Maldivian Defence Ministry just now issued a statement to media stating that they do not have any intention of arresting former President and opposition leader Qayoom. However, the media statement did not clarify whether President Nasheed has issued executive orders to the MNDF for Qayoom's immediate arrest. Military sources report that international pressure has forced Nasheed to recind his previous order. Defence Minister Amin Faisal denied all knowledge of any imminent arrest. However, this raises the question of who is in command of the police force as acting Home Minister Amin Faisal is explicitly denying any knowledge of arrests.
#Maldives: Pressure is mounting on President Mohamed Waheed to implement the death penalty in Maldives as the murder toll in 2012 rose to nine murders earlier this month. A youth group yesterday announced a rally calling for death penalty, scheduled for the afternoon of Friday 19th October. Calls for death penalty increased exponentially after the brutal murder of Member of Parliament and moderate Muslim scholar Dr. Afraasheem Ali on October 2, 2012. Social media report that support for death penalty in Maldives rose to 64% of Maldivians on social media in the wake of Dr. Afraasheem's brutal murder. The list of murder victims is 18 victims long, from 2007 onwards (pic). Of these 11 murders were committed on the capital Male', the rest on various islands. Fourteen of the 18 murder victims were young adults between 15 and 35 years of age. MP Dr. Afraasheem's murder comes within three months of the brutal murder and decapitation of famous lawyer Ahmed Najeeb, also on th...