Condemning the breach of the Consitution and Rule of Law by the Government of Mohamed Nasheed

The Supreme Court of the Maldives has today ordered (with Order Ref: 2012/SC-SJ01) the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) to immediately release Justice Abdulla Mohamed, the Chief Judge of the Criminal Court of the Maldives, whom the MNDF illegally arrested last night, whilst peacefully residing at his residence in Male’, in front of his children and ill parents. However, the Government of Maldives has defied this order and are continuing to imprison him at an undisclosed location, thought to be a military base away from Male’, the capital city of Maldives. The Supreme Court’s Order was issued after the Government defied orders from the Criminal Court and the Prosecutor General last night, to release the Judge.

We bring to the attention of the international community these unlawful and disgraceful actions of the Government of Mohamed Nasheed, which is clearly in violation of the Constitution of the Maldives, an act amounting to High Treason as stipulated in the Constitution.

The Maldives underwent major political changes from 2003, culminating in the adoption of the new Constitution and the first ever multiparty presidential election in 2008. The political change was hoped to bring meaningful socio-economic reforms to the country and to promote the rule of law, freedom and human rights in the nation.

However, president Nasheed, soon after coming to power began adopting a dictatorial approach to governing the country. The standard of living in the country has worsened nationwide, over the last three years. The economy has been crippled due to severe mismanagement, feeble policies and rampant corruption within the government. In addition to private broadcasters being severely targeted and threatened by the Government, the public TV and radio stations are being “hijacked” by the Government, completely against the law on public broadcasting. The Government continues to imprison opposition political leaders, of which the latest instances occurred this week. We also note that on a previous occasion, the Government of Mohamed Nasheed had physically barred Supreme Court Justices from entering the Supreme Court. Mohamed Nasheed’s Administration has been repeatedly breaching the Constitution and the rule of law since coming to power.

We thus call upon the international community to take urgent note of the situation in the country, and take urgent action in order to hold the regime of Mohamed Nasheed accountable.

  17January 2012

Adhaalath Party