Polling for presidential election re-run cancelled

Police press briefing: Superintendent of Police Abdulla Navaz said the police decided to cease support to the Elections Commission because the commission had not fulfilled the Supreme Court guidelines. The decision was made after consultations with the President Dr Mohamed Waheed, Acting Minister of Home Affairs, the Attorney General, the National Security Council and other relevant institutions, Navaz said. He said that the police had helped the commission to transport ballot papers and elections officials to ballot stations, and had provided support until the very last minute. Navaz said that police made the decision after giving careful thought to the instability that might ensue if the election was conducted against the Supreme Court guideline.

The re-run of the presidential election scheduled for today, Saturday, has been cancelled after the Elections Commission accused the police of having obstructed the commission’s efforts to conduct the election. Announcing the cancellation at a press conference this morning, Elections Commission president Fuad Thaufeeq said the commission was forced to cancel the election after the police obstructed the commission staff from transporting the election material out of the commission’s headquarters. Fuad said that the elections staff had gathered in Dharubaaruge at 5:30 a.m. this morning, prepared to carry on with the election. He said that the commission was been able to transport ballot papers and set up ballot stations in some island in the atolls, and some countries abroad. “We have made preparations to conduct the election according to the Supreme Court verdict. But we had to cancel the election today, and this a great loss. We will propose to the Supreme Court and relevant authorities to hold the election again,” Fuad said. Criticizing the police, Fuad said that the commission now feels that the police are their “boss,” as they no longer have authority to make decisions regarding the election. “The Supreme Court verdict stated that the security services must provide support for the election. But today we saw the police obstruct the election. We cant even take a pencil out of this building without the polices’ permission,” Fuad said. He said that a minimum of 21 days will be needed to make preparations for new elections and that all voters who had registered for today’s election have to register again. “All our efforts are wasted. This is very disheartening.” “But this has become a plaything. I don’t think our staff will also have the same determination as before,” Fuad said. He said that a total of MVR 70 million has been spent to make preparations for three different presidential elections efforts this year. Jumhoory Party earlier today called on supporters to not participate in the election, which they described as unlawful. Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) also accused the Elections Commission of violating the Supreme Court guidelines. The guideline requires the voters’ list to be signed and endorsed by the candidates. Both PPM and JP have accused the commission of not allowing enough time for them to check the final voters’ list for irregularities. The first round was initially held on 7 September, but the Supreme Court annulled the result on 7th October, after citing irregularities in over 5,000 votes. Fuad Thaufeeq said that the Supreme Court’s intention of having the voters’ list endorsed by the candidates is to ensure that the lists are original, that they have not been tampered.

Abdulla Jameel: Fuad Thaufeeq said he will not resign as long as his health permits and that he will go forward with renewed determination.

Fuad said that after the events that unfolded today, the police now has the power to allow, or deny, the elections commission to continue the election effort. He said that a minimum of three weeks, or 21 days will be needed to make new arrangements to hold the election again.

Abdulla Jameel: Fuad Thaufeeq has said in the Elections Commission’s ongoing press conference that the commission does not have the freedom to continue the election effort.

The rerun of the presidential election scheduled for today (Saturday) has been cancelled. This has been confirmed to Sun by the Elections Commission president Fuad Thaufeeq. He said that the police have barred the commission from transporting any equipment out of the Elections Commission headquarters. Fuad said that the matter will be taken to the Supreme Court. Police have stated that they will not support the transport of any equipment out of the Elections Commission headquarters, an effort, they say, is against the Supreme Court guideline.

PPM has stated that they will not accept any election held against the Supreme Court guidelines.

Police Press Release Maldives Police Service has stated that they obey any order by the Supreme Court stating that to forego a one point in the Supreme Court guideline. The statement follows refusal from the police to transport the elections officials and ballot papers to polling stations on police speed boats. The police stated in a press release this morning that any effort to hold the election against the guidelines given by the Supreme Court, a set of guidelines levied upon all relevant institutions of the state, would be to breach a Supreme Court order, and thus, the police would not support such an effort. The statement read that the police have informed Fuad Thaufeeq that the police will not support any election effort undertaken against the Supreme Court guideline.

Hussain Hassan Jumhoory Coalition has called on all its supporters to not participate in Saturday’s election, which they described as an “unlawful election.” In a press release published this morning, the party called on all parties to cease support for all election efforts and to refrain from partaking in an unlawful activity.

Fuad said that JP and PPM’s refusal to endorse the final voters’ list would cause the entire system to come to a halt.

