UK’s Conservative Party Chairman Fiona Bruce calls out to boycott Maldivian resorts which are owned or having shares from government executives، over the civil unrest boosted by former President Mohamed Nasheed being tried at court for terrorism charges.
UK Conservative Party MP Fiona Bruce، expressed “grave concern” over the “mistreatment of Mohamed Nasheed، former President of the Maldives، who was arrested on 22 February and is currently on trial on terrorism charges.”
Furthermore، the statement released read، quoting;
“Mohamed Nasheed is a champion of non-violent، peaceful democracy. Charging him with terrorism is in itself absurd، and blatantly politically-motivated. Furthermore، I am deeply concerned that he has been physically mistreated while in custody. The images of him being dragged along the ground into court were truly shocking. The conduct of his trial is a travesty. He has been denied legal representation، denied his right to appeal، his witnesses have been rejected before they were heard; meanwhile judges have become witnesses for the prosecution، other witnesses have been led by the judges or coached by the police، and any semblance of a fair trial has disappeared. Many of Mr Nasheed’s colleagues and supporters have also been arrested. Today I urge the Government of the Maldives to drop the charges، release Mr Nasheed and engage in a political dialogue to find a peaceful way forward towards the restoration of democracy and respect for human rights.”
The statement had discussed regarding the visit of Conservative Party Human Rights Commission visit back in 2006، while former President was held under house arrest. During that time، the Commission had published a report on the reform process of Maldives as well.
Furthermore، the statement highlighted that former President Mohamed Nasheed is “accused of “kidnapping” the Chief Judge of the Criminal Court Abdulla Mohamed in 2012، an allegation which precipitated the coup.” Asserting that Nasheed had argued Chief Justice Abdulla Mohamed for misusing his authority and being politically bias، while he had acquitted “political figures” associated to the then ruling regime.
Fiona’s statement had also emphasized that if Nasheed was to be prosecuted for the alleged terrorism charges، for which he will face a 15 year jail sentence if proven guilty by court verdict، thus he will be unable to run for presidency in 2018.
The statement was further backed by John Glen، Member of Parliament for Salisbury، supporting Fiona’s urge for release of former President Mohamed Nasheed. The statement further read;
“From 2006 until 2012، there were real signs of hope in the Maldives. Since 2012، we have seen democracy destroyed، the constitution ripped up and the rule of law left in tatters. In Mr Nasheed’s trial the prosecutor-general is a former associate of Judge Mohamed، and the lead judge had refused to take disciplinary action against Judge Mohamed as deputy head of the Judicial Services Commission. Another judge faces allegations of bribery and the third has a criminal record. What hope can there possibly be of a fair trial? This is a grotesque travesty of justice.”
She had also requested the international community to take necessary actions، and also raise their concern in proper ways against “such gross injustice”. While she called out to boycott the tourism resorts and businesses owned by senior government executives.