Government hints Nasheed, Imran may join all-party talks

Maldivian government, on Sunday, hinted that imprisoned opposition political party leaders, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) leader former President Mohamed Nasheed and Adhaalath Paty leader Imran Abdulla may join all-party talks.

Senior Advisor for United Nations Political Affairs Department, Tamrat Samuel arrived in Maldives arrived in Maldives on Saturday to mediate the all-party talks, after some opposition parties refused to join talks.

Fisheries Minister Dr. Mohamed Shainee, who will be joining the talks on behalf of government, met with Samuel on Sunday, and said afterwards that the UN delegation will be holding talks with opposition political parties as well as other stakeholders.

MDP and Adhaalath Party had refused to join the talks, saying that they would only join discussions if their party leaders were released from jail; while government said that they had nothing to discuss with any convict.

Nasheed is currently in UK after government authorized him to travel abroad for medical care.

Meanwhile, Imran is also out of jail and under house arrest at the moment due to some repair work on his cell.

In answer to a question posed by a reporter, Shainee said that a decision on the fate of Nasheed and Imran would be decided during UN discussions with political parties.

“A decision on that issue too will be made during the discussions,” said Shainee.

He added that government had briefed the UN delegation regarding the issue. And that a decision on the matter would be made during their discussions with political parties.

Shainee said that the UN delegation had guaranteed the government that they would not interfere in any internal affair of the country.