Nasheed

Commonwealth Secretary-General's Special Envoy on Maldives, Sir Don McKinnon has said that the trial against the former President Mohamed Nasheed can and should be fair.

McKinnon said this in reply to a question posed during an interview with Radio Australia.

When asked if he thinks the trial against Nasheed, who was earlier arrested to be produced in Court, would be fair, McKinnon replied, “It certainly can be fair and it should be fair. These people know exactly what is expected of a judiciary, but there is a high level of political sensitivity in that country, there's a tense atmosphere which does get more difficult from time to time. But there is still the possibility of having a fair trial, yes.”

McKinnon said that the authorities know that the trial proceedings will be observed not just by a few Maldivians, but also by the international community.

He said that Nasheed being taken to Court for arresting a Judge was “not unpredicted”, and that it was one of the events that led up to the change of power in February.

“So yes the international community's watching this very closely, the Commonwealth is very closely engaged. All the major players that have been talking to the Maldives recently are also saying go through your processes, but do not allow this to disenfranchise the former president,” he said.