“We should be angry, not disheartened”: Nasheed

“As we continued with [preparation for] voting, the Maldives Police Services have said no document relating to the election can leave the commission’s offices, stopping the election,” the statement read.

“The Elections Commission has carried out all preparations to hold the first round of the presidential election on 19 October 2013 as per the Supreme Court verdict no 2013/SC-C/42.

“When we are informed of the next date for the election, we will announce the election,” the EC’s statement read.

The police issued an earlier statement at 5:30am stating that they “will not support an election held in contravention of the Supreme Court verdict and guidelines.”

In a letter addressed to EC President Fuwad Thowfeek, police informed him that “when the Supreme Court has ordered state institutions to ensure compliance with [its guidelines], the police will not support an election that contravenes the guidelines delineated in the verdict as such an act contravenes the Supreme Court verdict.”

“We have assured the Elections Commission that if the Supreme Court issues a ruling stating that elections can proceed even if certain tasks in the Supreme Court verdict 2013/SC-C/42 are not completed, then the Maldives Police Services will abide by such a ruling.”

The Elections Commission (EC) at 3:30am on Saturday morning declared the election would proceed as planned, despite the Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) and Jumhoree Party (JP)’s refusal to sign the voter lists yesterday.

“The PPM and JP failed to [sign the lists]. I believe their failure to do what they should do must not stop the entire system. Just because one person fails to do their duties, refuses to do what they must do, it does not mean everyone else must stop their work, and deprive the Maldivian citizen’s of their right to vote,” Thowfeek stated, at the 3:30am briefing.

Requiring parties to signing off the new voter lists was one of the 16 guidelines imposed on the EC following the Supreme Court’s annulment of the September 7 election. Those guidelines also order the EC to hold the first round before October 20.

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) accepted and signed the new lists based on the Department of National Registration (DNR)’s records as per the Supreme Court’s request, noting that the 0.61 percent margin of error was “negligible”.

The JP and PPM could not be contacted immediately following the EC’s deadline to sign the lists on Friday, but subsequently declared unwillingness to sign without first verifying at least 10 percent of the new fingerprinted forms.

After a meeting between the EC, Home Ministry and the parties ended in a stalemate, the PPM and JP requested the Supreme Court delay the election, while the EC sought clarification from the court.

An early morning meeting between the Supreme Court judges present in the country resulted in a brief statement ordering the Elections Commission to abide by its guidelines.

Following the EC’s declaration that elections would be going ahead, the PPM issued a statement declaring the polls “unlawful”.

Minivan News has now ceased updating this news blog.

1:30am: Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) MP Ahmed Nihan has the party has held “long discussions” on how to proceed with the election, though said it had not put forward a possible date for voting to be held.

“Our only request is that the Elections Commisison (EC) hold a free and fair poll,” he said, adding that it still hoped that some number of those registered be verified through fingerprint identification.

Nihan argued that the PPM had requested that 10 percent of the registry be verified through fingerprint identification, with the JP asking for five percent.

Citing Elections Commissioner Fuwad Thowfeek and the challenges facing holding a vote, he added that it may not be possible to hold a vote by next Saturday (October 26).

“Re-registration has to be followed, there are people who could turn 18 years of age in between vote being held. We are asking for the election to be held as early as possible.
It could be held the day after tomorrow as far as we are concerned,” Nihan said.

Despite expressing that the party wished to hold an election as soon as possible, the PPM MP also said that concerns raised by the EC today of unknown individuals gaining access to the voter registry system also needed to be investigated.

01:00am: Some protesters are sleeping on Sosun Magu, whilst those still awake say they have no plans to leave.

12.25am: The Police Integrity Commission (PIC) has declared that the police had no legal mandate to intervene and stop elections this morning, local media has reported.

PIC Chief Dr Abdulla Waheed said that the commission had received a complaint into the events of this morning, being asked to investigate.

“We won’t take too long to probe the allegations,” he told Haveeru.

