INDIA-SRILANKA-MALDIVES

Nasheed freed, his trial to be deferred until Prez elections

President Waheed may not like any more adventurism for the present. He has a fragile political base and its limitations have been exposed on the floor of Majlis, the parliament as he was settling scores with his betenoire Nasheed.

Tempers have cooled in Maldives. Former President Mohammed Nasheed has got a reprieve a day after he was arrested and placed in judicial custody. And the Male court will not begin hearings immediately in the case that he had abused his power as President. Nasheed lawyers asked the court to defer the trial until the elections due to be held in September. The prosecutor general did not oppose the demand though he did not expressly endorse it. 

The arrest came as a surprise no doubt. Because only on February 23, that is less than a fortnight ago he walked out of the Indian high commission where he took refugee to duck an inevitable arrest. Delhi had talked to both sides and paved the way for Nasheed’s return to his social and political life.

So much so, the arrest was seen as a snub to India in certain quarters. But the turn of events shows that such instant verdicts are unwarranted. The court’s decision not to try Nasheed for the time being is a win-win situation for Nasheed, his supporters and Waheed and his backers alike. The Waheed government now can occupy the high moral ground that it has only been following court directions and that there were no vendetta politics at play. Nasheed has bowed before the majesty of law with his honour intact.

No trial means Nasheed will be free to participate in the Presidential election, which, in turn will lend legitimacy to the poll. For India this is a welcome development since it is keen to see that the Presidential election paves the way for ending the present phase of uncertainty in the archipelago.

As the Times of India reported, while both the countries denied any deal last month to secure Nasheed’s freedom or his participation in elections, Maldivian authorities agreed with Indian officials that it was imperative to make the upcoming elections free and credible. Indian foreign ministry spokesman Akbaruddin put the issue in perspective when he said, “India expects due process and the rule of law will be followed”. He urged all concerned in Maldives to exercise caution and restraint and not resort to violence or extra-constitutional means and steps “which may weaken the democratic system” in the island nation.

President Waheed may not like any more adventurism for the present. He has a fragile political base and its limitations have been exposed on the floor of Majlis, the parliament as he was settling scores with his betenoire Nasheed.

Waheed has rejected a bill passed by Majlis that stipulated a minimum membership of 10,000 people for a party to get recognition and to participate in elections. The veto is understandable because his party, Gaumee Iththihaadh Party has a little more than 3,000 registered members.

But the Majlis over ruled him, and passed the bill yet again. Under the Maldivian constitution, if a bill sent back by President is passed again without making any changes, it automatically becomes law without the need of a presidential assent.

Well, this development is a serious blow to Waheed, who is keen to enter the Presidential race.

-malladi rama rao

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