MALE: Police in the Maldives raided the main campaign office of the opposition presidential candidate on Saturday, the eve of an election viewed as a referendum on whether democracy will survive in the country.

The move is a sign of a government crackdown against the opposition that has raised fears that Sunday’s election may be rigged to favour President Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s party.

Police spokesman Ahmed Shifan told The Associated Press that police raided Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s campaign office late Saturday and that the raid was ongoing. He said police would share details of the raid after it was over.

Shauna Aminath, a spokeswoman for the opposition, said police were “not letting us go inside. They have not told what is happening”. “No court warrant was produced. Police raided the building unlawfully, citing reports of illegal activity,” Aminath said, adding that Solih was not in the building at the time of the raid.

Since Sunday’s election was announced, opposition leaders have feared the vote may be rigged. The European Union said on Friday that it was not sending election observers because the Maldives had failed to meet the basic conditions for monitoring.

Earlier on Saturday, the Indian Ocean archipelago nation’s election chief, Ahmed Shareef, said that all measures had been taken to hold the election in a free and fair manner and without violence.

“So far, we have facilitated whatever the opposition candidate requested, within the regulations and laws permitting us,” Shareef told reporters. “I don’t think he could give any concrete reason to call it unfair.” Still, opposition activists voiced their concerns.

Beyond the postcard image the Maldives has of luxury resorts and white sand beaches, the 400,000 citizens of the former British protectorate have struggled to maintain the democratic system established in 2008.

The Maldives’ third multiparty presidential election is being held five years after Yameen began consolidating power, rolling back press and individual freedoms, asserting control over independent governmental institutions and jailing or forcing major political rivals into exile.

Yameen has jailed two former presidents, including his half brother, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, the Maldives’ former strongman, his former vice president, two Supreme Court justices, two former defence ministers and many others after trials criticised for a lack of due process.

As protests culminating in violent confrontations with police and mass arrests have grown, opposition parties many of them Yameen’s own former political partners formed an alliance in exile with the aim of unseating him.

Supporters of the opposition candidate and the president gathered on Saturday at their respective campaign offices in Male, the capital, for final campaign rallies, as pink and green campaign banners hung across the city’s streets.

“I don’t agree with the policies of this government and also some corrupt activities,” said 19-year-old Scifulla Waheed, who is looking to vote for the first time on Sunday. “It is high time that we should rise to change the government.” Waheed, who believes Yameen has weekend democracy in the Maldives, said a free and fair election “will change this regime”.

Yameen’s supporters were also vocal. “Under President Yameen, everything has improved,” said Latheef, who gave only one name. “If the opposition comes into power, the economy will be in doldrums and we will have to face hardships.”

Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2018