Report: Soodh
Former Attorney General Dr. Hassan Saeed has said that he will notify international agencies regarding Legal Reform Minister Nasheed’s proposed amendment to Bill on President, barring Maldivians with foreign spouses from the presidency. He made statement at a press conference held at Rajje Chambers on the 25 of this month.Breifing the press, Dr. Hassan Saeed said the amendment proposed barring Maldivians with foreign spouses from the presidency is in conflict with the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) which Maldives is signatory to. Dr.Hassan Saeed claimed that the current Bill on the President was drafted with specific intention to disqualify a certain Maldivian from the presidency. Dr.Hassan further said the president later wanted the article removed when he sure that certain gentleman was no longer a threat and his daughter by then had married a foreigner. However when Dr. Hassan announced his intention to compete in the presidential election of 2008, the article again became an important issue and President decided to amend the Bill said Dr. Hassan.
“If the intention here is protect the country from foreign influences, then I just don’t understand why is his foreign son in law is living with him in the Presidential Palace and is considered to be a very influential person, if President is not influenced by Shuaib Shah, then there is no reason to believe others will be influenced, we can see President does not practice what he preach, I don’t think MP’s who proposed the amendment knows the reason for it, the fact of the matter is they did it because they were ordered to do so, the amendment is in conflict with article 25 of the ICCPR” Dr. Hassan told members of the press.
Dr. Hassan Saeed further told members of the press that President Gayoom himself has no confidence in wining the election of 2008.
Former Justice Minister speaking at the press conference said that Maldivians are very unfortunate group of people. Even though we are capable people with a lot of potential, we are unable to use our talents and capabilities to serve the nation.
Speaking at the press conference, former Foreign Minister Dr.Ahmed Shaheed said that foreign influences are never encouraged in any country. However, in this day and age the sovereignty of a state can only be maintained by respecting principles that are acceptable to the rest of the world. He said two or three years ago Maldives was under a lot of foreign pressure mainly due to that the country was respecting principles accepted by the world. Dr. Shaheed further said when Maldives accepted those standards and principles foreign pressures were eased. But if we were to again turn back on those standards and principles, government would face more pressures and the country may face grave consequences.
Legal Reform Minister Mohamed in an interview held on the 25 of this month, said that he has withdrawn his amendment. He said he withdrew his proposed amendment so that Dr. Hassan Saeed would not have any barrier between him and the presidency.
“The reason for the proposal is that I don’t want a foreigner to be the first lady, I want the first couple, first lady and the president to be Maldivian” said Legal Reform Minister.
“Because of my proposal many are taking it as government’s point of view, so I just want to let you know, despite my opinion on the issue, I have no wish for the government to be blamed, so today I am making the announcement that I am withdrawing my proposal” said Nasheed withdrawing his amendment.
Minister Nasheed further said that he would like to see Dr. Hassan Saeed being part of the presidential race. Nasheed further said he would not impose any constitutional barrier between Dr. Hassan Saeed and his dream of wining the presidency.
Dr. Hassan Saeed in a press conference given at his office yesterday morning said Minister Nasheed had proposed two amendments to the Majlis to prevent him from competing in the presidential race. According to Dr. Hassan Saeed the two amendments are to disqualify anybody from competing if he is married to a foreigner and second amendment is to bar people under the age of 40 from competing in the presidential elections. When questioned by a member of the press on these two amendments Nasheed replied that age barrier was not proposed by him or by any member of the DRP.
Responding to Dr. Hassan Saeed’s comments on the foreign pressure on President Gayoom not to stand election, Minister Nasheed said foreign countries do not interfere in Maldivian internal matters. Nasheed further said that no foreign country or foreign dignitary has issued a statement asking President Gayoom not to stand election.
Dr. Hassan Saeed and his collogue Dr. Shaheed had said that Minister Nasheed’s amendments were in conflict with International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, ICCPR, which Maldives has recently ratified. However Minister Nasheed said that his amendment does not conflict ICCPR. Nasheed also noted that there are many such issues of conflict in the Bill on the President in the existing constitution.
MP Aneesa Ahmed who supported Minister Nasheed’s amendment speaking at the conference said even though Nasheed withdrew his amendment, there were other members of DRP who has proposed the same amendment.
The conference in addition to Minister Nasheed and Minister Aneesa was participated by Attorney General Azima Shukoor.
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