Former Maldives President Nasheed detained by police

[RISING SUN]

Former Maldivian president Nasheed walks out of court as 'free man'
NEW DELHI: Former Maldivian president Mohammed Nasheed on Wednesday walked out of a Maldivian court as a "free man" after the hearing has ended. Earier, he was produced in a court in a power abuse case in Male.

On Tuesday, police in Maldives detained opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed, defying pressure from regional power India which had called for him to be free to campaign for elections.

Nasheed, the country's first democratically elected leader, is to be taken before a magistrate later in the day on charges of abusing his authority and ordering the arrest of a judge when he was in power between 2008 and 2012.

The 45-year-old, a former Amnesty International prisoner of conscience, says the charges are politically motivated and designed to disqualify him from contesting the September 7 presidential election.

Amnesty said the arrest of Nasheed was an example of selective justice from the Maldivian authorities and highlighted their failure to investigate other serious rights abuses in a country better known for its upmarket tourism.

"Of course political leaders, including Nasheed, should be held to account -- but the targeting of Nasheed is an example of selective justice," said Abbas Faiz, the group's Maldives researcher.

India, which moved to end a political standoff in the Maldives last month after Nasheed sought refuge at the Indian embassy in Male to avoid arrest, said it was monitoring developments closely.

"We would urge all concerned to exercise caution and restraint and not to resort to any violence or extra-constitutional means and steps which would weaken the democratic system," said Indian foreign ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin.

The US embassy in neighbouring Sri Lanka said it was "increasingly concerned" about developments in the Sunni Muslim nation, which straddles strategic shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean.

Male has been racked by violence and political infighting since February 2012 when Nasheed was ousted following a mutiny by security forces and protests.

My sense is saying that it's the result of Indian diplomacy, face saving option for both parties. Isn't it?

Former Maldivian president Nasheed walks out of court as 'free man'
NEW DELHI: Former Maldivian president Mohammed Nasheed on Wednesday walked out of a Maldivian court as a "free man" after the hearing has ended. Earier, he was produced in a court in a power abuse case in Male.

On Tuesday, police in Maldives detained opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed, defying pressure from regional power India which had called for him to be free to campaign for elections.

Nasheed, the country's first democratically elected leader, is to be taken before a magistrate later in the day on charges of abusing his authority and ordering the arrest of a judge when he was in power between 2008 and 2012.

The 45-year-old, a former Amnesty International prisoner of conscience, says the charges are politically motivated and designed to disqualify him from contesting the September 7 presidential election.

Amnesty said the arrest of Nasheed was an example of selective justice from the Maldivian authorities and highlighted their failure to investigate other serious rights abuses in a country better known for its upmarket tourism.

"Of course political leaders, including Nasheed, should be held to account -- but the targeting of Nasheed is an example of selective justice," said Abbas Faiz, the group's Maldives researcher.

India, which moved to end a political standoff in the Maldives last month after Nasheed sought refuge at the Indian embassy in Male to avoid arrest, said it was monitoring developments closely.

"We would urge all concerned to exercise caution and restraint and not to resort to any violence or extra-constitutional means and steps which would weaken the democratic system," said Indian foreign ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin.

The US embassy in neighbouring Sri Lanka said it was "increasingly concerned" about developments in the Sunni Muslim nation, which straddles strategic shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean.

Male has been racked by violence and political infighting since February 2012 when Nasheed was ousted following a mutiny by security forces and protests.

My sense is saying that it's the result of Indian diplomacy, face saving option for both parties. Isn't it?

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Former-Maldivian-president-Nasheed-walks-out-of-court-as-free-man/articleshow/18832765.cms

 

[scarcry]

Maldives is slated to go for polls on September 7, and Nasheed has alleged that the arrest was politically motivated. Meanwhile, in a blow to his own electoral prospects, President Waheed suffered crushing defeat as the Maldivian Parliament overruled his veto on a political bill requiring minimum membership of 10,000 people for recognition and participation in polls.