Ahmed Azif Elections Commission has stated that they will conduct the election on Saturday regardless of whether the all the candidates endorse the final voters’ list. The commission’s vice president said that the polling will be conducted in certain stations on Saturday and that they hope to end polling by sometime tomorrow.

Fuad said that the police have refused to transport elections official and ballot papers from the time when PPM and JP filed the for an injunction in the Supreme Court asking to further postpone the election. Fuad said that the Supreme Court has replied to them in writing and that he hopes this would persuade the police to support the election effort.

In reply to the request for an injunction to postpone the Saturday election, the Supreme Court stated that their guideline, issued following the annulment of the September 7th election, clearly dictates the manner in which the election must be conducted.

Elections Commission press conference begins.

Hussain Hassan Maldives Police Service has refused to transport the election officials and ballot papers to the polling stations before all candidates endorse the final voters’ list. Police has refused to provide support for the election effort while the Election Commission had readied personnel and equipment to be dispatched, on police transport, to 6 different atolls. Police media official said moments ago that they will support any election effort carried out according to the Supreme Court guideline. When the police official was asked if they believe that the Elections Commission’s efforts contradict the Supreme Court guidelines, the official replied that he had no comment.

Police Media Maldives Police Service has stated that they will provide security for steps taken by the Elections Commission, in accordance with Supreme Court guideline.

Hussain Hassan Elections Commission has decided to send ballot papers and elections officials to polling stations regardless of whether PPM and JP sign the voters’ list. Elections Commission said that the start and end time on Saturday will depend on when the elections official arrive and settle in the polling stations.

It has been confirmed to Sun Online that a meeting is ongoing between some judges of the Supreme Court. It is not yet known if all seven judges are present at the meeting. JP and PPM have requested the Supreme Court to delay the election until all candidates have signed the voters’ list.

Mohamed Simaau from Elections Commission area: The meeting held by the Elections Commission with the representatives of the presidential candidates, to find solutions to the problems faced regarding the presidential election set for tomorrow, has been concluded. The participants did not reach at any sort of agreement. The meeting was attended by Acting Minister of Home Affairs, Ahmed Shafeeu. PPM and JP presented several complaints during the meeting. PPM representative Abdulla Ameen said that names of more than 2,000 people, whose re-registration forms were submitted by PPM, had not been included on the list. He said that PPM wants to verify the fingerprints on 10 percent of the re-registration forms. JP said that they want to verify the fingerprints on 5 percent of the forms. MDP representative who attended the meeting, former Youth Minister Hassan Latheef said that since the Department of National Registration (DNR) has signed the list, there are no grounds to create doubts about the validity of the list. Latheef said that the two parties are trying to ‘hijack’ the election.

JP and PPM have requested the Supreme Court for an order to delay the election until all presidential candidates have signed the final voters’ list. JP and PPM said that this request was made with reference to the fifth point in the guideline issued by the Supreme Court. The fifth point in the guideline issued by the Supreme Court following the annulment of the result of the first round of the presidential election held on 7 September, states that it must be confirmed that the list used during voting in the Maldives and abroad is the latest votes’ list, and that it contains the signatures and fingerprints of the Elections Commission officials, all presidential candidates, and representatives of the presidential candidates. PPM said today that the voters’ list compiled by the Elections Commission does not contain the names of some people who submitted re-registration forms.

Ahmed Azif: JP has requested the Supreme Court for an injunction on the election until all presidential candidates have signed the final voters’ list.

The police have said that a police officer has departed to Sri Lanka with the ballot papers, to maintain security at the ballot box to be placed in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

JP has decided to request the Supreme Court to issue an order to halt the efforts to hold the election tomorrow. It has been confirmed to Sun Online, that the party has decided after discussion to make this request because the Elections Commission has not solved the problem of people being registered at locations different from the locations indicated by them on the forms, and because the Elections Commission continues to ask the presidential candidates to sign the voters’ list after they filed a complaint in this regard. Presidential candidate of JP Gasim Ibrahim told Sun Online that it is not possible to sign the current version of the final voters’ list.

Mohamed Shaan: Elections Commission has decided to meet with the presidential candidates or their representatives. MDP, PPM and JP have been invited to attend the meeting the Elections Commission at 9:00 p.m.

Chief Justice Ahmed Faiz Hussain has said that he has not provided any counsel to the Elections Commission today, regarding the administrative work of the commission. The Supreme Court has said that the reports by some media groups, claiming that the Elections Commission bases its administrative work on the advice of the chief justice, are misleading. In a statement issued tonight, the court said that the Elections Commission is an independent institution which has legal authority. The Supreme Court said that Chief Justice Ahmed Faiz Hussain was contacted via the phone by President of Elections Commission Fuad Thaufeeg at 8:45 a.m. today, and that Fuad expressed his concerns over the difficulties being faced in contacting the representatives of the presidential candidates, to obtain their signature on the voters’ list. Faiz said in the statement that he replied that it is the responsibility of the Elections Commission, to follow the guideline and relay the information to the relevant groups.