He did point out, however, that it was too early to comment on whether the direct responsibility lay with the police. Dr Abdulla noted that the commission could not rely merely on media reports.

12:02am: A police media official has told Minivan News that there had been no arrests made by police either in Male’ or the nearby island of Hulhumale’ as protests have continued throughout the day – with no notable clashes between protesters and its officers at time of press.

Majeedhee Magu has become quieter although some protesters remain.

12:00am Defence Minister Mohamed Nazim told local media that the government had agreed upon a new date for elections with the Elections Commission.

Nazim did not reveal the new date, however, stating that the EC would make the announcement later in the evening.

Meanwhile, EC Chair Fuwad Thowfeek told Haveeru that the election could not be held under the the Supreme Court’s guidelines and that the state must ensure an easier way.

Fuwad revealed that he had been asked by the government to hold elections before November 2, though he told state television this evening that the commission would require 21 days to amend the voter registry once again.

No official EC statement has been released as yet.

11:55pm: Hundreds of people from three islands of Addu Atoll have conducted a sit down in the area connecting Maradhoo and Feydhoo, MDP MP Ahmed Adham told Minivan News.

“After a while, PPM activists we recognise turned up alongside SO officers in full riot gear with shields,” alleged Adham. “The PPM activists started throwing stones and tried to provoke us into reacting. Then SO barged into the crowd and roughed up out protesters.”

Adham stated that six protesters were arrested and a number of others injured as the SO dispersed, though he noticed protests were continuing in multiple locations.

“The people are determined to continue protesting until we are granted our right to vote.”

11:50pm: The Maldives Police Service has urged anyone taking part in demonstrations across the country to show consideration to the wider public when conducting their protests.

“Since impeding on the rights of others while attempting to exercise one’s own constitutional rights is not the most responsible course of action, the Maldives Police Service strongly urges all demonstrators to not conduct themselves in such a way,” read an official statement posted online.

Police said that despite the peaceful manner of demonstrations, protesters should not try to adversely affect transportation either by land or sea.

“The Maldives Police Service also urges the demonstrators to always conduct themselves in ways that conform to the laws and regulations of the nation,” concluded the statement.

11.41pm: At a press conference this evening, the Jumhooree Party (JP) presented conditions for a re-vote and said the party is ready for elections on Saturday, October 26 if conditions are met, local media reports.

JP has demanded that the voter registry be sourced from the Department of National Registration’s (DNR) database and assurance from the National Center for Information Technology (NCIT) that the Elections Commission’s (EC) database is secure before and throughout the voting period.

JP is ready to approve the voter registry within a 24 hour period if the Elections Commission verified five percent of the reregistration forms via the police, allowed a three day period for candidates to raise complaints over the voter registry and addressed the complaints, CNM reported.

If a second round of elections needed to be held, they must be held before November 2 and an elected president must be sworn in at the end of the current presidential term on November 11, the JP said.

11:29pm: Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) executive Ismail Fariq has said ferry services between Male’ and Hulhumale’ had resumed at 10:45pm after temporarily being halted due to protests at its terminal on the island.

“The protest has ended. It was a peaceful protest. No damages. No arrests,” he said.

Fariq added that the company’s Hulhumale’ bus service was also expected to “resume shortly” after being suspended for several hours today owing to protests.

11:09pm: President Dr Mohamed Waheed has told media he will not remain in office past the constitutionally mandate end of his term on November 11 – even if an elected head of state is not chosen by the deadline.

Local newspaper Haveeru, citing the Associated Press news agency, said he would not be comfortable staying on as head of state once his term is finished.

“I am not comfortable to stay on. As you know I had to take a very heavy burden in carrying out the responsibilities during the last year and a half. It would be my preference that there be an elected president and it would also be my preference if in case it is not possible, some other arrangement is made,” he was quoted as saying.

President Waheed, who obtained 5.13 percent of the popular vote during the now defunct presidential election held on September 7, announced on October 12 that he would not be standing in the rerun schedule originally scheduled for today.

