By our correspondent in Male’
Mohamed Nasheed (Anni), the Chairperson of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has been released from house arrest on Thursday morning. Anni was on trial for terrorism and sedition charges after he was arrested on 12 August 2005 at a peaceful vigil to mark the first anniversary of the famous Black Friday demonstration. 
Despite intense pressure from international organizations and governments, the government of Gayoom kept him under detention for over a year, during which time less than six hearings were held. The end to the politically motivated detention has come as part of the Westminster House Agreement brokered by the British High Commissioner in Colombo.
The government and MDP has been holding secret negotiations since July 2006 to agree on confidence building measures to pave way for all-party talks. A number of other political prisoners including MDP activist Jennifer Latheef have been released through the negotiations.
The release of Anni was to be the testing ground for the future of the talks. If the government had not kept the promise to release MDP Chairperson, the whole process of negotiations would have failed.
Even though charges against Anni have not been formally dropped yet, it is expected that the government will drop the charges within the coming weeks.
After being released from house arrest, Anni went to Al Fresco Café in Male’, a popular hangout of the reformists, and met with supporters. A press conference was later held at Dharubaaruge, attended by media and MDP activists and well-wishers.
A panel of senior MDP officials responded to the media inquiries at the press conference. They assured that MDP was now ready to begin all-party talks, as the prerequisites for the talks were now met.
The release of Anni is a major victory for the Parliamentary Group of MDP, whose senior members are in favour of negotiations with the government and are less reluctant to street activism. The senior members of the Parliamentary Group are emerging as the most influential faction within the MDP, having steered the party’s decision to back parliamentary system of government in a nationwide referendum that was not held despite being scheduled for September 16.
Speaking at the press conference, Anni, however, acknowledged the significance of street activism. He noted that the series of street demonstrations in May this year had resulted in alerting the international community and signaled to them that things were not rosy in the Maldives.
Anni, however, cautioned against an immediate toppling of the government before the constitution was amended and important reforms were in place. He stressed that Maldivian history bears witness to several incidents of overthrowing the government which resulted in no real reform or benefit for the people.
Anni said that MDP has not forgotten about other prisoners in jail such as Fahala Saeed, a journalist for Minivan Daily, sentenced to life in prison for ‘possessing narcotics’, a charge believed to be fabricated. The manner of Saeed’s arrest and trial were condemned by several international organizations working for press freedom.
Anni said that it was time for Adam Zahir, the notorious Police Chief, to quit his job. Anni said MDP could even initiate a trial against Zahir in the United Kingdom for his alleged involvement in a death threat against a senior MDP member. Anni, however, said that he hoped that Zahir would do the best for himself and the country by resigning. A death threat against Ahmed Shafeeq Moosa (Sappe), editor of Dhivehi Observer news website, living in exile in UK, has been traced to an email account of Adam Zahir’s wife Husna Latheef who resides in UK. The UK police have cautioned her over the matter recently.
Reeko Moosa Manik, an MDP MP, and former business partner of Adam Zahir, also attended the press conference. He slammed the government media present at the press conference for their bias while reporting about MDP.
The general tone at the press conference suggested that MDP was getting ready for an election that is to be held in late 2007 as part of the Westminster House Agreement. However, the current atmosphere of cordiality will last only if Gayoom, a master of deception, continues to bow to international pressure and delivers the promises of reform he has made for both the people of Maldives and the international community.
Further reading:
http://www.minivannews.com/news/news.php?id=2454
http://www.minivannews.com/news/news.php?id=2440
http://www.minivannews.com/news/news.php?id=2455
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/5368786.stm
