis who were present at the voting, 67 voted in favour of Mr. Abbas Ibrahim.
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  Today's sitting attended by 87 Members, was chaired by the newly re-elected Special Majlis President Abbas Ibrahim.

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  www.kalhala.com/2007/05/gasimwillnotresign.html - [Cached Version]
  Last Visited: 3/22/2008  

  MDP members had a violent opposition to Abbas Ibrahim because he has close family links with President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.Many among them believe that Abbas was coached by Gayoom during the former's tenure.
  
  Gasim and Abbas, as well as the DRP has maintained that Gayoom has never interfered or intervened in Abbas' work and that Gayoom has never attempted to influence Abbas.
  
  The Specail Majlis was convened by Gayoom in 2004 as part of his democratic reform initiative.Gasim is the Majlis' second President and takes over after Abbas resigned from the post last week.

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  www.kalhala.com/2007_05_01_archive.html - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 5/1/2007    Last Visited: 3/22/2008  

  Gasim replaced Abbas Ibrahim, also of the DRP, who was involved with the DRP machinery during his time in the Chair.
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  The result represents a significant turnaround for the Chair's position after the former Chair, Abbas Ibrahim, had ruled that the issue could not go to the floor for a vote, as it was unconstitutional.
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  The session proved to be a vindication for previous Chair Abbas Ibrahim who had been widely held by the MDP to be the cause of the delays.
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  The decision is in line with the Committee's advise to former SM President Abbas Ibrahim which was overruled by him on the grounds that the participation of people under 21 would be unconstitutional.Abbas had cited the opinion of several leading legal experts to back his stance.The referendum is to decide the form of government which we be prescribed under the amended constitution.
  
  It is believed that Gasim, eager to be seen to make progress in constitutional amendment, will bow down to the demands of the minority within the Majlis who feel that such participation of under-21s is constitutional.However, the DRP membership will be wary of any other moves that may be seen as pandering to the demands of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).
  
  Abbas had faced the situation where the Special Majlis rules were abused by the minority party to stop processes where they did not agree with majority decisions.
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  With the next session of the SM expected on Thursday, there is now renewed hope that the process will gain momentum although DRP members will hope that the expected ruling by Gasim¬-the DRP's Vice President, effectively overturning Abbas' ruling, does not set a precedent where the minority MDP is able to bully Gasim into backing their point of view on critical issues.
  
  Abbas resigned last week after surviving a no-confidence motion against him brought due to his ruling on the referendum issue.
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  MDP members had a violent opposition to Abbas Ibrahim because he has close family links with President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.Many among them believe that Abbas was coached by Gayoom during the former's tenure.
  
  Gasim and Abbas, as well as the DRP has maintained that Gayoom has never interfered or intervened in Abbas' work and that Gayoom has never attempted to influence Abbas.
  
  The Specail Majlis was convened by Gayoom in 2004 as part of his democratic reform initiative.Gasim is the Majlis' second President and takes over after Abbas resigned from the post last week.
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  Gasim replaces Abbas Ibrahim who resigned early last week.
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  The Special Majlis President's position became vacant a week ago when Abbas Ibrahim resigned from the post.Abbas had survived a no-confidence motion two days earlier, in which Gasim had voted in support of Abbas, also a DRP member.Abbas had survived a no-confidence motion two days earlier, in which Gasim had voted in support of Abbas, also a DRP member.
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  Male', Maldives 3rd May 2007 (www.kalhala.com) - Gasim Ibrahim, the Minister of Finance and a Vice President of the DRP was nominated yesterday as a replacement for Abbas Ibrahim.
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  The Special Majlis (Constitutional Assembly) session held yesterday saw a number of nominations, although no nominations except Minister Ibrahim's was seconded.
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  The unending feud between Yameen and Minister Ibrahim is well documented.
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  Monaza's nomination of Minister Ibrahim is seen by analysts as a strategic move concocted by the anti-government alliance of Yameen's People's Association (PA) and the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) in an effort to incite disharmony among DRP parliamentarians, while the leader of the DRP's Parliamentary Group Aneesa Ahmed (MP, Meemu Atoll) told reporters "the PG is yet to agree on whom to field as candidate [sic] the President of the Special Majlis".
  
  Analysts believe that the MDP's foreign-authored media organ implemented the second phase of the Anti-government Alliance's plan without much success.It is speculated that phase two involved creating mistrust in Minister Ibrahim's integrity in local and foreign arenas, while exuding the MDP's ambivalence over Mr Ibrahim's nomination.
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  Abbas yesterday departed with a broadside at MDP MSM who he said had worked to sabotage and stall the amendment process.He also fired a parting shot at the DRP MSM who had voted against him in last Thursday's no confidence motion, saying: "My humility was interpreted as meekness."
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  The Speaker of the Special Majlis (Constitutional Assembly) Abbas Ibrahim handed in his resignation on Sunday, three days after he survived a motion of no confidence brought against him by the MDP.

