Former Maldivian President insists he is not against Chinese investments

By APD writer Easwaran

COLOMBO, Jan. 22 (APD) -- Former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed insisted on Monday that he was not against Chinese investments in his country.

Nasheed told APD on the sidelines of a press conference in Colombo that his concern is the manner in which the Maldives government is signing agreements with some countries.

“I am not against Chinese investments. Don’t get me wrong. But you see how some of these agreements are being done,” he told APD.

Nasheed, who is in Sri Lanka, briefed diplomats on the Presidential elections in the Maldives scheduled for this year and his intention to back a common opposition Presidential candidate in the event he is prevented from contesting.

Speaking to journalists later, Nasheed said that a coalition of opposition parties are discussing the possibility of fielding a common opposition Presidential candidate if the Maldives Government prevents him from contesting the 2018 Presidential elections.

Maldives Attorney General Mohamed Anil had said last month that Nasheed will not be able to contest the election later this year as he has been convicted for a crime and is wanted in the Maldives to serve a jail sentence.

Nasheed however said that preventing him from contesting the elections will be unconstitutional and he will seek UN support to ensure he is allowed to contest.

“If I can contest I will. If I am not allowed, it will be seen as unconstitutional,” he said.

He said that while the opposition is prepared to put forward a joint opposition candidate, no names have been mentioned but only the process is being discussed.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)