In the end of last year, Mnbc broad casted an advertisement for apart time news caster. When I saw the advertisement I thought to my self that it could be the perfect job for me with me being a mother and all ( this was when my son was 6 months old), so I applied to the job praying that I could convince them in the interview that I could write for English news.
My motive was to become a journalist and not a presenter. Which I thought was selfish of me until I began to work for them. But before beginning to work, I waited three months for them to call me back after the interview, which turned out very positive. Then after I was shortlisted (in march 2011) I was called in for another test ( a screen test) which was very lame. Around somewhere in the April, me and another four people were called on a meeting to confirm that we have been selected for a trail period of one month. The head of the department clearly said after one month of evaluation they will decide on who will be staying and not. At first it sounded all OK until one of the head mentioned that our contracts will be handed over a weeks time and they will call us to sign the contract and to start on the job.
Some were not very happy because most of us signed in just to be news casters and I was the only one who wanted to be away from the camera and working on the content. The contracts never came to life but we had already been called in for the job. We were put on radio for training and given as dhivehi scripts/news stories to be translated. When it came to dhivehi stories, most journalists highlighted facts only to give some structure to their own opinions. One thing I was clear of that most Mnbc journalists could not separate opinions from facts.
One journalist writes, the new head of the MDP parliament group is admired by oppositions and the public. Now, this is what he wrote literally without quoting any opposition or referring to public polls. Because there was no poll on the issue and no opposition who confirmed that its true, which in this case makes the journalist a liar who is lying to the public. My problem was that I didn't translate that very sentence into English news because I thought that what he stated was an opinion. As a journalist when it comes to breaking news u don't add in Ur opinion with facts. My responsibly is to report unbiased true facts. And that is what Mnbc lacks. In my first week I was sexually harassed multiple times by my co workers. some of them used very trashy language and others in action. For the record they never accomplished in touching me, I was told by my heads that I will get paid not less than a hundred for an hour. 2 months passed without a contract or salary. When I got pissed of and stayed home, they called me and told me to report to work. I did report to work and I said to my head that I will not show up the next day if they don't give me a contract. She kind of announced to the whole office - to quote her exact words - " why would you need money. You are married to a very rich mans son". All I could think at that moment was why would she need money when she is the sister of tourism minister. I never said it. I should have but I didn't. I just want to say now to all those people out there even if I am married to a rich mans son, it doesn't mean that he is responsible to look after me. I want to be independent and make something on my own because I have responsibilities of my own family. I came from a poor family and it doesn't mean that i am nobody.
Anyway, she always made these kinds of comment in the office, she wanted me to write the exact thing which is in dhivehi content. She didn't want to give me the freedom to state too much of facts. She wanted the news to be biased. Well for two months I took it all in only because I wanted a partime job that i had to work only three hours and do what I always loved to do. But after two months I realized that I was on too much pressure because the national broadcasting cooperation of the Maldives was shit and unstable like hell.
The quality of content, let's not even go there. Now imagine me on tv as a news caster reading all the crappy news stories from the auto script. I didn't want to do it. So I called my head and gave her a good lecture and the next day our contracts were ready to sign. But in the contract it said we are getting paid only 22 rufiyaa per hour. In three hours we translated more than three to four stories. Recorded our voice for reports. But all the other journalists get paid to do just one story for the whole day while they get paid around 8 to 10 thousand a month. Oh and there is this one guy whos job is to copy paste international news and he gets paid more than us. It was frustrating to acknowledge that the whole process of getting connected to this media cooperation was giving up my rationality and surrender to be brain washed. so I yelled again that I won't be coming if they dont pay me my salary and this was after a week I signed my contract. It was not even 24 hours of my warning they called me in to collect my check. Seeing my cheque was very demotivating and I thought I am not going to go in. I'll quit.
Next day our third head, head of the head head ... ( they have so many head of departments who actually guides you in three different directions - if one say to just copy paste the press releases other would advice you to rebuild the whole story)... so anyway this head calls and ask me whether I am coming or not. I said to him the truth of what i have experienced and that's where it ended. They still owe me 15 days on money. A lot advised me to file for a court case, but honestly i don't have time for that. why would i express this experience in my blog if i had time for court. court is as corrupted as the national media.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Former Magistrate of Gaaf Dhaal press charges against JSC’s re-appointment criteria for judges
Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has denied the allegations made by Ahmed Shareef, a former Senior Magistrate of Gaafu Dhal Thinadhoo court, who accused JSC of removing him from his job “unconstitutionally”, said in the statement presented in the civil court Wednesday by Shareefs lawyer.
According to JSC’s representing lawyer, Ahmed Shareef was removed under Constitutional article 285, which required the JSC to review all sitting judges within the two years of the commencement of new constitution, to determine whether or not the Judges in the office at the time of Constitutional change, possess the qualification of Judges specified in Article 149 of the constitution.
