Maldives blocks Nasheed's meeting with lawyers
Member of Nasheed's legal team Hassan Latheef said the Maldives Correctional Service had informed the team that the scheduled meeting with their client later Monday afternoon has been cancelled. "We've been informed that the meetings have been cancelled indefinitely. They didn't even give us a reason," Hassan said. Correctional service spokesperson said Monday's sit-down was cancelled as "the situation at the prison today [Monday] did not allow for the meeting." "Only today's meeting has been cancelled thus far," Moosa Rameez said. The cancellation of the scheduled meeting, however, came after Home Minister Umar Naseer accused the ex-president of "spitting" a prison official in the face. "PNasheed today spat on the face of a civilian working for the prison. I condemn this and urge PN to respect the dignity of our staff," Umar had said on Twitter. Meanwhile, the deadlock on allowing Nasheed to seek medical treatment abroad continued Monday. Nasheed had sought permission to go abroad for a surgery on his back, but Correctional Service had repeatedly denied the request insisting that the microdiscectomy surgery could be done in the Maldives. However, in an apparent U-turn, foreign ministry announced on twitter Saturday the government had granted permission to Nasheed to travel to UK to undergo surgery, at his request. He was expected to leave to the UK Sunday evening. But the apparent deal between the two sides reached a deadlock late Sunday after the government ordered a declaration be signed by the family before allowing Nasheed to leave. The ex-president's lawyers had told reporters that Nasheed would not travel abroad on Sunday over the declaration. According to lawyer Hisaan Hussain, the declaration prompts a member of Nasheed's family to take liability for him while abroad. "The declaration prevents the family member who signs the document from travelling out of Male without prior consent of the Maldives Correctional Service," she said. However, Umar had told Haveeru that authorities would not pursue charges against the signatory of the declaration. "It is for example, the person we inform in case something happens to Nasheed. For example, it's the person who communicates with the authorities over extending Nasheed's medical leave or for the authorities to inquire about his medical condition. In truth he or she is the point of contact. The state is responsible for all inmates. So once they leave abroad for medical treatment we transfer the guardianship of the inmate to a family member," Umar said explaining the responsibility of the signatory of the declaration. The minister insisted that Nasheed would be solely responsible if he does not return to Maldives after the treatment. "If Nasheed flees, he alone would face charges. And not the person who signs the form," he added. He also insisted that Nasheed would not be allowed to travel until a family member signs the declaration reiterating that it was part of normal procedure and stressed that it was mandatory for all inmates. "This is not holding someone hostage. It's appointing a guardian until the inmate returns to Maldives," he explained. Government’s U-turn on Nasheed came in the wake of visits by the Indian foreign secretary and two senior Sri Lankan ministers which also coincides with a visit by the Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of UK Hugo Swire who arrived earlier Sunday. Indian foreign secretary Jaishankar arrived in Maldives Monday afternoon on a one-day official visit as a special envoy of the Indian prime minister. President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom briefed Jaishankar on the political developments in the Maldives and secured the regional superpower's backing in domestic and international affairs. Sri Lankan foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera and finance minister Ravi Karunanayake arrived in Maldives Wednesday evening on an official visit. The government has come under pressure as Maldives' international partners’ calls for Nasheed’s release echoed louder after a UN panel ruled that Nasheed's detention was arbitrary. The international criticism and the UN panel ruling in September were, however, rejected by the government. Nasheed was sentenced to 13 years in prison in March for ordering the arbitrary detention of chief criminal judge Abdulla Mohamed during his presidency. The former president had filed for appeal his prison sentence after backtracking on his decision to not appeal his sentence by opting to go to the Supreme Court instead. In his appeal, Nasheed had sought a lesser penalty under the new penal code that came into effect in November. The Supreme Court had also been asked to nullify the charges lodged against him in the lower court and the subsequent sentence.
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