Not even 10 people from the military participated in the

Former President Mohamed Nasheed has said that less than 10 people from the military joined the “coup d'état” on 7 February 2012, the day that he resigned from the post of president.

Speaking at a rally at Usfasgandu last night, Nasheed said that honorable people exist amongst the military and that not even 10 military personnel had joined the “coup” movement. He said that on that day, the situation in the police was also similar.

“I think that 5 to 10 people joined the coup d'état from military. I think that the situation transpired in the police in a similar fashion too. Like I just said, not everybody in the police took part in the coup d'état. It was done by a small number of people,” said Nasheed.

He said that he believes that the police and military personnel do not have to obey an unlawful order but, that he does not believe that police and military personnel must question to determine its lawfulness every instance a superior officer gives an order.

Nasheed said that a coup d'état can be brought about in the Maldives only if the military participates in it and that the only people that will be deemed guilty of the crime are the military officers, but said that the other people too are acting against the law.

“The only thing that states the word “coup d'état” is the military regulation. The current constitution does not have the word “coup d'état”. It can only be said to be a coup if the military participates, if military power is used. So the only people who will be guilty for staging a coup d'état will be the military personnel. Others too, have acted against the law,” said Nasheed.

Speaking at last night’s rally, Nasheed said that they should keep on working until they are free from the “forced coup situation” and that they cannot have elections under such circumstances.