Tag: elections commission

EC condemns remarks made by Dr Munawar after formation of new party fails

The Elections Commission (EC) of the Maldives has strongly condemned remarks made by Former Attorney General Dr Mohamed Munawar, after the commission said not enough people had attended the formation of his ‘Reform Movement’ party for it to be registered.

The dispute between the Elections Commission and Dr Munawar occurred after commission members appeared at a meeting held at Villa College by Dr Munawar to establish his new political party.

The formative meeting of the party required the attendance of a minimum of 300 members in order to meet the regulatory requirements for the establishment of a political party. Dr Munavar said canceled the meeting and the new party was not formed.

The Elections Commission said in a statement that ”although Dr Munavar claimed that the meeting to form his party had to be canceled when the commission members attended the meeting, the meeting must be attended by a minimum of 300 person according to Political Party Regulations 2005, 8[c]. The number of people who attended the meeting was less than 140.”

The Commission said that the meeting began the with the Quran recitation after it was announced that the legally-mandated number of people were present. But while the meeting was ongoing it was called off by Dr Munavar himself, saying that the legal number of members were not present.

”It is a responsibility of the Elections Commission to ensure that at least 300 members attend a meeting before a political party is recognised,” the Elections Commission said.

Dr Munavar later criticised the Commission’s conduct of the recent local council elections, telling VTV that the elections were held against the constitution.

The Commission said that Dr Munavar’s remarks were intended disregard the commission and smear its respect and dignity.

Dr Munavar was a former president of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) prior to his resignation. He has been absent from politics until recently.

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EC calls for final council seat re-vote in five islands

A second round of voting will take place for the fifth and final seat on five island councils after an equal number of votes were received for some candidates, though no other ballots from this month’s local elections will be re-contested without a court ruling, the Elections Commission (EC) has said.

EC Vice President Ahmed Hassan Fayaz confirmed that registered constituents would be able to return to polling stations in Baa atoll Kihaadhoo, Raa atoll Dhuvaafaru, Gaaf Alif atoll Kolamaafushi, Haa Dhaal atoll Kumundhoo, and Meemu atoll Veyvah to reselect a fifth respective council candidate on 12 March 2011.

Fayaz claimed that every island taking part in this month’s elections was required to pick five candidates to sit on their respective councils. However, he added that recounts were required in five of these constituencies solely between the fifth and sixth placed candidates who received an equal number of votes.

“Effectively they were tied within these constituencies, so according to the law, the fifth and sixth placed candidates will have to be voted on again,” he said.

The ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) had previously alleged that voting was unfairly conducted by the EC in terms of favouring certain political parties and called on recounts of a second round of voting in some constituencies.

The constituencies included Haa Alifu Atoll Kela, Raa Atoll Ungoofaaru, Noonu Atoll Miladhoo, Manadhoo, Laamu Atoll Gan and Maabidhoo.”

However, Fayaz told Minivan News today that there would not be any additional voting for this month’s local council elections conducted without a court ruling.

The comments came after the High Court of the Maldives issued an injunction on the announcement of official results of Haa Alifu Atoll Kela ballot box number A05.06.01. The injunction was made after the filing of a case alleging that the EC had violated the Elections Act and the Elections Commission Act.

The High Court said that if the official results of the H.A Kela Atoll and Island Council were announced, it could violate the rights of several citizens and requested the announcement of ballots be delayed until ordered otherwise. The High Court did not reveal who filed the case in the court.

Major disruption to voting occurred on the island of approximately 2200 people, when clashes between islanders, police and election officials forced authorities to evacuate the ballot box to Hanimadhoo.

The EC has said it will respect the High Court ruling and any others made in the future.

Despite its criticism of the elections process, the MDP released a statement claiming it had calculated the popular vote in the local council elections as 44 percent MDP, 40 percent DRP, based on current available data.

The popular vote reflects the overall political preference of voters, and has not yet been released by the Elections Commission (EC). The MDP said it produced the figures based on data published by the EC on its website at the time.

Both parties declared victory and were celebrating last week after the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) won a decisive seat majority in the local council elections, while the MDP won control of major population hubs.

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High Court orders EC to delay announcing official results of Kela

The High Court of the Maldives has issued an injunction on the announcement of official results of Haa Alifu Atoll Kela ballot box number A05.06.01, after a case was filed in High Court alleging that the Elections Commission had violated the Elections Act and the Elections Commission Act.

