MDP To Meet Election Commissioner

The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party have requested a meeting with Election Commissioner K D Ahmed Manik, who they accuse of bias against them. Mr Manik leads the commission responsible for guaranteeing independence and transparency at national elections. But Manik was appointed by President Gayoom and is a member of the government’s Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) and the MDP claim this undermines his neutrality. The MDP have requested a meeting after Mr Manik wrote to the party to censure them for three separate events in April; a protest outside the Special Majlis on April 9; unrest after an MDP meeting held on April 14 at Kalaafaanu School; and unrest the same night near Hulhumeedhoo office while a DRP meeting was going on in Addu Atoll Maradhoo Irshadiyya School.The MDP deny causing unrest at the party meettings on April 14. The party’s National Executive Committee and National Council will discuss how to respond to the letters. But the MDP has already decided to seek a meeting with Mr Manik.