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| EU High Representative Mrs. Catherine Ashton and the Re-instated President of Maldives Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik. Edited Photo by: Adamington Online |
The European Union remains concerned over continued
political unrest in the Maldives in a statement released by the organization on
yesterday 21st March. In the statement EU said that, it is important
that a process that will lead to political reconciliation and democratic
elections is agreed urgently in Maldives and confirms that European Union is
ready to support such efforts in the country. The current government has
welcomed this statement of EU even though the senior officials of the
government are refusing for any early election before 2013.
In this declaration on behalf of European Union, High
Representative Catherine Ashton says that she is glad that the Special Envoy of
the Common wealth, Sir Don McKinnon has arrived in the Maldives to engage in a
dialogue with all parties concerned about the current political condition of
Maldives and said that she would like to extend her fullest support to the
Special Envoy of the Common wealth for Maldives in his important mission at the
country. “I believe it is of utmost
important that political parties and authorities abstain from taking any action
that could further complicate matters. Moreover, the security of the leaders of
political parties has to be guaranteed” says EU’s High Representative
Catherine. In the statement by EU, Catherine marked three things to be
performed which EU believes more important than ever to the country now.
Firstly the agreement of holding early elections in Maldives, secondly the
independent investigation of the incident which transferred power on 7th
February and as for last the re-establishment of the correct functioning of
government and parliament at the country. Even though the international
community is calling for early elections in the country, re-instated President
Dr. Waheed says that he do not have any legal power to call for early elections
before 2013.
In the conclusion of EU’s statement the organization
decided to continue following up events in the Maldives closely by monitoring
the events at Maldives in co-operation with international partners including
United Nations and Common wealth. Recently Common wealth too has called for
early elections in Maldives. Despite international statements raising concerns
about the current political situation in Maldives, the current government
officials refuse for early elections. The current Minister of state for foreign
affairs Mrs. Dunya Maumoon who is the daughter of the former President Dictator
Gayyoom says that there are no international pressures for early elections at
Maldives. Also in a recent press conference at Foreign Ministry, Mrs. Dunya
said that the country is not in a condition for early elections and if a
presidential election is held before 2013, Maldives will lead to a “civil war”.
Re-instated President Dr. Mohamed Waheed recently said that, according to the
election laws and constitution of Maldives there is no “legal space” to hold an
election before 2013. Dr. Waheed also said that in order to hold election
before 2013, the constitution has to be reformed by the parliament and his full
support would be given to such efforts to hold an election before 2013. Mean
while MDP and the Former President Mohamed Nasheed who was forced to resign has
said that there are no legal conflicts to hold a presidential election before
2013. Former President Mohamed Nasheed was forced to resign at 7th
February due to the mass joint protests by opposition parties and security
forces of MNDF and Police. Due to the ousting of President Nasheed from power,
MDP and many Maldivians believe that it was a military coup which the
Re-instated President, Dr. Waheed has a role. MDP has decided not to accept Dr.
Waheed’s government as a “legal government” and said that one way to hold early
elections is through Dr. Waheed’s immediate resignation. At his Presidential
address in the opening ceremony of People’s Majlis for this year, President
Waheed said that according to the constitution an earliest presidential
election could be held at the month of July 2013.
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