IDP propose Qasim as Alliance candidate

Islamic Democratic Party (IDP) has proposed Finance Minister Qasim Ibrahim as the presidential candidate of the Alliance to compete against president Gayoom in the forthcoming presidential elections scheduled for later this year. The proposal came at the meeting of the Alliance held yesterday.

Speaking at the meeting President of IDP said that if the Alliance is considering to have a candidate out side the Alliance then the candidate must have the capacity and ability to defeat President Gayoom and that IDP proposes Finance Minister Qasim Ibrahim to that candidate. Umar also proposed that if candidate is to be elected within the Alliance then a primary election should be held. Umar informed that although a decision was not reached at yesterday’s meeting, the Alliance did not reject IDP’s proposals. Further Miadhu Daily also learnt that MDP president Dr. Munavavar informed the Alliance that the matter of Alliance being represented by candidate outside MDP needs to be addressed first at the party’s National Council.

Attempts made by Miadhu Daily to contact the Spokesperson of the Alliance Dr. Ahmed Shaheed to obtain more information on the meeting proved futile. However speaking to Miadhu Daily on an earlier occasion Dr. Shaheed has said that to have an outside candidate was not acceptable.

Leader of Social Liberal Party (SLP) Ibrahim Ismail (Ibra) speaking at a news conference has said that the comments made some politicians in the name of Alliance were not true and that the Alliance has not reached a decision on its candidate.

Speaking at the news conference Ibra condemned that the claims made by some politicians, in the name of the Alliance, that the next government would be formed by a specific party. He also said that those claims that international community prefers a single candidate to represent the alliance are also simply not true.

According to Ibra the objective of the Alliance was to introduce some changes to the political arena but that what he is now seeing is that some politicians attempting to achieve other objectives rather than what the Alliance was established for. He said if any one of the five which forms the Alliance breaks away then it will no longer be called an Alliance.

HRCM Will Not Observe Presidential Elections

The Human Rights Commission (HRCM) has decided not to send observers to the Maldives’ first multi-party presidential elections, expected later this year.

Commissioner Mariyam Azra Ahmed said the decision had been taken because “other human rights commissions do not observe elections”.

The HRCM sent ten observers to last year’s referendum on form of government, in which Maldivians chose a presidential over a parliamentary system. It judged the referendum to be “generally fair”.

Former foreign minister Dr Ahmed Shaheed, who recently set up the organisation Maldives Election Watch to “be vigilant over any moves to prevent free and fair elections”, said the decision was “very disappointing and very strange”.

The HRCM will be involved to the extent of “see[ing] that all individuals receive the right to vote,” said Azra. But the nature of its involvement will not be determined until June.

Assistant director general Mohamed Tholal, of the Elections Commission, said the body had not yet invited any observers to attend the elections, as a date has not been set.

Recently passed transitional material in the constitution in progress specifies elections must be held by 10 October 2008, though the elections commission – due to become independent within 30 days of ratification of the constitution – must set a date.

But the foreign ministry has invited international bodies such as the European Union (EU) to observe, with the EU pledging a “technical team” of up to four members, and the Commonwealth saying details of its involvement have not yet been confirmed.

The HRCM’s verdict on last August’s referendum was that the poll had been “generally fair,” despite claims by the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) that the vote was rigged.

In its press release on the referendum, the HRCM said “few complaints of bribing, intimidation, use of influence and other such cases in breach of the regulations… were received.”

But it also said there were areas in need of improvement, such as “a more open and transparent approach...during the process of casting and counting the ballots”, and the “involve[ment of] all political parties”.

Before it became independent under the Human Rights Commission Act, the HRCM judged parliamentary elections held in January 2005 to be “not in general free, fair or without undue influence”, though its findings were dismissed by the Maldivian government at that time.

The HRCM has now been “advised” election observation does not fall within its mandate, according to Azra.

Ibra to commence campaign visits to atolls

Leader of Social Liberal Party (SLP) Ibrahim Ismail (Ibra) who has launched his presidential campaign at ceremony held at Dharubaaruge last March has said that he will commence his campaign trips to atolls on the 4 th of next month. Ibra made the statement speaking at a news conference held at newsroom “Fansavees” of Dharubaargue.

