US wants Nasheed in Maldives presidential race
12 Oct 2013 6:08 AM IST
'The US is deeply concerned about continued legal actions that could further delay the Maldivian presidential election and prevent former president Nasheed from participating,’ a US State Department release issued Thursday said.
It said the fresh election scheduled for 19 October must be held in a fair, inclusive and transparent way.
‘With the Maldivian Supreme Court ruling that a new round of elections must be held and the Elections Commission making preparations for voting by Oct 20, it is important that the process go forward unimpeded in a fair, inclusive and transparent way,’ it said. ‘The basis of any democracy is for citizens to choose their government, for political differences to be decided at the ballot box in an environment free of violence and for election results to be respected.
‘We continue to urge a peaceful political process that is inclusive of all candidates in order to ensure the Maldivian election that will meet international standards of an elected, legitimate democracy,’ it added.
Donald McKinnon, the Commonwealth secretary-general’s special envoy to the Maldives, while noting in a statement the decision of the Maldives Supreme Court to annul the first round of the presidential election, spoke highly of the ongoing preparations by the Elections Commission to ensure fresh elections, Xinhua reported.
A Commonwealth Observer Group was present in Maldives and reported positively on the credibility of the electoral process at the time. However, the results were challenged in court and the Supreme Court annulled the results.
It said the fresh election scheduled for 19 October must be held in a fair, inclusive and transparent way.
‘With the Maldivian Supreme Court ruling that a new round of elections must be held and the Elections Commission making preparations for voting by Oct 20, it is important that the process go forward unimpeded in a fair, inclusive and transparent way,’ it said. ‘The basis of any democracy is for citizens to choose their government, for political differences to be decided at the ballot box in an environment free of violence and for election results to be respected.
‘We continue to urge a peaceful political process that is inclusive of all candidates in order to ensure the Maldivian election that will meet international standards of an elected, legitimate democracy,’ it added.
Donald McKinnon, the Commonwealth secretary-general’s special envoy to the Maldives, while noting in a statement the decision of the Maldives Supreme Court to annul the first round of the presidential election, spoke highly of the ongoing preparations by the Elections Commission to ensure fresh elections, Xinhua reported.
A Commonwealth Observer Group was present in Maldives and reported positively on the credibility of the electoral process at the time. However, the results were challenged in court and the Supreme Court annulled the results.
Next Story
