Mohamed Nasheed was the first ever democratically elected president of the Maldives and in his recent press conference last Monday, he warned that his country is already reverting to dictatorship.
Nasheed was recently freed for medical treatment to be held in London. He held a press conference while he was in London and announced that he has not yet decided whether to return to serve the remaining time of his 13-year prison sentence, according to The Guardian. The 48-year-old former president was granted one month by the government of President Yameen Abdul Gayoom to seek treatment for his back. He has assured that he will definitely be coming back to Maldives but there is not yet any certainty as to how and when he will go back.
When he was asked as to why he is still unsure of when he is coming back, he says there are still more things to take into consideration. The Hindu reported how Nasheed says he needed to meet with people first, consult with lawyers and doctors. When asked about the new government of Yameen now, he made a very specific reference to the close economic ties established by his regime with China. However, he exclaims how India is the principal trading partner with Maldives and that despite the debts of Maldives now currently exposed to China, the Indian government is working hard to see that their situation is normalised.
According to Government News, during the recent Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting last November, they all agreed how Nasheed's release was a positive step and it was important for the Maldivian government to maintain momentum. The upcoming visit of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group next month could send a strong message on their government's need to engage in open political dialogue.
Nasheed could not help but emphasize the situation that Maldives is now currently facing. The new regime could eventually lead to dictatorship to his opinion as well.
