Ummid Assistant

Applications open for Manmohan scholarship at Cambridge

Opportunities for Indian students in US

Welcome Guest! You are here: Home » International

Ex Maldives Pres Nasheed takes sanctuary at Indian High Commission

Wednesday February 13, 2013 06:16:19 PM, IANS

 

Male: Former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed, who once held a cabinet meeting under water to highlight global warming, took refuge at the Indian High Commission here Tuesday after a court issued an arrest order for his failing to attend a hearing in the illegal detention of a judge.

"Mindful of my own security and stability in the Indian Ocean, I have taken refuge at the Indian High Commission in Maldives," tweeted Maldivian opposition leader Nasheed, 45.

A large number of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) supporters gathered on hearing the news, reported sun.mv, an online news portal in Maldives.

Maldives, an atoll nation, is known for its deep blue seas, turquoise reefs, white sandy beaches and palm trees. It comprises 1,190 islands - of which about 200 are inhabited - and has a population of 350,000.

Nasheed entered the Indian High Commission as the Hulhumal court issued an arrest order for Nasheed to be brought to court after he failed to attend the scheduled hearing over last year's detention of Criminal Court chief judge Abdulla Mohamed.

According to some reports, there is a large police presence in the front of the Indian High Commission as well as the Traders' Hotel opposite the mission that was cordoned off.

A sense of uncertainty has gripped the Maldives ever since Nasheed resigned Feb 7 last year followed what he alleged was a coup. Mohammed Waheed Hassan succeeded him.

Nasheed faced protests over his decision to sack Abdulla Mohamed.

He later claimed that he was forced to quit at gun-point and urged the international community to help restore "democracy" in the South Asian archipelago.

Presidential spokesperson Imad Masood told Xinhua that summons were issued after Nasheed defied a court order to be present in court and the court in return issued an order to the police to produce him.

However, Nasheed's political party, the MDP, has strongly condemned the arrest warrant and reiterated its belief that the arrest warrant and the charges against him are politically motivated.

"The MDP calls on the international community to remain vigilant and immediately intervene to ensure a free and fair trial for Nasheed," his party said Wednesday.

The MDP added that the second hearing of the case was scheduled Feb 10 while Nasheed was on a visit to India and was unable to return to Male due to a medical emergency.

However, Nasheed's lawyers had informed the court in writing, the party said.

Nasheed hit the world headlines four years ago when he held a cabinet meeting under water to highlight global warming and the threat to his atoll nation. He and his ministers were in full scuba gear as they met for about 30 minutes at a depth of six metres just north of the capital Male in 2009.

WikiLeaks said Twitter that Nasheed has "done a Julian Assange".

"Former President Nasheed of the Maldives has 'done a Julian Assange' and taken shelter inside the Indian High Commission in the Maldives," tweeted WikiLeaks.

Julian Assange sought refuge in Ecuador's embassy in London in June 2012 in a bid to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he faces rape allegations.






 

 

 




 

Home | Top of the Page

Comments

Note: By posting your comments here you agree to the terms and conditions of www.ummid.com

Comments powered by DISQUS

i

More Headlines

India's universities crying for better leadership

Russian parliament passes anti-smoking bill

Global outrage against North Korea nuclear test

Afzal's family says no to Tihar visit, wants body back

SC fumes over sex tests, female foeticide

Italian chopper deal: India orders probe after CEO's arrest

10 killed in police firing in Assam panchayat polls

Why Sir Syed loses and Allama Iqbal wins in Pakistan

As Tripura goes to polls, spotlight on 'poorest CM'

Clarify whether RTE Act applies to nursery admissions: Delhi Court

Nalanda University to get special funds in budget: Khurshid

Mumbai to host philanthropy week

 

Top Stories

Italian chopper deal: India orders probe after CEO's arrest

India Tuesday ordered a probe into the $750 million deal for 12 VVIP AgustaWestland helicopters following the arrest of the chief of its parent company - Italy's Finmeccanica on corruption charges in the contract.  »

Antony seeks report on pay-off in Italian chopper deal

 

  Most Read

North Korea conducts third n-test

North Korea said Tuesday that it had successfully conducted a third nuclear test to safeguard its national security against hostile US policy, a move that prompted South Korea to put its military on high alert. The   »

Cop shot dead in Kolkata students' clash

A police sub-inspector was shot dead and another man injured in firing by miscreants during a clash between student activists of the Trinamool Congress and the Congress at a college here Tuesday, police said. Two accused were arrested. Tapas Chowdhury, a sub-inspector attached to the city police's Special Branch, was  »

 

  News Pick

Scared for my children: Iftikhar Gilani

Two days after he was detained by police along with his family following the execution of Afzal Guru, senior journalist Iftikhar Gilani Monday said his children were still scared, and he was scared for them too. Gilani and his  »

Two Kerala cardinals among those voting for new Pope

Two cardinals from Kerala are among the four from the country to leave for Vatican to cast their vote in elections for a new pope to replace Pope Benedict XVI, the leader of the Catholic  »

Pope Benedict to resign

Scientists brace for a close peek at asteroid

Indian scientists will join their counterparts globally for a rare celestial event scheduled for the night of Feb 15-16 -- the passing of an asteroid very close to Earth, around 28,000 km away, and visible with ordinary  »

Britain census shows 37% rise in Muslim population

The exact figure of Muslim immigration living in Britain has been revealed in new census figures. According to the census, in the past seven years the number of Muslims living in the UK has risen  »

 

Picture of the Day

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh presenting the award to the District Collector, Visakapatanam V. Seshadri for promoting social equity in MGNREGA implementation, at the 8th Mahatma Gandhi NREGA Divas Sammelan, in New Delhi on February 02, 2013.

 

Recommend the story to your friends

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

RSS  |  Contact us

 

| Quick links

News

 

Subscribe to

Ummid Assistant

 

National

Science & Technology

RSS

Scholarships

About us

International

Health

Twitter

Government Schemes

Feedback

Regional

History

Facebook

Education

Register

Politics

Opinion

Newsletter

Contact us

Business

The Funny Side

Education & Career

 

 

Ummid.com: Disclaimer | Terms of Use | Advertise with us | Link Exchange

Ummid.com is part of the Awaz Multimedia & Publications providing World News, News Analysis and Feature Articles on Education, Health. Politics, Technology, Sports, Entertainment, Industry etc. The articles or the views displayed on this website are for public information and in no way describe the editorial views. The users are entitled to use this site subject to the terms and conditions mentioned.

© 2012 Awaz Multimedia & Publications. All rights reserved.