MSLP registered as per regulations - Ibra

12 December 2007
Report: Jaxu

Saying the party is now registered as per rules and regulations that govern the registration of political parties, the Leader of Maldivian Social Liberal Party (MSLP) Ibrahim Ismail (Ibra) has congratulated the party members. He made the statement speaking at a news conference organized by the party yesterday night.

Ibra said the commissioner of elections has given the impression to the general public that the delay in the registration of the party was due to the party’s inability to fulfill the prerequisites for the registration within the allocated time period. Ibra said that is a misconception and that the party has time till the middle of January. Ibra further said that the according to the Commissioner the party membership forms can only be considered valid upon submission of the ID cards along with membership forms. However he noted that regulations governing the registrations of political parties do not require the submission of national identity cards along with membership forms.

“Commissioner of Elections as well as the Registrar of Political Parties do not know that there are inhabited islands in Maldives where there are no photocopy machines or fax machines or electricity; ID cards are well protected document” said Ibra.

Ibra further said that he wrote a letter to Attorney General requesting for clarification of the matter. According to Ibra, Attorney General’s response stated that a member of any other party will automatically be considered a member of the MSLP as soon as the member signs the membership form MSLP and that the submission of the ID cards are not required under the regulations that govern the registration of political parties.

Ibra further stated that as per the regulations if a party is not denied registration within 30 after the submission of the necessary documentations then the party is deemed to be registered. As such the 30 days expired on the 10 of this month and we have asked the Commissioner to issue the registration certificate without further delay said Ibra.

A notice released by the Commissioner on the 10 of this month stated that due to failure of MSLP to submit 3000 names as party members, the permit issued to Ibrahim Ismail to register a party under the name Maldivian Social Liberal Party is cancelled.

Further the Commissioner has banned the use of the MSLP’s logo, stamp and the name or any other item that can be used as a party symbol in any activity effective from the 10 of December 2007.

“According to the regulations that govern political parties, we can continue with activities of the party, actually we don’t have to go to court to register the party, we went to court to get the Registration Certificate of the Party from the Commissioner, which he rather unwilling to let go, we went to get a court order for the release of the Certificate, it is an infringement on the honor and dignity of the party members” said Ibra.

Ibra said ever since his announcement of his decision to compete in the forthcoming presidential elections, commissioner has been uncooperative in the registration of his party and has been placing many obstacles in the path of registration.

Ibra further revealed that once he informed the commissioner that all the conditions required for the registration has been fully complied with and there are no more conditions that require to be addressed, Commissioner kept silent for 30day and when requested for the release of the registration certificate, Commissioner revoked the permit granted to him to register a political party under the name of Maldives Social Liberal Party.