Ex-President Maumoon demands detainees be released before moving into dialogue
This was conveyed in a post on his lawyer Maumoon Hameed’s Twitter account
Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who is also the founder and elected leader of the Progressive Party of Maldives
Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayooom has asked that those detained under the state of emergency and deemed to have been jailed unfairly be released, before moving to dialogue with the government.
In a tweet posted on Friday, his laywer Maumoon Hameed said that the former President "rejects" that talks can be sincere while he, former President Mohamed Nasheed, Qasim Ibrahim, Sheikh Imran Abdulla, Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and Justice Ali Hameed and other SoE detainees "remain as hostages and deprived of the protection of the law".
The former president has been incarcerated since February 5th, on three separate allegations. Bribery, influencing the conduct of public officials, and encouraging the overthrow of the government.
While Maumoon has denied all charges, the government has also accused him of not cooperating with investigations, an imposition he has denied as well.
The government has reiterated its call for inclusive dialogue with its political rivals, headed by Fisheries Minister Mohamed Shainee. The parties have said that believe the invitation for dialogue is a ploy to deceive the international community.
The parties have asked United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to mediate talks, in order to make it credible. Secretary-General Guterres' office has since said that they have reached out to the Maldivian government, who turned down the offer.
After reports of this surfaced, Fisheries Minister Shainee refuted them, claiming that the government is supportive of the idea of the international community assisting in peacefully resolving the situation in the Maldives.
However, pro-government lawmakers have publicly said they will not engage in dialogue with their rivals if the United Nations is to act as a mediator.