Human Right Commission of Maldives (HRCM) has called on all political parties to prioritise the interest of the nation, and cooperate with the Elections Commission’s efforts to hold the election as scheduled. HRCM also urged all Maldivians to vote tomorrow.

Ahmed Saail Ali: Campaign activities are ongoing by JP and MDP in Haa Dhaalu Kulhudhuffushi. MDP supporters went on the main roads in Kulhudhuffushi in cars and pick-up trucks from 4:15 p.m. today, to conclude the campaign activities before 6:00 p.m. JP is holding a children’s event to conclude the campaign activities. A large number of people participated in this event as well.

Mohamed Simau JP has received the final voters’ list. JP representative Umar Naseer said that the party has received a soft copy of the voters’ list as requested, and that work has begun to check the list.

Elections Commissions has asked to halt all campaign activities from 6:00 p.m. today until 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, as the presidential election will take place tomorrow (Saturday). Secretary General of Elections Commission Asim Abdul Sattar said that it is prohibited to campaign for presidential candidates from 6:00 p.m. onwards, and that action will be taken against those who violate this regulation.

Hussain Hassan: MDP has started a parade from Tsunami Monument area, to conclude all campaign activities before 6:00 p.m. With the presidential election scheduled for tomorrow, campaigning for presidential candidates after 6:00 p.m. today is prohibited. No party except for MDP is holding any activity to conclude their campaigns.

Abdulla Jameel: Director General of Department of National Registration (DNR) Fareedha Yoosuf has said that DNR has been checking and signing the final voters’ list since early morning. She said that the list is signed after comparing it with the DNR database. Fareedha said that it is too soon to talk about the problems associated with the final voters’ list.

Ahmed Mujtaba: PPM Council Member Aneesa Ahmed has said that unless they find major problems, PPM will endorse the list . She said that despite the claim by EC President Fuad Thaufeeg that re-registration forms were submitted by 71,000 people, the list provided by EC to PPM this afternoon contained only 68,000 names.

Presidential candidate of MDP, former president Mohamed Nasheed has said on Twitter that there is no Supreme Court order upon the police to halt the election, and that the person attempting to obstruct the election currently, is President Waheed.

Inthikhaab huttuvumah fuluhunge machah SC ge amureh neiy. Mihaaru inthikhaab ah huras mialhanee Dr. Waheed.

— Mohamed Nasheed (@MohamedNasheed) October 18, 2013

Police officers have departed with the ballot papers for London, Singapore and New Delhi, for the purpose of maintaining security at the ballot boxes.

Umar Naseer, representative of JP presidential candidate Gasim Ibrahim, has told Sun Online moments ago that JP has made two requests from EC, neither of which has been met by EC. He said that the first request made by JP last night was to verify fingerprints on five percent of the 73,000 re-registration forms, which should be possible with the assistance of the police. The second request, Umar said, was to provide a soft copy of the voters’ list to JP, so that the list can be verified before it is signed.

Mohamed Shaan from Shaheed Hussain Adam Building area: The police are preparing to depart to the islands with ballot papers and boxes, with police speedboats lining up near Jetty No. 1.

Sahban Fahmy from Elections Commission: Presidential candidate of MDP, former president Mohamed Nasheed has said that MDP has signed the final voters’ list. Nasheed told reporters upon exiting the commission after a meeting with EC officials that the final voters’ list does contain minor errors.

Ahmed Mujtaba: Interim Vice President of PPM Abdul Raheem Abdulla has said that members of PPM have been registered at various locations without their knowledge, and that PPM will not sign the current version of the voters’ list. Speaking at the ongoing press conference at Nasandhura Palace Hotel, Abdul Raheem said that EC asked moments ago to sign some lists, which were received this afternoon. He said that PPM is working on checking and verifying the lists.

Indian Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh concluded her visit to the Maldives and departed last night. She stated during her meeting with President Dr Mohamed Waheed, that she hopes that the presidential election in the Maldives will be peaceful.

Umar Naseer, JP representative signing the voters’ list, has said that the list is still being printed by EC, and that 20 A4 paper reams still remain to be printed. He said that despite EC’s request, it would not be possible to sign such a long list within half an hour. Umar said that JP will only sign the list after checking that the final voters’ list contains the names of JP members and names of people who will vote for JP.