India’s call for “inclusive” elections in Maldives, in the wake of ex- president Mohamed Nasheed taking shelter at the Indian mission was echoed by the international community.
The United Nations, United States and United Kingdom have all issued statements calling for “inclusive elections,” a veiled warning against efforts to bar Nasheed from the elections in September.“We urge that the Presidential elections scheduled for September 7, 2013 be free, , credible, transparent and inclusive.
“The integrity of and public confidence in the Maldivian electoral process must be maintained. Accordingly, we note that all parties participating in these elections should be able to put forward the candidate of their choice,” said US State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland.
India had on Tuesday issued a strong statement stating that all presidential nominees should be allowed to contest polls, echoing Nasheed’s fear that the court case against him had been brought to stop him from contesting.
There was a negative reaction from sections of the Maldivian government, which felt that it was a comment on the country’s judiciary, Election Commission and the prosecutors.