Govt disappointed at the misleading statement of MDP on CNI composition

Government has expressed disappointment at the misleading statement made by the MDP, Spokesperson for International Affairs, Mr Hamid Abdul Ghafoor, on behalf of former President Mohamed Nasheed, on the issue of the composition of the CNI.

In a statement released yesterday the government stated that Nasheed’s latest nominee, Ms Mairyam Manal Shihab is an active member of the MDP and could have been rejected on these grounds. However, due to the nominee meeting all the other objective criteria, as set out by the Special Envoy of the Commonwealth, the Government accepted the nominee because they are committed to moving forward with the CNI. 

Manal Shihab was the first nominee proposed by Nasheed to meet the objective criteria agreed by the Commonwealth and the Government. The Government accepted Manal Shihab and informed Sir Don McKinnon of this. Immediately after, Nasheed withdrew Manal Shihab as his nominee. 
The Government expressed concern over Nasheed’s attempts to stall the work of the CNI by repeatedly proposing nominees who do not meet the criteria agreed between the Commonwealth and the Maldives Government. By withdrawing Manal Shihab, his own nominee accepted by the Commonwealth and the Maldives Government, Nasheed is showing contempt for the CNI.

Nasheed has claimed that the Government leaked Ms Manal Shihab’s name to the media – an accusation which is completely false. The Government conducts all of its communication with the Commonwealth to the highest standard, and does not release information to the media unless there is agreement with the Commonwealth to do so. As soon as the Government accepted Nasheed’s nominee, they notified the Special Envoy of the Commonwealth.

After withdrawing Manal Shihab - his own nominee - Nasheed has insisted that his uncle, Lieutenant Colonel Zubair Ahmed Manik should be appointed to the CNI which highlights Nasheed’s disregard for the CNI. The Government urges  Nasheed to act immediately in accordance with the four point criteria agreed between the Commonwealth and the Government so that the CNI can continue with its important work.

The Government and the Special Envoy of the Commonwealth Secretary General’s Special Envoy, Rt. Sir Donald McKinnon agreed a four point criteria of objectivity for the nominee proposed by Nasheed which stated that the nominee must: be a person of integrity with high ethical, moral and professional standards with at least an undergraduate degree from a recognized university; not have been politically active during the past two years; not have held a Cabinet post or served as a member of the People's Majlis during the past two years; and not have taken a public stand on the events of 7 February 2012.

These criteria were set out to strengthen the CNI so that it would be seen to be a ‘genuinely independent, credible and impartial’ body.

The previous nominees proposed by Nasheed to the CNI did not meet the criteria. The previous nominees were:  Mohamed Aslam (Minister of Housing and Environment in Nasheed’s Cabinet at the time of the resignation); Shifa Mohamed (Minister of Education in Nasheed’s Cabinet at the time of the resignation and MDP activist); Hassan Latheef (Minister of Human Resources, Youth and Sports in Nasheed’s Cabinet at the time of the resignation and MDP activist); Hudha Ahmed (a cousin of Nasheed and MDP activist); Aishath Velezinee (a State Minister in Nasheed’s Government at the time of the resignation and MDP activist); Bandhu Ibrahim Saleem (former Managing Director of Maldives Airport Company Limited, who is married to a close relative of Nasheed);  Fareesha Abdulla (former Under Secretary, Legal Affairs, at the President’s Office at the time of the resignation); Hisaan Hussain (former legal affairs Secretary at the President Nasheed administration and MDP activist); Mariya Didi- (former MDP Chairperson, current contender for the MDP President and MDP activist) and Lieutenant Colonel Zubair Ahmed Manik (uncle of Nasheed and serving member of Maldives National Defense Force).