Commonwealth did not take my side: Nasheed

Former President Mohamed Nasheed has stressed that the Commonwealth's continued push to make the National Enquiry Commission set up to probe the regime change independent and impartial, was not on his personal behalf but was for the people of the Maldives. Speaking after inaugurating a new Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) camp in the capital Male last night, Nasheed claimed that the Commonwealth heard the vehement calls for early presidential elections by the people, while referring to the agreement by the current government to revise the composition of the Commission as a result of Commonwealth pressures.

The former President also said that the government of Maldives had proposed amendments to the Commonwealth back in 2009 and the revisions brought to the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) had been the result of the efforts by the Maldives.

“Today we are witnessing the Commonwealth being with the people of the Maldives. It’s not that the people of the Commonwealth do not see the amount of yellow in the Maldives when they step out onto their balconies. Don McKinnon (Commonwealth Special Envoy to the Maldives) was astounded by the number of people in such a small nation pressing for early polls,” he said.

Nasheed further claimed that the government had been compelled to revise the composition of the Enquiry Commission due to the efforts of so many people.

Hence, the protests and call for early presidential elections must be continued unfazed, he added.

He also alleged that if an early election is not held within this calendar year, there was a real possibility that elections would never take place in the Maldives.

“I’ve received reports that the government is trying to exert influence in the Elections Commission by offering high ranking posts to the Elections Commissioner within the government, “ he alleged.

Nasheed expressed concern that the government could succeed in its efforts and influence the result of a vote and stressed on the importance of an election as early as possible to deny the government that opportunity.
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