EC investigates the use of U.N. logo at the MDP rally

Election Commission has said that they are investigating the use of the logo of the United Nations at MDP’s To Be Free protest rally.

Member of the Elections Commission, Ahmed Akram told Sun Media today that the statement released by the U.N. mission in the Maldives raising concerns about the use of the U.N. logo at the rally was presented to the Commission.

The U.N. logo was used on t-shirts, flags and with the picture of the former President Mohamed Nasheed at the MDP protest rally on 27 November.

Regarding the matter, U.N. said that while it is the policy of the U.N. to remain unbiased, they called to all the political parties of the Maldives not to misuse the logo.

Akram said that they are investigating the matter and the Elections Commission does not want to take any steps against any political party.

“Elections Commissions call all the political parties to hold all political activities within the law.” Akram said.

He said that they have noticed that some political parties are taking part in the rallies that are organized further ahead by other political parties without organizing the Elections Commission and requested that they don’t do that.

Although the Elections Commission has not mentioned any political party by name, Adhaalath Party took part in the MDP rally last month. Home Minister Umar Naseer said back then that the leadership of Adhaalath Party confirmed that they were not taking part in the MDP rally. And the Adhaalth Party member Shidhaatha Shareef took part in the rally as an individual.

But Adhaalath Party later said that they are indeed taking part in the MDP rally and that they would always oppose tyranny.