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  www.maldiveshighcommission.org/NEWS_2005/news_06_2005.h - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 6/1/2005    Last Visited: 3/24/2008  

  Today's meeting was chaired by the Special Majlis President Abbas Ibrahim and was attended by 79 Members.
  
  This News Release is issued by the Secretary General of the Peoples Majlis.Additional Information may be requested from the Majlis Secretariat via email: office@majlis.gov.mv or via fax: ++ 960 - 32 4104
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  The Special Majlis President Abbas Ibrahim chaired today's meeting.The meeting was attended by 87 Members.A detailed account of today's meeting can be viewed in Dhivehi language at Majlis website www.majlis.gov.mv.
  
  This News Release is issued by the Secretary General of the Peoples Majlis.Additional Information may be requested from the Majlis Secretariat via email: office@majlis.gov.mv or via fax: ++ 960 - 32 4104
  
  27 June, 2005 Political changes are coming to the Maldives but not yet the tourists.
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  The Special Majlis President Abbas Ibrahim chaired today's meeting.The meeting was attended by 80 Members.A detailed account of today's meeting can be viewed in Dhivehi language at Majlis website www.majlis.gov.mv
  
  This News Release is issued by the Secretary General of the Peoples Majlis.Additional Information may be requested from the Majlis Secretariat via email: office@majlis.gov.mv or via fax: ++ 960 - 32 4104
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  The President of the Special Majlis, Mr. Abbas Ibrahim and the Secretary General of the People's Majlis, Mr. Mohamed Nasheed, attended the ceremony.

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  www.maldiveshighcommission.org/NEWS_2005/news_05_2005.h - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 5/1/2005    Last Visited: 3/24/2008  

  Today's meeting was chaired by the Special Majlis President Abbas Ibrahim and was attended by 81 Members.
  
  This News Release is issued by the Secretary General of the Peoples Majlis.Additional Information may be requested from the Majlis Secretariat via email: office@majlis.gov.mv or via fax: ++ 960 - 32 4104

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  www.maldiveshighcommission.org/NEWS_2005/news_04_2005.h - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 4/1/2005    Last Visited: 3/24/2008  

  The Special Majlis President Abbas Ibrahim chaired today's meeting.The meeting was attended by 83 Members.
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  The Special Majlis President Abbas Ibrahim chaired today's meeting.The meeting was attended by 83 Members.
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  Today's meeting was chaired by the Special Majlis President Abbas Ibrahim.The meeting was attended by 85 Members.
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  Today's meeting was chaired by the Special Majlis President Abbas Ibrahim.The meeting was attended by 80 Members.

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  www.kalhala.com/2007/04/drpstrongerthanmdppa.html - [Cached Version]
  Last Visited: 3/22/2008  

  Anti-DRP alliance not enough to oust Abbas
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  Male', Maldives 27th April 2007 (www.kalhala.com) - The embryonic alliance between the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and the People's Association (PA) got off on the wrong foot with the result in yesterday's motion of no-confidence against Special Majlis President Abbas Ibrahim.
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  I have nothing against Abbas [Ibrahim] and he has to be commended for the work he has done thus far, but I feel impetus can be given to our work with a change."

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  www.kalhala.com/2007/04/abbasibrahimvote.html - [Cached Version]
  Last Visited: 3/22/2008  

  Outcome of no confidence motion on Abbas Ibrahim will be verdict on ruling on referendum voting age
  
  Maldivian Independent Political News - Kalhala.com
  
  Outcome of no confidence motion on Abbas Ibrahim will be verdict on ruling on referendum voting age
  ...
  Although the petition does not cite the ruling as a factor that has led to loss of confidence in Ibrahim, it was presented as a direct reaction to the ruling that prevented the Special Majlis from going to a vote on the issue.
  
  The MDP's position on the no confidence vote was presented by Chairperson Mohamed Nasheed Annie speaking at last Friday's MDP rally.Annie said: "I call upon the youth of the country to congregate near the Majlis building on Thursday to bring down Abbas [Ibrahim].If Abbas is ousted, it will mean that people 18 and over can vote in the referendum."
  
  The DRP Parliamentary Group Leader Aneesa Ahmed has pledged her Party's full backing for Abbas.
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  In the event Ibrahim is defeated, a new Special Majlis President will have to be elected who would find Ibrahim's stance on the referendum voting age indefensible.However, the issue would then still have to go to the floor for a vote which may well return a rejection of the MDP's arguments.
  
  More worryingly, Foreign Minister Dr Ahmed Shaheed says a defeat for Ibrahim may provoke a "Constitutional Crisis."
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  For the motion to remove Ibrahim to pass, it needs 57 votes.
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  Ibrahim has already survived one such motion.His original election to the position in 2004 was also shrouded in controversy when some Members staged a walkout.
  
  Ibrahim has attracted criticism from both sides of the political divide for varying reasons.The MDP is critical of his personal life while the DRP has been demanding Ibrahim display a stronger hand in dealing with the unruly, disruptive and disrespectful actions of some MDP Members wishing to delay the progress of Majlis work.

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