He then claimed there was “room for doubt” over the integrity and fairness of this year’s polls, before yesterday calling on all parties not to act in a fashion that obstructs holding of the election and to prioritise national interest over personal interest”.

11:00pm: Intermittent but heavy downpours appear not to have affected the numbers of protesters on Majeedhee Magu.

10:35pm: Appearing on state television, Elections Commissioner Fuwad Thowfeek has said that it would take a minimum of 21 days to amend the voter registry once again as voters return from their Eid holidays.

10:00pm: Around 600 protesters on the island of Gan in Laamu atoll are protesting in front of the island’s province offices, explained MDP activist Naeemahtha.

“We’ve padlocked the main gates of this building which has the council offices, bank, and the majority of other service providers in it. We will not budge and do not intend to go home until we are given the right to vote.”

“Police turned up and tried to take away the lorry playing campaign music but protesters wouldn’t give them a chance to do so. They’ve left without the lorry now and the protest is proceeding in full swing.”

9:40pm: Speaking to supporters on Majeedhee Magu shortly before 6:00 pm, Nasheed threatened to arrest President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan, Defense Minister Mohamed Nazim and Police Commissioner Abdulla Riyaz. He called on his supporters to continue to block Majeedhee Magu and shut down the city of Malé.

9:25pm: Minivan News has learned that all food being booked for the protesters up and down Majeedhee Magu has been donated by local shopkeepers and residents.

Protesters have named the hotdogs being served ‘Ali Hameed sausages’ in reference to the Supreme Court who has been the subject of investigations for his alleged role in a series of sex-tapes.

One protester, aged 28, shared her distress at the election delay with Minivan News:

“I’m lost, I don’t think we can trust these coup leaders – this is such a mess.”

9:18pm: Mohamed Haisham, a protester gathered at the Hulhumale’ ferry terminal this evening, has said that boat services from the island had been brought to a stop as part of ongoing peaceful action planned until a new election date is agreed.

Haisham said that around 200 people had gathered at the terminal this evening in order to bring internal transport to a stop in order to raise concerns over the delay to elections.

He claimed that a large majority of those protesting at the terminal and main roads across the island were young people aged between 18 and 35.

Haisham added that police had meanwhile been “very cooperative” with the ongoing protests.

“The police don’t have control here. They have agreed to let us protest as long as we don’t damage property,” he said.

Protesters this evening said they intended to continue their actions tomorrow (October 20) morning as part of efforts to try and shut down government offices.

9:05pm: The MDP’s peaceful protests continue along Majeedhee Magu, with groups still blocking the road’s major intersections. Small groups are sitting, playing cards, smoking sheesha, and cooking food. Live music is expected to start shortly.

9:00pm:

8:55pm: The Indian Ministry of External Affairs released a statement earlier today, expressing its disappointment that the election was not held as scheduled today.

8:46pm: Police have confirmed that officers are present at the Hulhumale’ ferry terminal where protests are ongoing. A police media official said no arrests had been made at the terminal, with protests continuing peacefully at present. Ferry operator the MTCC has meanwhile confirmed that it will discontinuing boat services to Male’ form the island this evening as a result of protests.
8:20pm: Speaking on local television a short time ago, Male’ City Council stated that it would stop services until the people’s “fundamental right to vote, a right we get every five years” is assured. Male’ City Mayor ‘Maizan’ Ali Manik said that, whilst mosques would be looked after, services such as waste management, issuing building and birth certificates would be stopped.

The council’s declaration – supported by eight of its 11 members – condemned the delay in the election and supported the MDP’s ongoing protests on the streets of Male’.

“I am telling you our council will not function until we have a date for an election and the election is conducted,” said Manik.

8:15pm: Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) executive Ismail Fariq said that protesters had begun to gather near to the ferry terminal building on Hulhumale’, but services were continuing at present. The company added that it discontinued its bus services on Hulhumale’ earlier due to a situation it said was not accommodating to operate under.

