Democrats: Feb 7 was darkest day for Maldives’ democracy

February 7, 2012 was the darkest and most damaging day for Maldives’ democracy, says Democrats, in a statement marking the 12th anniversary of the fall of former president Mohamed Nasheed’s administration.

In a statement on Wednesday, Democrats alleged that Nasheed’s administration – the country’s first democratically elected government – was overthrown in a coup staged by then-opposition political leaders in collaboration with officials from police and military.

“Therefore, it was the most damaging and darkest day for Maldives’ democracy,” said the party.

The Democrats said it continues to be concerned about the shocking display of police brutality in the wake of the fall of Nasheed’s administration, with civilians beaten with weapons in the streets.

The Maldives has still not been able to overcome the backward step it took amid that violence, said the party.

Nasheed became Maldives’ first democratically elected leader in 2008, but resigned from office on February 7, 2012, following months of unrest in the capital. He later said he was forced to resign, in face of mutiny.

However, the Commission of National Inquiry (CONI), set up by caretaker president Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik, found no evidence to support the claim.