The article 149 states a person appointed as a Judge in accordance with law, must possess the educational qualifications, experience and recognized competence necessary to discharge the duties and responsibilities of a Judge, and must be of high moral character. In addition to the qualifications specified in this article, a Judge must be a Muslim and a follower of a Sunni school of Islam, be twenty-five years of age and should not have been convicted of an offence for which a hadd is prescribed in Islam, criminal breach of trust, or bribery and also be of sound mind.
JSC maintains that former judge Ahmed Shareef was found guilty of criminal misconduct and was sentenced on the 30th july 2001. In his defense shareef’s lawyer Ahmed Zareen Adam said according to the law 13/2010 of the judges act, article 15’s states the judge should not have been sentenced within the last 7 years on any bribery of misconduct, crime or terrorism.
“Although Shareef was sentenced in 2001 it was not within the last 7 years that makes him unqualified for the job” said Zareen
Ahmed Shareef’s lawyer also claims JSC has “intentionally molded the context of constitution on their favor, which states Judges may only be removed from office as specified in Article 154 of the Constitution - that if the Judge is guilty of gross misconduct, JSC has to submits it to the People’s Majlis for a resolution supporting the removal of the Judge, which is passed by a two- thirds majority of the members of the People’s Majlis. But this process not was under taken when JSC selected 31 judges and instead some of the judges selected were people who conducted multiple offenses against the rules and regulations of the constitution.”
Examining the leaked audio files and documents of JSC, which includes discussions on how the judges should be selected, and documents which included 31 judges background records, identified multiple offenses by judges that contained bribery, child abuse, sexual assault, state budget theft and abuse of power. Most of these judges were re-appointed by JSC.
Shareef was discharged of his duties as a magistrate on the 5th of august 2010. The court adjourned the case to provide JSC lawyer 10 more days to present additional evidence and statements related to the case.
The judge’s re-appointments in 2010 was a controversial affair with dissenting members of JSC accusing the Commission of corruption and political maneuvering.
According to JSC’s representing lawyer, Ahmed Shareef was removed under Constitutional article 285, which required the JSC to review all sitting judges within the two years of the commencement of new constitution, to determine whether or not the Judges in the office at the time of Constitutional change, possess the qualification of Judges specified in Article 149 of the constitution.
The article 149 states a person appointed as a Judge in accordance with law, must possess the educational qualifications, experience and recognized competence necessary to discharge the duties and responsibilities of a Judge, and must be of high moral character. In addition to the qualifications specified in this article, a Judge must be a Muslim and a follower of a Sunni school of Islam, be twenty-five years of age and should not have been convicted of an offence for which a hadd is prescribed in Islam, criminal breach of trust, or bribery and also be of sound mind.
JSC maintains that former judge Ahmed Shareef was found guilty of criminal misconduct and was sentenced on the 30th july 2001. In his defense shareef’s lawyer Ahmed Zareen Adam said according to the law 13/2010 of the judges act, article 15’s states the judge should not have been sentenced within the last 7 years on any bribery of misconduct, crime or terrorism.
“Although Shareef was sentenced in 2001 it was not within the last 7 years that makes him unqualified for the job” said Zareen
Ahmed Shareef’s lawyer also claims JSC has “intentionally molded the context of constitution on their favor, which states Judges may only be removed from office as specified in Article 154 of the Constitution - that if the Judge is guilty of gross misconduct, JSC has to submits it to the People’s Majlis for a resolution supporting the removal of the Judge, which is passed by a two- thirds majority of the members of the People’s Majlis. But this process not was under taken when JSC selected 31 judges and instead some of the judges selected were people who conducted multiple offenses against the rules and regulations of the constitution.”
Examining the leaked audio files and documents of JSC, which includes discussions on how the judges should be selected, and documents which included 31 judges background records, identified multiple offenses by judges that contained bribery, child abuse, sexual assault, state budget theft and abuse of power. Most of these judges were re-appointed by JSC.
Shareef was discharged of his duties as a magistrate on the 5th of august 2010. The court adjourned the case to provide JSC lawyer 10 more days to present additional evidence and statements related to the case.
The judge’s re-appointments in 2010 was a controversial affair with dissenting members of JSC accusing the Commission of corruption and political maneuvering.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Friday, September 10, 2010
one fine day in this 100 % pretending country
Today, while I and my husband were coming from my husband’s parents, he asks me why is it so important to have gay rights in this country while anyone can just be gay without declaring themselves as gay. I answered saying maybe because they want to be able to dress as women on the road. He gave me a good reply “look at ‘honey’... a gay man walking around in dress like a woman with no shame, he has guts.. Doesn’t he?”
He was right there he was honey for years and years this man walked on streets like a woman wearing a bra underneath when she didn’t have breasts, everyone knew he was guy but then why is Maldives a 100 percent Muslim country?
