Did not advice police to prevent the election: Commonwealth Observer Group

The Commonwealth Observer Group, currently in the Maldives in hope of observing the 2013 presidential election, has said that the Group did not advice to the Maldives Police Service regarding its decision to take action to prevent the presidential election, that was scheduled for today.

“The Observer Group wishes to clarify that at no stage did the Commonwealth Observer Group or any of its members give advice to the Maldives Police Service regarding its decision to take action to prevent the 19 October Presidential election from taking place,” the statement read.

The Group’s statement follows statements by the police in a press briefing this morning, where Superintendent of Police Abdulla Nawaz said that they had consulted with a Commonwealth adviser, prior to making their decision to cease support to the Elections Commission.

“The Commonwealth has also designated an advisor to the police. We have discussed these issues with that party as well,” Superintendent of Police Abdulla Nawaz said.

The Commonwealth’s statement, which was released soon after the police press briefing, further read, “On the contrary, the Commonwealth Observer Group issued a statement on 17 October, in which the Chair of the Observer Group, Dr Lawrence Gonzi, said “I hope that all Maldivians will play their part to ensure that the 19 October election is conducted in a credible and peaceful manner, so that the people of Maldives can exercise their fundamental right to choose their President.”

Elections Commission cancelled the polling scheduled to start at 7:30 a.m. this morning after accusing the police of having refused to provide transportation of ballot papers and elections officials to polling station and obstructing materials from being taken out of the commission headquarters.

Police ceased support to the Elections Commission hours before polling, stating that the commission had not fulfilled point number five of the guideline set by the Supreme Court, which states that party candidates must endorse the final voters’ list, before going to the polls.