8:11pm: Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) executive Ismail Fariq has said that the company was aware of proposals for strike action this evening on some of its ferry services between Male’ and the islands of Hulhumale’ and Villimale’. However, Fariq said he did not believe there would be any service interruptions or cancellations at present. “We don’t know how the situation will unfold. We will not compromise any loss to our assets or staff,” he said.

The MTCC also operates a high speed boat service to Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (INIA), but does not operate standard ferries.

7:55pm: Secretary General of the Tourism Employees Association of the Maldives (TEAM) Mauroof Zakir has said no decision has so far been taken by its members to hold imminent strikes on any of the country’s resort properties. He said that TEAM had been receiving calls from its members expressing an interest in holding “peaceful gatherings” at resorts to highlight concerns over delays to the election. T

EAM last month announced it had committed its 5000 members to “prolonged” strike action should the election be delayed.

7:52pm: Elections Commissioner Fuwad Thowfeek and EC Deputy Ahmed Fayaz have met President Mohamed Waheed, Acting Home Minister Ahmed Shafeeu, Attorney General Azima Shukoor and Defence Minister Mohamed Nazim.

Thowfeek confirmed to Minivan News that Nazim had been appointed the government’s focal point for anything election-related. The Elections officials were pressed during the meeting to give a date for another attempt at the election, but said they would need to discuss this with the other EC members. EC members will be holding a meeting at 8:00pm to decide how to proceed.

7:06pm: MDP supporters are calling friends and telling them to come to Majeedhee Magu with food tonight, to participate in the ongoing sit-down protest in the capital.

7:00pm: Hulhumalé resident Mohamed Haisham has said protesters have blocked the road to the airport and main streets in Hulhumale, preventing buses from travelling.

6:53pm: The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has confirmed the appointment of Defence Minister Mohamed Nazim as the government’s representative to the Elections Commission (EC), but has said denied the military will be taking a direct role in the electoral process.

MNDF Spokesperson Colonel Abdul Raheem confirmed that the military would not be taking an any additional role concerning the functioning of the EC. Defence Minister Nazim was not responding to requests for information at time of press.

6:09pm: Police have confirmed that they had consulted both the President’s Office and Attorney General Azima Shukoor ahead of taking their decision to physically obstruct polling scheduled for this morning. A police media official confirmed that no consultation was held with the Prosecutor General’s Office on whether to cancel polling. Several legal experts including senior figures serving under both the current and present governments have told Minivan News today that the Maldives Police Service had no legal mandate to prevent elections from happening today in the absence of a direct court order. Meanwhile, the Commonwealth Observer Group here to oversee election conduct earlier today issued a statement distancing itself from comments made by police alleging it had provided advice on delaying polls. Police also retracted the claim.

5:52pm: Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma had said he is “extremely concerned by the further stalling of the democratic process in Maldives, following the stopping this morning of the scheduled 19 October presidential election.” The latest development follows the postponement by the Maldivian Supreme Court of the second round of the election scheduled for 28 September and the subsequent annulment of the 7 September first round election. The Secretary-General noted that the continuing delay was “of deep concern, given that the term of the current government will expire on 11 November 2013.” Mr Sharma said:

The Secretary-General said he would continue to monitor developments very closely in the coming days, given the fundamental importance of democratic values to the Commonwealth.

5:48pm: Haveeru reports that Defence Minister Mohamed Nazim has been appointed the government’s representative for the elections. Nazim reportedly said he had negotiated a date with the Elections Commission to hold polls and was inviting presidential candidates to meet him this evening. “The Elections commission will announce a date later tonight,” Nazim said. Minivan News is seeking to confirm this with the Elections Commission.

5:40pm: The NGO Federation has issued a statement “condemning in strongest terms” the actions of police preventing the elections from taking place as scheduled.

