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Maldives to go for fresh poll in October
-BY DR. ABDUL RUFF COLACHAL [Educationist, Specialist on State Terrorism; Chronicler of Foreign occupations & Freedom movements (Palestine, Kashmir, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Xinjiang, Chechnya, etc.) Chancellor-Founder of Centor for International Affairs(CIA); Commentator on world affairs & sport fixings, Expert on Mideast Affairs,Former university Teacher; Editor:INTERNATIONAL OPINION; Editor: FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES; Palestine Times: RANDOM THOUGHTS; Author of many books;(http://abdulrubb.wordpress.com); website: http://abdulruff.wordpress.com/ mail: abdulruff_jnu@yahoo.com]
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In a historic move, the Maldives Supreme Court has annulled results from the first round of voting in presidential elections held on 7 September, and called a fresh ballot for 20 October. The court order came in the wake of unreliability surrounding the poll and in response to the appeal of Qasim Ibrahim, who came in third in the first round of voting. Ibrahim had asked the court last month to void the results citing electoral fraud.
The highest court of Maldives, whose economy relies on tourism and fisheries, annulled the 7 September result by a majority decision of 4-3. Earlier, the Court had postponed the second round of voting amid allegations of electoral fraud.
Local and international observers had described the first round of voting as free and fair.
Mohamed Nasheed, who was forced from office in an alleged coup last year, won 45% of the vote, falling short of the total 50% needed to avoid a run-off. Earlier, Nasheed came to power in 2008 in the country's first free elections by defeating the longest serving president, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. The Maldives held its first multiparty elections in 2008, following decades of autocratic rule.
Nasheed said he was stepping down to prevent "bloodshed", but later said he had been forced to resign at gunpoint by police and army officers. He was replaced as head of state by his former vice president, Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik, who ran in the elections but polled only 5% of the vote.
The Maldives Supreme Court had postponed the second round of the country's presidential election, due to have taken place on 28 September 2013. The court said a new run-off date would be set once it has ruled on the case. Members of Nasheed's Maldivian Democratic Party protested against the court's decision, saying that the court decision was "unconstitutional" and that they have appealed against the decision.the election should be held as scheduled. The postponement means a breach of the constitution, as there will be a gap of more than three weeks between the two rounds
As per the constitution Nasheed had needed more than 50% to avoid a run-off against his nearest rival, Abdulla Yameen, who won 25% of the vote. Yameen is the half-brother of the Maldives' former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who led the country for 30 years.
Just hours before the court ruling on 07th October, masked men set fire to the studios of pro-opposition television station Raajje TV, which supports Nasheed.
Any run-off vote should be held before 4 November so that a new president can take office by the 11 November deadline, but under the special circumstances the deadline could also be extended by the court. After all, a genuinely elected government needs to be put in office.
The Maldives is a South Asian Islamic republic which lies off the Indian sub-continent. It is made up of a chain of nearly 1,200 islands, most of them uninhabited. None of the coral islands measures more than 1.8 metres (six feet) above sea level, making the country vulnerable to a rise in sea levels associated with global warming.
With its abundant sealife and sandy beaches, The Maldives is portrayed by travel companies as a tropical paradise. The economy revolves around tourism, and scores of islands have been developed for the top end of the tourist market. Aside from the island capital Male, outsiders are only permitted onto inhabited islands for brief visits, thereby limiting their negative impact on traditional Muslim communities. Most tourists are taken straight to their island hideaway by seaplane or speedboat, where they are free to drink alcohol and get luxurious spa treatments, insulated from the everyday Maldives, where alcohol is outlawed and skimpy beachwear frowned upon.
Many Maldivians live in poverty. However, the country has developed its infrastructure and industries, including the fisheries sector, and has boosted health care, education and literacy. The Maldives was hit by the December 2004 Asian tsunami. Homes and resorts were devastated by the waves, precipitating a major rebuilding program. There is a fear that as sea levels rise, island countries such as the Maldives, and some Pacific territories, will simply be swamped and disappear.
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