What defines us as Muslim, is it a piece of cloth, a beard or a t shirt that’s say ‘flower power ‘next to a print of a big joint? Sometimes some people ask these kinds of questions not to be answered by a sheik (according to him who knows it all) sponsored by the government or an NGO for the confused youth sometimes we ask questions because it’s in a nature to ask and also listening to a sheik is not the only way to seek for answers.
A man is a man, not a god! We all know it and it’s in Quran the “mighty big book” which is definitely just words, words produced by us humans. Why Allah or god would have a need to produce a language when it can produce things that we can’t like trees and sun. If we can produce languages does it mean that we are as equal as god? If we need to believe in a god we would know it very simply by thinking that a glass wouldn’t exist if we didn’t produce it? So who created the water?
It doesn’t matter if some call it the big bang, god, the great architect of universe, Allah or baguvaan. We all are pointing at the same thing. Aren’t we? It’s just like you pointing to a chair and calling it ‘gondi’, while an Indian points at the same chair calling it ‘kurusee’. At this point everything that exists or is created by a being (god or human) is acknowledged by us in our own way and within our own perception; even god is a very personal thing. But there are people out there who would rather make us live and be a part of their delusion than us having our own individual belief. Common we pay to live what else you want more?
The idea of collecting zakai through text messages is a bad idea (if a true Muslim). We can’t pretend that we don’t see it, just like the “honey” situation and pretend that we don’t know Dhiraagu, Wataniya or Bank of Maldives is making money out of it? The funniest thing is that Islamic ministry pays people salary to deliver zakai to people? Why? When I can take zakay money out of my pocket and go out there and give it to poor? Who makes these rules “everyone one should give zakai even poor people”, even if they don’t have food to eat by themselves they will have to give zakai. Why is Islamic ministry making poor people feel as if they will rot in hell for not paying that zakai? This is mental abuse and manipulation to make poor feel unworthy even to god.
Islam and most religions are not about individualism and today the world is all about individualism. We don’t care if someone steps to TV and declares that he is a messenger of god and he wants everyone to pay zakai as long as we can go to a restaurant and drink a couple of wine glass with exotic food! Islamic ministry doesn’t allow us to have dogs not because it’s a thing with dog’s hygiene; it is because dogs can smell thieves. How many young boys die today and how many high class business men are stabbed and robbed today. Well these days only praying in a mosque doesn’t help!
If this argument was held in human rights Court, in this country I will lose the case to a person who will only say three words “Allah, Quran, Prophet” and that’s the end of everything. So once again rather being misunderstood by majority we minority pretend and live a lie everyday just to have a simple life in this land which is given to us by universe, god, Allah etc., where government claims that they have the right to decide what is right for us.
Just a couple of years ago Maldivians thought that the rate of sexually and physically abused people are very low, but when things started becoming clearer and when people were given voices this country's sexual and physical abuse reports red flagged in international charts. Who knows when we all are given the chance or voice to stand up, this so called 100 percent Muslim country’s stats will show up 30 percent gay, 30 percent atheists, 30 percent Muslims and rest that don’t know or don’t even care!
i know what group i will be in... i don't care group as long as i have the freedom to do what i want :)
He was right there he was honey for years and years this man walked on streets like a woman wearing a bra underneath when she didn’t have breasts, everyone knew he was guy but then why is Maldives a 100 percent Muslim country?
What defines us as Muslim, is it a piece of cloth, a beard or a t shirt that’s say ‘flower power ‘next to a print of a big joint? Sometimes some people ask these kinds of questions not to be answered by a sheik (according to him who knows it all) sponsored by the government or an NGO for the confused youth sometimes we ask questions because it’s in a nature to ask and also listening to a sheik is not the only way to seek for answers.
A man is a man, not a god! We all know it and it’s in Quran the “mighty big book” which is definitely just words, words produced by us humans. Why Allah or god would have a need to produce a language when it can produce things that we can’t like trees and sun. If we can produce languages does it mean that we are as equal as god? If we need to believe in a god we would know it very simply by thinking that a glass wouldn’t exist if we didn’t produce it? So who created the water?
It doesn’t matter if some call it the big bang, god, the great architect of universe, Allah or baguvaan. We all are pointing at the same thing. Aren’t we? It’s just like you pointing to a chair and calling it ‘gondi’, while an Indian points at the same chair calling it ‘kurusee’. At this point everything that exists or is created by a being (god or human) is acknowledged by us in our own way and within our own perception; even god is a very personal thing. But there are people out there who would rather make us live and be a part of their delusion than us having our own individual belief. Common we pay to live what else you want more?