5:30pm:Police attempts to drive through the intersection failed after near 10 minutes after protesters surrounded the vehicle, forcing it to back up and detour. “You can’t have your way all the time, baghees (traitors),” said one protester.

“This is my country too. Ride over us if you dare, or back away,” said another. “You trampled our votes. Let ‘s see if you’ll dare run over us,” said a third.

5:33pm: DRP MP Ali Azim at the sit down protest urged the public: “Don’t go out to work. Call your family and friends, tell them to stop work.” Meanwhile, a barbecue appears to be underway in the intersection.

5:27pm: A 34 year-old man at the sit down protest said: “We sitting in joles (traditional Maldivian seat) and blocking the road as there are no more rules according to the police. We can do anything we want now according to them.” A 29 year-old protester added sarcastically, “We are all gathering here because the Commonwealth told us to.”

5:24pm: Small numbers of people are obstructing nearly every junction on the main road of Majeedhee Magu, with tables, vehicles and tarpaulins with people sitting. The majority remain concentrated near city hall.

5:15pm: 33 year-old artist Ahmed Khalid at the sit down protested said: “I am embarrassed by the Supreme Court. The police are in control of this country. This is a coup. We want the Majlis members to get us our right to vote. There is no hope, but we will keep trying.”

5:00pm: Male is becoming difficult to travel around with police and military blocking are area around Republic Square, Supreme Court and the President’s Office, while the MDP blocks a key junction on the main road Majeedhee Magu. Protesters have cordoned off the streets with human chains, yellow cords, vehicles including motor bikes and trucks. Protesters are slowly blocking more junctions, in an apparent attempt to close down all of Majeedhee Magu.

4:40pm: Smaller crowd on Sosun Magu – around 40 people – staging similar sit-down protest blocking traffic. Signs held my protesters read ‘Where is the voice of the citizens?’, ‘Yameen is a bodu gunda [‘big thug’]’, and ‘hurry up the election’.

4:20pm: Crowd on Majeedhee Magu, now thousands strong, is said to be growing by the minute.

4:10pm: Supporters of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) have begun to gather on Majeedhee Magu – Male’s main thoroughfare. After laying down tarpaulins, people have begun to set up tables and chairs in the middle of the street. Whilst some are playing cards, presidential candidate Mohamed Nasheed and Speaker of the Majlis Abdulla Shahid sat sipping tea and eating hedika.

3:40pm: President Dr Mohamed Waheed has asked for presidential elections to be held on Saturday 26 October 2013. The President’s Office has said Waheed is concerned about the delay in holding election as planned. The President’s Office has also said the President wants a free and peaceful election with the participation of all candidates. “The President calls on the Elections Commission to hold discussions with all candidates to find a way to hold the presidential election on Saturday, October 26. The President urges all candidates and their political parties to find a solution to election disputes,” read the statement.

3:30pm: The Police Integrity Commission has commenced an investigation into police obstruction of polls. Speaking to local media CNM, PIC President Dr Abdulla Waheed said he believed if the police did indeed obstruct polls, then it was outside their mandate. However, he could only speak further after an investigation. The EC had released a statement this morning accusing police of overstepping their mandate and unlawfully halting the first round of presidential polls. The EC urged an investigation into “the unlawful use of police powers and acting in contravention to the spirit and purpose of police laws.”

3:20pm: Speaker of the House Abdulla Shahid has released a statement to the media.

3:10pm: MDP have released a statement:

2:40pm: Around 30 protesters, gathered outside of the People’s Majlis, refused to move when asked to by police. “Who made you the voice of authority to decide all we do? You can’t tell us where to sit,” protesters told the police. “You stole our vote, we won’t let you take away everything else including our freedom”. “I am here to ask for our constitutional right to vote,” said Hassan Shah in his early thirties, refusing to budge as a policeman prods him from behind asking him to leave the area. “This country is ridiculous. There is no rule of law, there is nothing but tyranny: by the police, by an unelected coup president, by the corrupt judiciary and every other principleless person or institute. Its time we refused to budge. I want my right to vote,” said Ahmed Amir, 29.

