MDP Condemns Supreme Court Ruling Delaying Maldives Elections

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) condemns in the strongest possible terms the Supreme Court’s decision, by majority vote, on Monday evening to postpone the second round of the presidential elections, which was due to be held this Saturday.

MDP international affairs spokesperson Hamid Abdul Ghafoor said:

“In compete defiance of the Constitution, this act by a discredited court is a betrayal of democracy and the will of the Maldivian people.

“All local and international observers, including those from Transparency Maldives, the United Nations, the Commonwealth, and India praised the first round of elections as free and fair and without incident.

“This ruling is a cynical attempt by President Nasheed’s political opponents to delay an election they feared they were likely to lose.

As stated by the United Nations Human Rights Committee in July 2012, the MDP strongly believes The Supreme Court in particular needs “radical readjustment.” The Committee said, “As 6 of 7 Supreme Court judges are experts in Sharia law and nothing more, this court in particular is in need of radical readjustment. This must be done to guarantee just trials and fair judgments for the people of Maldives.”

The MDP reiterates the statement made by the UN Special Rappatuer Ms. Gabriela Knaul, “justice must not merely be done but must also be seen to be done and judges must not only be actually impartial they have to appear impartial to the public.”

“We urgently appeal to our friends in the international community to use their good offices to ensure that elections can swiftly proceed in the Maldives.”