Ibra said that he will initially be visiting northern atolls and that he will be returning after visiting all the inhabited islands of the northern atolls. He said before returning he will pass on his message to the people. He said he is starting the after completion of all the work at the Drafting Committee as promised.

Leader of Social Liberal Party Ibra said that no body can win any election without a campaign. Responding to comments of some parties that campaigning is being carried out in violation of pertinent regulations Ibra said if it is an offense then the matter should be taken to courts and that he was ready for it.

Dr. Hassan & Anni to represent Alliance

Reliable sources confirm that the National Unity Alliance is bringing out former Attorney General Dr. Hassan Saeed and former chairperson of MDP Mohamed Nasheed (Anni) who won the party’s presidential primary on the 25 of this month as Alliance’s candidates for the forthcoming presidential elections scheduled for later this year.

A person having connections with Alliance and well acquainted with the thinking of the Alliance informed that although no official decisions has been reached, an understanding has been reached between Anni and Dr. Hassan Saeed. According to the agreement Dr. Hassan Saeed is going to be the presidential candidate of the Alliance and MDP presidential candidate Anni will be the running mate reports the person. Attempts made by Maidhu Daily to confirm the story by contacting either of the candidate or the Spokesperson of the Alliance Dr. Shaheed proved unsuccessful.

However Umar Naseer leader of Islamic Democratic Party (IDP) one of the parties forming the alliance said that so far no discussion has been held on the subject. He said however a meeting has been scheduled for today. He also said the candidates mentioned by the reliable source were not acceptable.

“No discussions has been held on the subject of candidates, however there is a meeting scheduled for today, the pair mentioned in the information received to Miadhu Daily is not acceptable to IDP” said Umar Naseer President of IDP.

Despite Umar’s views the reliable source confirmed that although some parties within the alliance may not agree on the pair, they will be coming out to stand presidential elections with the other parties that agree on them and that the pair will be seen in the presidential race.

The question now is will the pair, Dr. Hassan and Anni be accepted by the Maldivian people and will they have the capacity to defeat President Gayoom who has been in power for the last 3 decades. Many consider Dr. Hassan as relatively new but capable politician and Anni as a well experienced political activist.

However supporters of President Gayyom say that the President Gayoom has the capacity and experience to defeat anybody that challenge him. What ever it may be the next presidential election is certainly going to be very competitive.

Past actions was based on informed decisions - Anni

Presidential Candidate of Maldivian Democratic Party Mohamed Nasheed (Anni) has revealed that as a politician he was fully aware of what he was doing and what ever he did in the past was carried out with the advice and guidance of other well experienced sources. Anni made the statement speaking on HFM “Jadhalu” (challenge) program when asked when asked whether his actions were based on informed decisions in the past.

Speaking on Jadhalu program of HFM Anni said that if one is to look back there is always the chance to feel that something could have been done better but that his past actions were always based on well informed decisions and that he was fully aware of what was doing at all times. He further said that there is simply no reason for anybody to believe that some of his actions were done unknowingly. When asked by a listener whether he believed that MDP primary elections was conducted as per democratic principles Anni replied that following established election procedures means following democratic principles.

In response to the claims that in the recent MDP primary election held last Friday some supporters were actively seeking support for a specific candidate while the election was going on Anni said that the election regulation do not state when the campaign should be stopped and that some members are finding it difficult to accept it the way t results turned out. When asked whether he believed that the rally of November 10, 2007 which called for the completion of constitutional reform was a success for him against MDP parliamentary group, Anni said that it was a success for the entire party.

He said when MDP declared that the constitution to be completed by November 10, Majlis endorsed to complete the constitutional reform by 30 November. He further said it was only after the rally that Majlis agreed on a transitional process. When asked whether there was any legal restriction that would prevent him from running for presidency later in the year Anni replied that he do not believe that there was any. He said some constitutional experts as well as the president of the Religious Council of MDP are of the opinion that he has not committed a crime that would prevent him standing elections.

When asked what was the secret of his success in the presidential primary Anni replied that 50% of his success can be attributed to his stand on the Alliance. He also said other reasons for his victory was his long and hard struggle to introduce reform without losing focus and his scientific style of campaigning.