2:35pm: The MDP have cancelled the scheduled meeting of their National Council. They had been due to meet at 2:30pm.

2:30pm: Statement released by the UK Foreign Secretary William Hague:

1:57pm: Mohamed Shafaz Wajeeh, an Attorney-at-Law for the Maldives-based Praxis Law Firm, today stressed that police could only be mandated to take action to prevent an election under a direct court order. Police today confirmed that it took the decision on its own initiative after consultations with state authorities. Shafaz took the example of a dispute where a court orders that a tenant be evicted from a property for not paying rent as agreed to a landlord. He argued that in a case where a tenant still refused to move from a property after the eviction notice is ordered, police would not be able to intervene until given a direct court order to do so. According to Shifaz, while police noted that the Supreme Court’s 16 point guideline did require that representatives of all three contesting candidates sign the amended voter registry before polling, no order or role has been so far provided to police to prevent voting today. “It is constitutionally guaranteed that a person or body is not prevented from performing the duties they are charged with unless mandated by a court,” he said.

1:50pm: Transparency Maldives has issued a press release expressing concern over the additional delay of polls, as well as the failure to set a new date for elections. “While the Constitutional deadlines for conducting the election have already been breached, we urge setting a new date immediately to ensure there is a democratically elected President by November 11, 2013.”

Highlighting the separation of powers inherent in the constitution, Transparency has called upon all actors to refrain from obstructing the Elections Commission’s independence and mandate.

“Transparency Maldives reiterates that its extensive and systematic observation of the September 7 elections found no evidence of systematic fraud and no such evidence has so far been made public,” continued the statement. “Transparency Maldives also believes that for long-term national interest and democratic consolidation, the Presidential Election must ensure the participation of all political actors and parties,” the release concluded.

1:45pm: HRCM Member Jeehan Mamdhooh added that the police in a democratic system are only allowed to assist in election related matters to the extent and in the manner requested by the EC. “The SC’s 16 point guideline clearly mentions in each separate point if the involvement of any institution besides the EC is needed for that specific task. Point number 5 [about the candidates signatures on the voter list] which the police stated as their justification today, does not ask for the involvement of any institution besides the EC in this task,” Jeehan stated.

“It is for a reason that police are given such a narrow role in the electoral proceedings of a democratic system. They are under the authority of some branch of the state, which brings down the confidence of their involvement not compromising the independence of the electoral process. For example, they are directly under the executive in the Maldives,” she continued.

“Point one of the Supreme Court’s 16 point guideline orders all institutions to provide cooperation to hold an election before October 20th. And yet, today Police had obstructed EC and brought the election to a halt. Even if there are concerns, the Elections Commission is the authority mandated by the Constitution of Maldives to stop an election if there is a need for it”.

“HRCM does not believe that the police have any mandate to interfere with the electoral process in this manner, and feel they have acted outside of their mandate in obstructing elections”.

1:40pm: “The SC guidelines do not give the police any space to act against democratic norms. Yes, the right to vote must be ensured for all citizens and we are too are working to achieve this. However, using this as a justification, police cannot obstruct the work of the EC. All us institutions must work within our margins. We cannot accept the police’s actions to halt elections,” continued HRCM Vice President Ahmed Tholal.

“I agree that there are some limitations faced after the SC regulations were issued. It didn’t provide much time for election preparation, which cut down the time that can be assigned for list verification. What I am saying is however, that there is a major difference between candidates or their representatives raising concerns about this matter, and the police forcing elections to be brought to a halt.”

“If the police were concerned as they predicted unrest in the country, they had the option of strengthening security operations. Hypothetically, if police think any certain court verdict may cause discord or disagreement in public, can they go in to court and order the verdict to be changed as they see fit? No. Similarly, the constitution does not allow them to inhibit the holding of an election”.

