The Maldivian government has called on the UN to ensure “non-interference in internal affairs of sovereign states.”
In her address to the UN General Assembly on October 1, Acting Foreign Minister Dr Mariyam Shakeela referred to “concerted efforts by external forces to prevent the emergence of an indigenous democratic system of governance in the Maldives [by] attempting to shape the outcome of, what is, an internal issue”.
Dr Shakeela’s comments follow global concern over the Supreme Court’s indefinite suspension of a constitutionally-mandated run-off election scheduled for September 28. Police enforced the order on Saturday by surrounding the Elections Commission with orders to storm the building and seize the ballot papers unless the commission capitulated.
“Democracy consolidation is not just about holding elections. Nor is it about having a democratically sound Constitution. In the Maldives too, we quickly found that changing the Constitution, or having a multi-party election, did not instill democratic values within our society,” Dr Shakeela told the UN.
“For democracy to be cultivated and consolidated, the supremacy of the constitution must be upheld above all. The institutional deficiencies we face, must be addressed within constitutional provisions. And the political leadership must sustain an unshakable commitment to the principles and values of states.”
Presidential candidate Gasim Ibrahim, who placed third in the first round with 24.07 percent of the vote, went to the Supreme Court seeking to annul the vote alleging widespread electoral fraud and declaring “God Willing, Gasim will be President on November 11”.
He was swiftly joined in court by second-placed Abdulla Yameen, who received 25.35 percent of the vote, and Attorney General Azima Shukoor, Yameen’s former lawyer. Siding against the Elections Commission, the three alleged electoral irregularities despite the unanimous positive assessments of local and international election observers, including the UN itself.
In a statement, UN Secretary General Bai Ki-moon said he was concerned about the Supreme Court’s postponement of the second round, given that the first round was “widely recognised as a success by international and domestic election observers.”
“It is of the utmost importance that the will of the people be respected in deciding the future of the country. These are pivotal elections for reaffirming the democratic process in the Maldives,” stated the UN Secretary General.
Dr Shakeela meanwhile told the UN that “Some of the parties that competed in the election have identified serious issues with the conduct of the elections, and have asked the Supreme Court of the Maldives for a ruling. We are expecting the Court to come out with a ruling in the coming days. The integrity of the second round of our Presidential election cannot be maintained without ensuring the integrity of the first round through Constitutional means. We await the Supreme Court’s verdict to continue the electoral process.”
Dr Shakeela went on to accuse “some external forces” of “attempting to shape the outcome of, what in effect is, an internal issue. The Maldives is small. Our democracy is at an infant stage. Our institutions are young. That does not, however, mean that larger countries have a right to intervene and attempt to dictate outcomes in domestic affairs of the Maldives.”
Protests resulting from the suspension of the election have meanwhile led to other countries including the UK, China, Canada and Australia to upgrade their travel advisories.
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We need to baarah baarah buriah to this lady .... then only she will calm down.....
wow dr.shakeela has some Balls telling UN what it should Not Do in Maldives. Bravo!!
Not a bad message. I think more efforts need to be made, in the interests of promoting tolerance, to raise public awareness about the difference between foreign intervention and foreign assistance.
small country big mouth
Total disregard for the maldivian citizens. The criminal minority have taken over illegally and the whole world can now see this.
@ adam
.....and big Balls.
@ tsk tsk
Maldives should receive absolutely no foreign assistance, especially financial, if Gayoom insists on destroying these so called "democratic values" he claims to care so much about. You guys have your hands out to for the cash but don't want to honor agreements and treaties in return. Which we all know is a common problem everywhere in Maldives. Take the money and run and then ask "what contract?".
That dress is a sight to behold. She must've got their attention with that spectacle.
We actually see Dr. Shakeela over the podium. If it is Kudey Shaheed
a) you do not even see him over the podium
b) he will flood local media with the news for a week
c) he will tweet about it for next 5 years.
Unlike the current gang of pompous crowd, Dr. Shakaeela represents a common and a sensible Maldivian, the future face of Maldives diplomatic service.
Dr. Shakeela just unleashed a tsunami of jealousy among Maldivian diplomats, especially the women
Everything from her dress style, look and kind of hair oil she had would be the main issues..
tsk tsk. what has happened to you? Where's the hate and anger gone?
"... concerted efforts by external forces to prevent the emergence of an indigenous democratic system of governance in the Maldives [by] attempting to shape the outcome of, what is, an internal issue”.
(1) What sort of "indigenous" democratic system would that be? The one that Gay Yoom invented all by himself, perchance? Is it the unique system that he gifted these islands after 30 years of careful deliberation?
(2) Under that "indigenous" system, adulterers sit on the Supreme Court bench and dispense Islamic Sharia and otherwise trample upon the democratic rights (as known in the rest of the world) of the people.
(3) Under this "indigenous" system, those who yearn for Al-Andhalus are hailed as model Muslims. Other democratic countries are actively fighting their dangerous ideology and the most prominent jihadist who yearned for "Al-Andhalus" lies in a watery grave at the bottom of the oceans.
(4) This "indigenous" system also replaced a fledgling democracy that was barely 3 years old.
(5) The world has learned that appeasement never leads to the desired outcome. From the likes of Hitler, Saddam, Gaddafi and other dictators with their "indigenous" systems of democracy, we have learned valuable lessons. There is only ONE democracy that the rest of the world knows about!
Tsk tsk, over the last week your comments have a more balanced view.
Free speech, but maybe balls for brains?
MEANWHILE IN NORTH KOREA...
Not everyone is desperate to get into the history books, especially when it is for the wrong reasons.What a shame that a doctorate has not opened Dr Shakeela's eyes to what's happening in this world in the 21st century, especially with the end of the Cold War!
Enough said. the government madam shakeela refers to represent 5% of people of Maldives. Just shut up. you have no right to represent this country and its people.
I dearly hope she has not fallen back into her teen years.... In which case her next destination would be Guraidhoo....
@shame, so true.
How can Addu lady like Shakeela talk about international matters? When did these islanders evolve to diplomatic level? Shows what's wrong with Maldives. KKBk
To be honest, there would be diplomats sitting in that room wondering what is Maldives?!
On a serious tone, supposing some day she is arrested by a tyrant leader from her own country, who she would be approaching to get leniency? I bet it would be UN (or more probably "some countries" who are creating problems in Maldives aka India and US). Oh BTW just mark this post, without a proper election, she might face such future.
@Virendra
Brilliant idea. I'd have her arrested, given a mild surgical anesthetic, surgically cut her open and install a speaker system to play back her lines.
Once she wakes up, I'll orchestrate a miscommunication between some police agencies, and let her escape. When she tries to get foreign assistance to back her gang, I'll trigger the speaker system to play her speech; especially "Don't interfere in Maldives' internal affairs."