The Court said that if the official results of the H.A Kela Atoll and Island Council were announced, it could violate the rights of several citizens and requested the announcement of ballots be delayed until the court ordered otherwise. The High Court did not reveal who filed the case in the court.

Major disruption to voting occurred on the island of approximately 2200 people, when clashes between islanders, police and election officials forced authorities to evacuate the ballot box to Hanimadhoo.

“Officials were a little slow with the voting and as result of several small hiccups, we heard that there were too many people still waiting to vote (by the 4pm deadline),” Vice President of the Elections Commission Ahmed Fayaz Hassan told Minivan News at the time.

“We said we did not mind if they stayed open until 8pm or even 10pm so that everybody could vote, but [the situation escalated]. I think one of the reasons was that the officials were not experienced in dealing with such situations,” he said.

Reports in Haveeru suggested that over 600 people may have been unable to vote after the polls closed on the island.

The ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has  alleged that the Elections Commission violated the Elections Act and was  unfair and one sided during the Local Councils Elections.

The party also said it was requesting that the Elections Commission hold elections in Kela for a second time.

Local newspaper Miadhu quoted President of the Elections Commission Fuad Thaufeeq saying that the final results of all the Atoll Councils and Island Councils except for H.A Kela Atoll and Island Council will be announced today. Miadhu reported Thaufeeq as saying that the Commission will follow the court’s order and hold elections again anywhere it was asked to do so.

Thaufeeq and Fayaz were not responding to Minivan News at time of press. Staff at the Kela island office said they did not want to comment on the matter.

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Elections Commission recounting 15 constituencies

The Elections Commission is recounting the ballots for 15 constituences after opening the boxes yesterday in the presence of journalists and concerned candidates. The EC on Thursday began a clarification count of the ballots from Sri Lanka.

Areas being checked include: Dhaandhoo council, Kibindhoo constituency, Mundoo council, Villi-Maafannu constituency, Kaafu atoll Maafushi council, Laamu atoll Gan council, Gemanafushi constituency, Dhaandhoo constituency, Hebandhoo council, Naifaru council, Maaungoodhoo council, Thulusdhoo constituency, Maamingili constituency, Hulhu-Meedhoo constituency, Mid-Henveiru constituency

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Elections Commission removes ineligible council candidates from ballot

The Elections Commission has taken action to remove 29 candidates planning to stand in today’s local council elections following a Supreme Court ruling on their eligibility.

Haveeru reported that the decision was taken yesterday to cancel the candidates’ standing in the elections, but 11 of the names would still be appearing on ballot papers.

According to the report, polling station heads will strike out the invalidated names in the presence of each voter.

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MDP condemns Elections Commission over Addu City Council cancellation

The ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has condemned the Elections Commission “in strongest possible terms” for canceling the Addu City council election.

The Elections Commission announced that the Addu City Council election was canceled after the Civil Court invalidated the criteria established by the Local Government Authority to determine cities.

The Local Government Authority was established when the Civil Court recently ruled that president does not have the authority to declare Addu as a city before a Local Government Authority was established, and before the Authority determines whether Addu meets the requirements to be a city.

”In the public referendum held, Addu citizens in Maradhu area have already decided that they want to hold the Addu City Council elections,” said MDP’s Maradhoo branch in a statement. ”The citizens of this area were extremely concerned when Elections Commission announced that Addu City Council elections were canceled.”

MDP Maradhu referred to article 4 of the constitution which states that all powers of the state are derived from the citizens and remain with the citizens.

”We are very concerned, disappointed and condemn this in strongest possible terms for the state institute has disregarded the decision of the citizens,” said the statement.

Many Addu citizens believe the development of Addu is linked to the establishment of Addu City.

”As a result, we call on everyone not attempt to work against Addu City council elections and remember that the people of this area are willing to sacrifice anything to come out against those who work to obstruct this,” said the MDP.

Vice President of the Elections Commission Ahmed Fayaz Hassan said that all members of the commission were working according to the constitution and laws.

”We have taken an oath that we will follow the laws and the constitution, and we are keeping our work to the constitution and laws,” he said, adding that he had no further comment on the issue.

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Protesters bar entry to courts after Civil Court’s Addu ruling

Protesters temporarily barred entry to the Justice Building of the Maldives last night, in response to the Civil Court’s ruling that the Addu city criteria were invalid, forcing the Elections Commission (EC) to cancel the local council election in Addu this Saturday.