1:30pm: The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) has condemned the Maldives Police Services actions to obstruct the Elections Commission from conducting presidential elections on Saturday, stating that police were acting outside their mandate. In a live appearance on state TV on Saturday afternoon, HRCM Vice President Ahmed Tholal stated, “With this act, they have undermined people’s right to vote. In a democratic system, obstructing the right to vote, especially when done by the police, sets a dangerous precedent”. “The Supreme Court’s guideline is in alignment with the Constitution and laws. I do not believe the Police has any authority to halt election, not even under this guideline. If, as the police say, the concern is that holding elections may cause some form of unrest in the country, it is again the EC’s responsibility to consider that,” Tholal said. “I accept that there are concerns. The HRCM have also received just over 300 complaints regarding reregistration which we are looking into it. It is within the democratic system for the EC to be mandated to look into this, and for political parties to raise concerns about this,” he continued.

1:20pm: “The failure to hold elections this morning represents a real threat to democracy in Maldives,” an official from the United Embassy in Colombo told the Foreign Correspondents’ Association of Sri Lanka. 1:10pm: Alistair Burt, former minister at the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office has tweeted his thoughts on the current Maldives crisis.

1:06pm: The same legal source has told Minivan News that it was unclear under what grounds police cancelled today’s election, adding that the Supreme Court’s conflicting guidelines requiring an election by hold by tomorrow (October 20) were “confusing”.

While several candidates have sought Supreme Court intervention to prevent polling without their signatures on the voter registry, the legal source said that the guidelines effectively allowed an individual to hold up the electoral process, potentially on unreasonable grounds, without providing alternatives in the case of a stand-off.

“The guidelines don’t say anything about what happens if a candidate refuses to sign the voter registry say for up to six months,  in that case we will not be having an election,” claimed the senior legal figure.

“Everyone must try and reasonably ensure that each of the guidelines are met.”

The legal figure also expressed concern over prioritising one guideline in the Supreme Court ruling over another, adding that the country’s apex court had also requested that the rerun of September 7’s cancelled poll be held by October 20 at the latest.

12:55pm: A senior legal source, who has served under both the present and former governments, has today questioned the mandate of police to decide upon cancelling the election, arguing there is no Supreme Court order providing them with the powers to do so.

“Having read the Supreme Court decision, there is nothing in the guidelines to say police can take preventative action [against holding the election],” said the source.

The legal figure, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the only guideline outlining roles for the police was in them transporting ballot boxes and equipment for polling.

12:30pm: Police release a statement clarifying the Commonwealth’s role in the decision to halt the election:

“Further to the press conference held by the Maldives Police Service on the morning of 19 October 2013, the Maldives Police Service would like to clarify that at no point did the technical adviser from the Commonwealth or any one from the Commonwealth Observer Group advise the Police to take actions to prevent the election from taking place.”

12:08pm: The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) will hold a meeting of its National Council at 2:30pm.

11:34am: The Commonwealth Observer Group has issued a statement distancing itself from comments made during the police press conference this morning.

11:30am: Chief Superintendent Abdulla Nawaz told a press conference that police had “made this decision  ourselves” after seeking advice from President Waheed, Attorney General Azima Shukoor, the police national security council, and Acting Home Minister Ahmed Shafeeu.

“The police have taken a stand to not provide cooperation to the EC as the 16 point guideline issued by SC is not being completely followed,” he said.

Asked if the Commonwealth’s advisor had agreed with the police stance to not cooperate with EC, Nawaz declined to answer, saying that was a national security matter. The Commonwealth’s observer group have disputed giving any advice, labelling this as “incorrect” and “damaging”.

Asked whose orders the police were following, Chief Superintendent Nawaz stated that “we are speaking of advice here. Not orders. Based on advice, police ourselves made this decision.”

“Since police do not only concentrate on elections alone, we are also considering the consequences that may arise from letting the election proceed in breach of the law and SC order. We considered any unrest that may occur in the country as a result of letting the election proceed,” he said.