Thaindian News

New Delhi, Feb 9 (IANS) The Maldives’ ousted president Mohamed Nasheed Thursday appealed to the world community to help restore democracy in his country, claiming that he was toppled by a small group of police officers and that police and the military were brutally suppressing people.

Nasheed resigned Tuesday amid protests over detention of a top judge and was replaced by Vice President Mohamed Waheed.

Talking to Times Now news channel from an undisclosed location, Nasheed said he now feared for his life and safety of his family, who have fled to Sri Lanka.

“They want to arrest me and the situation is turning worse,” he said.

To a question on possible resistance, Nasheed said he had never fought against law.

“I never fought against policemen. I have never done that. Don’t intend to do it. If police comes with a warrant, I will go,” he said.

Nasheed also said that police have so far arrested around 250 supporters of his Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and appealed to his supporters to remain calm.

“A small group of policemen numbering 200 and about 80 or so officials in league with some of the officers in the military conducted a coup,” he said.

“They changed the government and now they want to arrest me…I don’t think it’s going to help the process in the Maldives. It is going to lead everything to deteriorate and I hope the international community and our friends will take note of it. We would like to see the Maldives saved.”

Nasheed said he wanted the international community to “impose restraint on the present illegal government” in his country.

“We would like them to have conversation with whoever is holding power. Hopefully, we would like them to have some people on the ground to maintain peace here.”

“The police and the military are very brutally suppressing the people and they are really reversing 8-9 years of democratic work that we have done, in a matter of a week.”

“And I hope people understand this and come not necessarily for the assistance of the Maldives, but assistance of ideology that we all believe in, which is democracy and fairness.”

Nasheed alleged that he was beaten up badly by the plotters.

“Initially, they beat me up and they were trying to drag me and as I came out, there was a crowd outside and there were some scuffles there and I was able to slip away,” he said, adding that his close associates were taken away and beaten badly.

He said his wife and daughter had fled to Sri Lanka.

“We all fear for our safety here in the Maldives now. As I speak, all the city councillors in Addu are being arrested. They have already arrested 90 people in Addu (one of seven atolls). They have arrested more than 250 people in Male, more than 30 people are in intensive care. It’s very serious.”

Asked if people close to the previous regime were behind the coup, he said: “Well, I am sure anyone who has ruled with an iron fist for 30 years will have his own strings to pull. Without a proper investigation, it would be improper for me to pronounce a judgment.”

Maldivian police said Thursday that they had received a court order to arrest Nasheed. It was issued following a string of arson attacks on police stations and court houses by supporters of his party Wednesday.

The ousted president termed the arrest warrant “outrageous” and said that his government had the mandate to rule for five years.