Maldives slams criticism over jailing of ex-president

The Maldivian government slammed what it called "unjustified" criticism over former president Mohamed Nasheed's conviction and asked for the help of neighbouring India and Sri Lanka against such criticism, said its foreign minister on Tuesday.

Foreign Minister Dhunya Maumoon, part of the Maldivian delegation in Sri Lanka to brief the international community regarding the Maldivian political situation, told reporters that Nasheed had been given a fair trial at Criminal Court, and the Maldivian government would not influence the country's judiciary, Xinhua news agency reported.

Noting that the Maldives was not the only country where a former president had been prosecuted, Maumoon said that such examples could be seen in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Nasheed was last week sentenced to 13 years in jail over the alleged abduction and imprisonment of a former chief justice while he was president.

Maumoon said that arresting Criminal Court Chief Justice Abdulla Mohamed was a serious offence, and that the person responsible should be answerable, even if it was a former president.

"We feel that we are criticised harshly because we are a small nation. Treating countries differently is unacceptable to us. There are many countries with issues much more serious than the Maldives," said Maumoon.

Maumoon noted that India respected the Maldives' independence and sovereignty. She gave assurances the Maldives would continue relations with the international community, saying she did not believe either India or any other country would try to interfere in the internal affairs of the country.

"We hope that Sri Lanka will provide their support to us in international platforms as we provided our support to Lanka. We are holding discussions with Sri Lanka regarding this. Relations with Sri Lanka have not changed despite change in government," she said.

Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen himself has called upon everyone to respect the 13-year jail sentence dealt to Nasheed on March 13.

The US, Britain, India and the European Union as well as numerous organisations from within the country and outside have voiced their concern over Nasheed's conviction and have sought that Nasheed's rights be ensured during the appeal process.