Commonwealth doesn't want any charges filed against Nasheed: Govt official

A prominent official of the government has claimed that the Commonwealth Special Envoy Sir Donald McKinnon who is currently in the Maldives has been pressing for dismissal of any charges being filed against former President Mohamed Nasheed. The official wishing to remain anonymous revealed that during McKinnon’s meeting with representatives of the government, he had urged not to take any action or charges against Nasheed.

“They (Commonwealth) want us to assure Nasheed’s freedom without any action or charges more than they want us to hold early presidential elections,” official added.

“We informed that we cannot impede or influence the justice system of this country. If a crime is committed than the guilty must be duly punished and that cannot be stopped even if the government wished to do so.”

The two cases which include the unconstitutional arrest and subsequent detention of Criminal Court’s Chief Judge Abdulla Mohamed and the alcohol discovered from the official residence of the former President had been forwarded to the Prosecutor General.

However, it is yet to be determined whether any of the cases had been filed in court.
The official further said the Commonwealth Special Envoy had also pressed for the revision of the composition of the National Enquiry Commission established to investigate the circumstances surrounding the transfer of power on February 7.

However, the official added that the government would not agree to a Commonwealth representative to be placed in the Commission unless it was in the capacity of an observer.

Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Spokesperson International Affairs and Henveiru-south constituency MP Hamid Abdul Ghafoor said that he believed that the Commonwealth has been pressing against any action or charges on Nasheed due to his popularity with the international community.

“It is not something we have lobbied for. Even if Nasheed has been ousted by traitor Waheed and a few police officers, Nasheed’s popularity on the international stage is second to none. He is the champion of democracy, human rights and climate change,” Hamid said.

He further claimed that the government does not want to heed the calls of the Commonwealth and labeled it as a “disappointment.”

“The investigation of the Enquiry Commission must be made independent and impartial. That’s why a representative of the Commonwealth must be placed in the Commission. But the government does not wish to do so,” Hamid added.

“I believe that the Commonwealth’s Special Envoy would only leave the Maldives after resolving these issues.”

The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) had issued a statement on April 16 calling on the government to revise the Enquiry Commission citing that it was not impartial.

CMAG in its statement had warned stronger measures if the composition of the Commission is not revised within four weeks.
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