Maldivian Presidential election is not free and fair – ANFREL

The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) denounces recent developments in the island nation  of  Maldives,  which  ensure  that  the  upcoming  presidential  election  of  September  23 cannot be considered free and fair.

Among  others,  intimidation  of  local  civil  society  organizations,  media,  and  members  of  the opposition,  the  lack of transparency from the Elections Commission, and the refusal to allow international journalist and election observers in the country suggest that Maldivian authorities are paving the way for an undemocratic polling process, while suppressing anyone who might speak out on the behalf of Maldivian citizens, states ANFREL issuing a media release.

Indeed, the political environment in the country is heavily tipped in favor of the ruling party, as critical media are being subdued into silence, and opposition figures sentenced to jail terms or forced into exile for politically motivated charges.  Incumbent President Abdulla Yameen has allegedly been campaigning for his reelection misusing state resources, in violation of existing campaign finance regulations. Checks and balances from the judiciary have been removed, with the arrest in February 2018 of two Supreme Court judges, including the Chief Justice, following a court order to release nine high-profile political prisoners.

In the months since the declaration of a state of emergency last February, Maldivian authorities have extensively used national security and anti-defamation laws to restrict the fundamental freedoms of assembly, association and expression. 19 supporters of the joint opposition have been  arrested  by  the  police  since  August,  in  a  move  to  discourage  campaigning  for  the opposition.

Meanwhile, the Elections Commission has repeatedly shown it lacked both the independence and transparency required to carry out its duties satisfactorily. Chaired since March 2018 by a former ruling party MP and loyalist of President Yameen, the electoral management body has enforced opaque regulations threatening the sanctity of the ballot, sometimes overstepping the boundaries of the powers it is provided by the Constitution.

Most  recently,  the  Commission  has  reportedly  adopted  new  vote-counting  rules  that,  if implemented, will prevent the verification of individual ballots and the immediate publication of results in polling stations, thus driving the last nail in the coffin of Maldivian democracy. Other reported instances of misconduct include the nomination of polling staff with ties to the ruling party, and widespread manipulation of the voter list, whose integrity is compromised. 

Another  example  of  the  opaque  manner  in  which  Maldivian authorities are preparing for the ballot  is  the  unreasonable  delay  in  processing  the  business  visas  required  for  international election observers and journalists before entering the country. ANFREL was eager to send its first  ever mission to the Maldives to monitor on the ground a Presidential election which few expected to be free or fair.

As international election observers, we applied to obtain official accreditation with the Elections Commission, which we received on September 1st. Yet, three weeks later, our team members still have not been received their visas despite filing the required forms and complying with all applicable regulations. The same holds true for a number of representatives from the foreign media. It appears that Maldivian authorities are granting visas only to observers and monitors they perceive as friendly, while using ANFREL’s name and that of other applicants in an attempt to gain international legitimacy.

This obvious attempt to limit international scrutiny of the election through a barrier of red tape replete  with  financial  and  administrative  requirements,  and  presumably  politically  motivated delays, results in an unprecedented situation in our long experience of election observation, one where  we  are  officially  recognized  but  effectively  unable  to  accomplish  our  duties.  In  the absence of an ANFREL team in the Maldives, no credible international election observers would be present to give an independent assessment of the September 23 election.

Deeply   concerned   about   the   repression   of   democracy   advocates   and   the   absence  of transparency   in   the   Maldivian   electoral   process,   we   therefore   call  on  the  international community  to  be  vigilant  and  to closely monitor the welfare of civil society and media in the country as they perform their mission in these trying times. Otherwise, in the absence of any scrutiny or pressure, somber events surely loom ahead for the people of Maldives.