No organisation or state can influence how Maldives should be run: Diyana Saeed

Prominent lawyer and former SAARC Secretary General Diyana Saeed has said the no organisation or state can influence the Maldives how it should be run. Diyana said so yesterday at the joint parties rally held in Male' to express support for the new President Dr. Mohamed Waheed. Diyana resigned from post of SAARC Secretary General last month after criticising former President Mohamed Nasheed's Government for arresting Chief Judge of the Criminal Court Abdulla Mohamed without a warrant and violating the Constitution by not obeying the order of the Supreme Court to immediately release the judge.

In her talk at the rally, Diyana pointed to the arrest of opposition leaders and Judge Abdulla Mohamed  and mentioned that the worst crime committed by former President Nasheed  was disobeying a direct order of the Supreme Court. Referring to the violations of the constitution committed by former President Nasheed, she said these violations must be investigated and charges must be filed.

Speaking to the huge crowd the popular diplomat-cum politician  stated that there is no grounds to question the legitimacy of the Government of President Dr. Mohamed Waheed and the resignation of former President Mohamed Nasheed. While this position is clear, she called on the Attorney General Azima Shukoor to file a case in the court to determine the legitimacy of the new Government.

The former President Nasheed has accused in less than 24 hours that he was forced to resign in a coup. Nasheed and his supporters are calling on the new President to step down to hold early elections. They have vowed their protests will continue until the Government agrees to hold an early election.

The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group has issued a statement last week that the Group has agreed after studying the report of the fact finding mission to the Maldives that it was not possible to determine conclusively the constitutionality of the resignation of President Nasheed. They have also expressed concern over the arrest warrant issued against former President Nasheed.The report urged President Waheed and former President Nasheed to commence dialogue to agree a date for early elections to take place this calendar year.

Explaining the issue, Diyana mentioned that the Maldives has adopted a system which ensures the legislature, judiciary and executive power are kept separate and independent. When such a system is in place, no person, organisation or state can influence how the country should be run. No one can dictate who the country chooses to arrest, she pointed out.

President Waheed has last week appointed a three member Commission to carry out an investigation of the circumstances which led to the resignation of former President Nasheed and swearing in of Dr. Waheed as the new President on 7 February after 22 days of protests against Nasheed. Waheed has also initiated an all party dialogue to deliberate on a road map in a bid to settle the crisis, but former President's MDP party has refused to join discussions before the new Government agrees and gives a date for an early election.

Meanwhile the joint alliance rally yesterday has voiced expressions against an early election.