Candidates for Majlis elections include reformists in detention

Reformists in detention are among the 156 candidates who forwarded applications to stand in the forthcoming general elections, reports quoting family members from Male’ said. The Elections Commissioner closed the opportunity to contest at 1400 Hrs Tuesday, announcing that those standing also include 8 women.

Among reformists in detention who made submissions are Hon.Ibrahim Ismail for Male’, Hon Ahmed Adhil for Haa Dhaal Atoll, Mr.Shuaib Ali for Haa Dhaal Atoll, Hon.Ilyas Hussain Ibrahim for South Ari Atoll, Dr.Hussain Rasheed for Thaa Atoll.

Candidates are required to submit an application form including copies of all the material they will be using in their campaign. These include slogans, logos, leaflets, designs of T-shirts, hats, badges and introduction letters to constituents, which would be passed by the Elections Commissioner.

The candidates’ lists would be announced by the end of the month, Elections Commissioner Ahmed Rashad announced on Tuesday. The Maldives government bans campaigning before the announcement of the list. Hence candidates would have 30 days to campaign as polling is set for 31st December, in 21 constituencies of the archipelago.

Many reformists allege that government backed candidates had unlawfully begun their campaigns months ago. Pro-government candidates are permitted to ignore the law and use treasury funds to illegally finance their campaigns, they said. “Many government backed candidates are continuing extensive trips to the islands in their constituencies ostensibly on official business. They campaign as they wish at public expense, meeting and lobbying voters. Government-backed candidates have promised various government funded projects for islands as rewards for voting for them”, the Maldivian Democratic Party said in a statement published early this month.
After the violent break-up of the pro-democracy rally on the 13th August 2004, the Maldives government declared a state of emergency and arrested many reformist MPs and activists. With the state of emergency the President abrogated among others, Article 15 (1) (d) of the Constitution, which states that persons charged with an offence cannot be kept in detention for a period exceeding seven days except as provided by law.
Prior to announcing a date for the upcoming parliamentary elections, the government unlawfully blocked more than 15 potential candidates who had previously garnered popular support. Among these are the existing members of the parliament, Hon. Ibrahim Hussain Zaki and Dr. Mohamed Munavvar as well as Members of the Constitutional Assembly, Mr. Qasim Ibrahim, Hon. Ali Faiz, Hon.Mohamed Naseem, and Hon. Ahmed Shafeeq. 18 pro-democracy activists are also still in jail, including at least one contestant for the general elections, family members of detainees reported from Male’.

Speaking in Colombo, Maldives Democratic Party Spokesperson Mr Mohamed Latheef noted that “the government through its total control of the Maldives media has continued to defame detained reformists. The submission by some of them to contest general elections is a symbol of their resolve not to be intimidated by the brutal tactics of the government.” Asked whether his party, banned in Maldives was participating, he said that “all contestants are standing as independents, as this regime is averse to political association. In addition to known reformists, many other candidates sympathetic to the party are contesting. This is the people’s opportunity to endorse pluralism, freedom of expression, assembly and dissent”.

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