Today the Department of Judicial Administration said that the court of Hulhudhoo in Addu Atoll was also locked this morning, and had to be opened with the assistance of police.

Local radio station SunFM reported Alhan Fahmy, a Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP in Addu Atoll, as saying that he ”would not let courts in Addu to be opened.”

Fahmy was present at protests in Addu, SunFM reported, as Adduans expressed fury over the Civil Court ruling.

The Judicial Administration Department meanwhile said that it had requested additional security from police following media reports of further protests.

The department said it had informed police to provide security to magistrates, judges and courts and to investigate the attempts to obstruct the work of the courts.

Civil Court Judges Aisha Shujoon Mohamed, Hathif Hilmy and Ali Naseer examined the case, which was filed by Hassan Nasir of Annaaru Villa/Addu Atoll Hulhudhoo.

The Court ruled that the criteria established by the Local Government Authority – consisting solely of Home Minister Hassan Afeef – were invalid.

Establishing the criteria required majority of the board, the Court said, as “if a law requires a certain decision to be taken by a particular council or a committee, the decision should be taken by the majority of the council or the committee unless interpreted otherwise.”

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Addu election canceled after Civil Court rules Addu city criteria invalid

The Civil Court has ruled that the government’s criteria to declare Addu a city are invalid, days before the local council elections are due to take place.

Yesterday evening the decision led the Election Commission to cancel the elections in Addu.

Local newspaper Haveeru reported that Civil Court Judges Aisha Shujoon Mohamed, Hathif Hilmy and Ali Naseer had examined the case, before ruling that the criteria established by the Local Government Authority – consisting solely of Home Minister Hassan Afeef – were invalid. According to court documents cited by Haveeru, this ruling came from a case filed by Hassan Nasir of Annaaru Villa/Addu Atoll Hulhudhoo.

Establishing the criteria required majority of the board, the Court said, as “if a law requires a certain decision to be taken by a particular council or a committee, the decision should be taken by the majority of the council or the committee unless interpreted otherwise.”

Afeef said he was unable to comment as he had not yet seen the Civil Court’s ruling.

The Civil Court first overturned the President’s declaration of Addu as city last month, citing the technicality that the criteria to establish the definition of a city had not been established as required by the Local Government Authority.

That case was filed by the minority opposition party Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP), and strong feelings on the subject among Addu citizens in Male’ and Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) supporters led to protests outside the house of DQP Leader Hassan Saeed – himself a prominent Adduan.

In response, President Nasheed appointed Afeef to then-empty Local Government Authority – leaving other positions empty – who hastily published city criteria in the government gazette.

The criteria stated that a region would be considered a city if it had a minimum population of 25,000 people and a GDP of no less than Rf 1 billion. The GDP of Addu in 2010 was more than Rf 2 billion, while the population is almost 30,000, according to the Department of National Planning.

The President then declared Addu a city for the second time, even as the Elections Commission (EC) warned that it could be obligated to repeat the voter registration process in Addu, potentially delaying the local council elections in Addu by two weeks. The EC subsequently decided to continue with the election on February 5, on correction of the procedure.

Minivan News sought response from the Attorney General Dr Ahmed Ali Sawad, but had not received any at time of press.

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No delay for Addu City Council elections, says Elections Commission

The Elections Commission has announced that it has decided to hold Addu City Council elections on February 5 along with the Local Council Elections for all other islands, after expressing concern last week that the Civil Court’s overturning of the President’s declaration would have delayed it by two weeks.

President Nasheed last week declared Addu a city for the second time, after the Civil Court ruled in favour of the Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP) that his first declaration was invalid due to a procedural issue.

The court ruled that the Local Government Authority (LGA) – currently consisting solely of Home Minister Hassan Afeef – had not determined the criteria for a city. The LGA published the criteria in the government gazette and the President declared Addu a city for the second time, however the EC warned last week that this obliged it to repeat the voter registration procedure for Addu.

“The Commission has decided to go ahead with the elections [for Addu] because the President announced that he competed the incomplete procedure on January 10,’’ said the Commission. “According to the law, the the City Council elections can be held in Addu.’’

The Civil Court case was originally filed by Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP) deputy leader Imad Solih, sparking hundreds of Adduans and activists to protest outside the home of DQP leader Dr Hassan Saeed – himself a prominent Adduan.

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