Political situation in the Maldives remains calm- Govt
The Government of Maldives has emphasised that the political situation in the Maldives remains calm and normal, and does not warrant other countries and international organisations to issue statements characterising the situation in any other light.
In a statement issued by the Foreign Affairs Ministry it was said that the Former President of Maldives Mr. Mohamed Nasheed has been inside the High Commission of India in Male’ since 13 February 2013 and has reportedly sought India’s ‘assistance’.
The statement said that the Government of Maldives has given pubic assurance that there is no pending Court order for Mr Nasheed to be produced under custody, and that he is absolutely free to come out of the High Commission and engage in his normal political activities. It is therefore entirely up to the High Commission of India in Male’ and Mr. Nasheed to decide when he should come out of the chancery and ease the alleged crisis there is following India’s decision to allow Mr. Nasheed to stay at the High Commission.
“It is important to recall that former President Nasheed’s on-going trial relates to the illegal arrest of Chief Judge of the Criminal Court, Judge Abdullah Mohammed in January last year. The charges against Mr. Nasheed were filed by the independent Prosecutor General, who was in fact appointed by Mr. Nasheed when he was President. The Prosecutor General instructed the Human Rights Commission in January 2012, while Mr. Nasheed was still the President, to open investigation of Judge Abdullah’s arrest. The Court case would have thus proceeded, and be where it is today, even if Mr. Nasheed remained as President. Like any other democracy, the Constitution of the Maldives does not allow the Government to either influence or intervene in the judiciary,” the statement said.
The Ministry also reiterated the Government’s firm commitment for holding the presidential elections in September this year.
The Ministry noted that the Maldives has shown to the world in 2008 and 2009 that it is entirely capable of holding nation-wide free, fair, and credible elections even in a highly polarised political environment.
“The independent Elections Commission has not, as of date, announced the candidates for the elections. The Government also has full faith in the ability of the independent Elections Commission to decide the eligibility of various candidates contesting the elections and in organising the electoral process in accordance with the Constitution and the laws of the Maldives,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry said.
The Government of Maldives urged other countries and international organisations to look at the situation in the Maldives in its proper perspective, and refrain from making public statements that might create tensions in the society, and hinder democratic growth and consolidation in the Maldives. Public statements by other countries and international organisations that favour a particular candidate are seen by the people of the Maldives as attempts to influence the outcome of the elections in the Maldives.