Maldives leader Abdulla Yameen blames defeat on 'disappearing ink'
Outgoing Maldives President Abdulla Yameen has told the Supreme Court that disappearing ink and specially treated ballot papers were to blame for his heavy election defeat last month. The strongman leader of the honeymoon island nation had been expected to romp home in the election, with opposition leaders jailed or exiled, and warnings that he would try to fix the vote.
The President had filed a petition because of "vote-rigging"
The comments of the President came as the court considered a petition by Yameen to have the September 23 election result annulled due to what his party called "rampant" vote-rigging. On Monday afternoon the five-judge bench put off the case until Tuesday when it will announce whether to allow testimony from three unnamed witnesses named by Yameen's lawyers.
Four election commissioners fled country following death threats: Media reports
However, the country's independent Elections Commission (EC) through its lawyers insisted that the petition was based on false allegations and that it should be dismissed. Local media of Colombo also reported that four of the five election commissioners have fled the country and sought refuge in neighboring Sri Lanka following death threats after Yameen lost the September 23 vote.
Yasmeen first accepted the defeat, but now demands fresh vote
After opposition candidate was declared the winner, Yameen said he accepted the defeat and was ready to step down when his term ends on November 17. But last week he launched the Supreme Court challenge seeking a fresh vote. His lawyer in court hearing accused the printer of coating ballot papers with an unnamed substance to make votes marked in Yameen's box vanish.
The story of "special pen with disappearing ink"
Saleem said a "special pen with disappearing ink" was also given to people who were going to vote for his client, a reporter at the hearing said. Counting officials also allegedly carried secret pens with which they marked ballots for the opposition.
The US and allies concerned over Chinese influence in Maldives
Ahead of the court hearing in the capital Male, the United States warned "appropriate measures" would be taken if the will of the Maldivian people was undermined. Europe and India have also issued similar warnings in the past. The US and its allies have been concerned by growing Chinese influence in the strategically positioned Indian Ocean archipelago, especially under Yameen's authoritarian rule.