The idea of collecting zakai through text messages is a bad idea (if a true Muslim). We can’t pretend that we don’t see it, just like the “honey” situation and pretend that we don’t know Dhiraagu, Wataniya or Bank of Maldives is making money out of it? The funniest thing is that Islamic ministry pays people salary to deliver zakai to people? Why? When I can take zakay money out of my pocket and go out there and give it to poor? Who makes these rules “everyone one should give zakai even poor people”, even if they don’t have food to eat by themselves they will have to give zakai. Why is Islamic ministry making poor people feel as if they will rot in hell for not paying that zakai? This is mental abuse and manipulation to make poor feel unworthy even to god.
Islam and most religions are not about individualism and today the world is all about individualism. We don’t care if someone steps to TV and declares that he is a messenger of god and he wants everyone to pay zakai as long as we can go to a restaurant and drink a couple of wine glass with exotic food! Islamic ministry doesn’t allow us to have dogs not because it’s a thing with dog’s hygiene; it is because dogs can smell thieves. How many young boys die today and how many high class business men are stabbed and robbed today. Well these days only praying in a mosque doesn’t help!
If this argument was held in human rights Court, in this country I will lose the case to a person who will only say three words “Allah, Quran, Prophet” and that’s the end of everything. So once again rather being misunderstood by majority we minority pretend and live a lie everyday just to have a simple life in this land which is given to us by universe, god, Allah etc., where government claims that they have the right to decide what is right for us.
Just a couple of years ago Maldivians thought that the rate of sexually and physically abused people are very low, but when things started becoming clearer and when people were given voices this country's sexual and physical abuse reports red flagged in international charts. Who knows when we all are given the chance or voice to stand up, this so called 100 percent Muslim country’s stats will show up 30 percent gay, 30 percent atheists, 30 percent Muslims and rest that don’t know or don’t even care!
i know what group i will be in... i don't care group as long as i have the freedom to do what i want :)
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Finally... close to finale
this is how it looks like in the beginning. i thought 2000 was too much because i usually do 1000 to 500 pieces. but this time i took a risk. i thought i would never be able to complete it because of my pregnancy back pains and everything blah balh!!!
i arranged them in a way that i could identify separate colors, patterns and different cuts of the puzzle. i made a small little army and worked 5 to 6 hours (longest) a day. because of severe back pain i had to take breaks like two to three days long.. with a back rub in between and then only i get back to game because it is very important to rest and if you don't when you get old you will start regretting doing jigsaws.
its been almost a month since i started this 2000 piece of Vincent van Gogh's sunflowers.. i am close very close to finishing it...just 12 more hours!! this is the most difficult one i did after the Da Vinci's 1000 piece Mona Lisa (i don't choose my puzzles.. otherwise i would have picked easier one... especially something will go less with the table color) because the painting contains the same shades of colors, it is very difficult to identify separate parts which makes it more difficult to solve.
The good thing about making jigsaw puzzles is that through the years after working of several ones, it will build your patience and tolerance to any kind of reaction. even if you meet difficult people (social difficult situations to working environments, debates), it would be really easy to understand them and handle them to make them feel at ease.
this is my obsession and i love doing it. this is not a difficult thing to do if your looking for personal development, meditation or mental exhaustion if you cant sleep easily. but beware of the dreams ... you will start seeing the funniest dreams to most uncommonly strange ones. i once saw that i was giving awards on a stage to my puzzle pieces and they came walking up the stairs to collect them. imagine that!! i enjoyed it!! still you will be able to sleep like a baby!
i arranged them in a way that i could identify separate colors, patterns and different cuts of the puzzle. i made a small little army and worked 5 to 6 hours (longest) a day. because of severe back pain i had to take breaks like two to three days long.. with a back rub in between and then only i get back to game because it is very important to rest and if you don't when you get old you will start regretting doing jigsaws.
its been almost a month since i started this 2000 piece of Vincent van Gogh's sunflowers.. i am close very close to finishing it...just 12 more hours!! this is the most difficult one i did after the Da Vinci's 1000 piece Mona Lisa (i don't choose my puzzles.. otherwise i would have picked easier one... especially something will go less with the table color) because the painting contains the same shades of colors, it is very difficult to identify separate parts which makes it more difficult to solve.
The good thing about making jigsaw puzzles is that through the years after working of several ones, it will build your patience and tolerance to any kind of reaction. even if you meet difficult people (social difficult situations to working environments, debates), it would be really easy to understand them and handle them to make them feel at ease.
this is my obsession and i love doing it. this is not a difficult thing to do if your looking for personal development, meditation or mental exhaustion if you cant sleep easily. but beware of the dreams ... you will start seeing the funniest dreams to most uncommonly strange ones. i once saw that i was giving awards on a stage to my puzzle pieces and they came walking up the stairs to collect them. imagine that!! i enjoyed it!! still you will be able to sleep like a baby!
Saturday, June 12, 2010
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