Waheed-led Gaumee Iththihaadh Party has little more than 3,000 registered members. Waheed refused to ratify the Bill and sent it back to Majlis. But Majlis passed the bill yet again, making it impossible for the president to veto it. Local media, Minivan News, said, according to the constitution, if a bill sent back to Parliament by the President is passed again without making any changes; it automatically becomes law without the need of a presidential ratification.

SAYS IT ALL, HE'S GONE BOTH WAY BOTH GAYOOM AND NASHEED ARE INDIA FRIENDLY(REMAINING CONTENDERS)

 

[Screambowl]

Former Maldivian president Nasheed walks out of court as 'free man'
NEW DELHI: Former Maldivian president Mohammed Nasheed on Wednesday walked out of a Maldivian court as a "free man" after the hearing has ended. Earier, he was produced in a court in a power abuse case in Male.

On Tuesday, police in Maldives detained opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed, defying pressure from regional power India which had called for him to be free to campaign for elections.

Nasheed, the country's first democratically elected leader, is to be taken before a magistrate later in the day on charges of abusing his authority and ordering the arrest of a judge when he was in power between 2008 and 2012.

The 45-year-old, a former Amnesty International prisoner of conscience, says the charges are politically motivated and designed to disqualify him from contesting the September 7 presidential election.

Amnesty said the arrest of Nasheed was an example of selective justice from the Maldivian authorities and highlighted their failure to investigate other serious rights abuses in a country better known for its upmarket tourism.

"Of course political leaders, including Nasheed, should be held to account -- but the targeting of Nasheed is an example of selective justice," said Abbas Faiz, the group's Maldives researcher.

India, which moved to end a political standoff in the Maldives last month after Nasheed sought refuge at the Indian embassy in Male to avoid arrest, said it was monitoring developments closely.

"We would urge all concerned to exercise caution and restraint and not to resort to any violence or extra-constitutional means and steps which would weaken the democratic system," said Indian foreign ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin.

The US embassy in neighbouring Sri Lanka said it was "increasingly concerned" about developments in the Sunni Muslim nation, which straddles strategic shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean.

Male has been racked by violence and political infighting since February 2012 when Nasheed was ousted following a mutiny by security forces and protests.

My sense is saying that it's the result of Indian diplomacy, face saving option for both parties. Isn't it?

Former Maldivian president Nasheed walks out of court as 'free man'
NEW DELHI: Former Maldivian president Mohammed Nasheed on Wednesday walked out of a Maldivian court as a "free man" after the hearing has ended. Earier, he was produced in a court in a power abuse case in Male.

On Tuesday, police in Maldives detained opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed, defying pressure from regional power India which had called for him to be free to campaign for elections.

Nasheed, the country's first democratically elected leader, is to be taken before a magistrate later in the day on charges of abusing his authority and ordering the arrest of a judge when he was in power between 2008 and 2012.

The 45-year-old, a former Amnesty International prisoner of conscience, says the charges are politically motivated and designed to disqualify him from contesting the September 7 presidential election.

Amnesty said the arrest of Nasheed was an example of selective justice from the Maldivian authorities and highlighted their failure to investigate other serious rights abuses in a country better known for its upmarket tourism.

"Of course political leaders, including Nasheed, should be held to account -- but the targeting of Nasheed is an example of selective justice," said Abbas Faiz, the group's Maldives researcher.

India, which moved to end a political standoff in the Maldives last month after Nasheed sought refuge at the Indian embassy in Male to avoid arrest, said it was monitoring developments closely.

"We would urge all concerned to exercise caution and restraint and not to resort to any violence or extra-constitutional means and steps which would weaken the democratic system," said Indian foreign ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin.

The US embassy in neighbouring Sri Lanka said it was "increasingly concerned" about developments in the Sunni Muslim nation, which straddles strategic shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean.

Male has been racked by violence and political infighting since February 2012 when Nasheed was ousted following a mutiny by security forces and protests.

My sense is saying that it's the result of Indian diplomacy, face saving option for both parties. Isn't it?

Former Maldivian president Nasheed walks out of Maldivian court as 'free man' - The Times of India

Now it is time to act!!!