India finds itself in a delicate situation yet again vis-à-vis the domestic politics of the Maldives, with former President Mohamed Nasheed seeking refuge in the Indian mission in Male in order to avoid detention following the arrest warrant issued against him. Mr Nasheed is a candidate for the presidential elections slated to be held in the Indian Ocean archipelago on September 13 this year. He is said to be avoiding arrest as he faces debarment from contesting the presidential polls if found guilty in the case for which an arrest warrant has been issued against him. His arrest has prompted India to get in touch with the Maldivian government in a bid to resolve the situation. New Delhi has told Male that preventing the participation of political leaders in the contest would “call into question the integrity of the electoral process, thereby perpetuating the current political instability in Maldives”. In a statement issued here on Wednesday, external affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said: “A close and friendly neighbour, India has expressed concern over the ongoing political instability in Maldives and called upon the government and all political parties to adhere strictly to democratic principles and the rule of law, thereby paving the way for free, fair, credible and inclusive elections.” He said with the announcement of September 7 as the date for presidential elections in the Maldives, it was necessary that the presidential nominees of recognised political parties are free to participate in the elections without any hindrance. He said hindering the participation of political leaders was not in the interest of Maldives or the region. India also called upon the archipelago’s government and all political parties “to avoid any actions that would vitiate the political atmosphere in the Maldives”. The former President had walked into the Indian high commission ahead of a hearing scheduled for Wednesday in a Maldivian court in a case concerning the detention of chief judge of the criminal court, Judge Abdulla Mohamed, by him in January last year. The arrest warrant was issued against him last night for failing to turn up for the previous hearing. There was high drama outside the Indian high commission, with the riot police reportedly barricading the road outside and his supporters collecting outside. While Mr Nasheed was holed up inside the high commission, the Maldives authorities said that the police would wait outside. Imad Masood, spokesman for the country’s current President, Mohamed Waheed Hussain Manik, was quoted by agencies as saying: “If he (Nasheed) doesn’t come, then police will begin to talk to high commission officials.”
