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Police stop polls, democracy at stake in Maldives
View(s):MALE: The beleaguered Maldivian Elections Commission was forced to call off presidential polls, for the second time in weeks yesterday as disenchantment against the Maldives Government and the judiciary grew. Police moved into Elections Commissioner (EC) Fuwad Thowfeek’s office in the morning preventing any ballot boxes or election material from moving out, saying they would not support a poll that violates Supreme Court rules.
“As we continued with [preparation for] voting, the Maldives Police Services have said no document relating to the election can leave the commission’s offices, stopping the election,” the Commission (EC) said in a statement. It was the second time in weeks that former President Mohamed Nasheed’s bid to secure a new term was stalled after his first term was virtually robbed by an alleged military takeover in February 2012. His Deputy President Mohamed Waheed took over at the time, backed by opposition groups and the police.
Elections Chief Thowfeek was quoted as telling reporters that the whole world was watching the developments in the Maldives and would be concerned about what was happening. He said the country was dependent on thousands of tourists coming from European and Asian countries. “They will be thinking about the status of the Maldives.”
“Today is a dark day for democracy,” EC member Ali Manik was quoted as saying according to local Minivan News agency.
Residents and officials of political parties said there was tension in Male, the country’s capital — with protestors gathering outside Parliament House to shout slogans calling for the poll.
“We believe that there are no prospects of holding a democratic election under this regime. The Police have stopped this legitimate process twice now,” noted Ibrahim Zaki, an advisor to the former President and a one-time senior minister.
Speaking to the Sunday Times by phone from Male, Mr. Zaki said that a regime change had become imperative as a new president must be elected by November 11 according to the Maldivian Constitution.
Mr. Nasheed from the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) is pitted against Jumhoree Party (JP) candidate Gasim Ibrahim and Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) candidate Abdulla Yameen, step brother of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.
The latter, who ruled the country for 30 years, has repeatedly denied accusations that he was behind the February 2012 ouster of Mr. Nasheed.
Trade union leader Mauroof Zakir said he feared for the future in the Maldives. “We don’t know what would happen,” he told the Sunday Times, adding that while there were no disturbances in the tiny capital, more protests were expected later last night.
Outside the EC office, Mr. Nasheed was quoted as telling reporters that an election by October 20 is “paramount” to the Supreme Court guidelines, and hence the EC must proceed with election preparations and stand ready to hold elections as scheduled until the Supreme Court clarifies what the EC must do, or until the PPM and JP approve the list.
Police stopped the poll based on the Supreme Court guidelines for an election in which all three contestants should sign the voters list. By Friday only Mr. Nasheed had signed the list.
At the initial September 7 election, Mr. Nasheed won 45 per cent of the poll – short of victory which requires more than 50 per cent of the vote – while incumbent President Mohamed Waheed secured just 5 per cent of the vote. Mr Waheed pulled out of the race after that.
Under Maldivian rules, a second round contest was to be held on September 28 between Mr. Nasheed and Gasim Ibrahim, who came second with 24 per cent of the vote. But that poll was cancelled by the Supreme Court which ordered a fresh election after one of the losing candidates filed a petition disputing the first round results. The court said there had been irregularities in the poll.
The other two candidates have refused to sign the voters list alleging that there are ‘errors’ among other issues.
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