Speaker of the Parliament Mohamed Nasheed has assured that 1988 coup leader Abdulla Luthufee will be brought back to Maldives.
Speaking at a press conference held at the parliament on Sunday, the former president acknowledged that Luthufee's impending return is of huge concern to the citizens of the nation.
Noting that the Maldivian government has been rarely successful in extraditing a fugitive after he flees the country, Nasheed recalled that former president Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom had unsuccessfully attempted to return former president Ibrahim Nasir back to Maldives after he left the country. The later government of President Yameen Abdul Gayyoom had also failed to bring Nasir back to Maldives, noted Nasheed.
While Sri Lanka is a country that has signed many international charters and treaties with the United Nations, Luthufee turned himself in at the Maldivian Embassy in Sri Lanka just a day before a series of terrorist bombings took place across Sri Lanka, said Nasheed. Due to the development, the Sri Lankan authorities were not in a position to be able to communicate effectively with another nation at the time. However, Luthufee will be returned be to Maldives after conducting expedited talks between the governments of Maldves and Sri Lanka, promised Nasheed.
"This is a matter of concern for Maldivian citizens. Luthufee is connected to very devastating events that occurred [in the Maldives], he is connected to the deaths of so many innocent people, [he is linked] to the anguish, fears and agony of many people. Therefore, Luthufee's return should be a priority of all governments", said Nasheed.
Nasheed further said parliamentarians have proposed to summon cabinet ministers to the Majlis regarding Luthufee's case. However, according to Parliament laws, cabinet ministers should be granted a period of 14 days as notice. The notice has now been issued, said Nasheed.
Assisted by armed foreign mercenaries, Luthufee led the attacks on Maldives on 3rd November 1988 that killed 19 Maldivians. Charged and convicted for treason, Luthufee received the death penalty for his crimes. However, then President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom lightened his sentence to life imprisonment.
Luthufee was allowed to travel to neighboring Sri Lanka on 16th January 2010 for medical purposes during former president Mohamed Nasheed's administration. However, he went into hiding during the trip and has been residing in Sri Lanka for the past nine years as a fugitive.
In a recent development, Luthufee voluntarily presented himself to the Maldivian Embassy in Sri Lanka on 1st May 2019, after which he has been residing at the embassy until now. Authorities did not disclose his presence at the embassy until last Monday, after rumors that the embassy was harboring Luthufee made its rounds on social media, prompting public criticism on the matter.
While arrangements to extradite Luthufee are being made, authorities have blamed the delay in returning Luthufee back to Maldives on incomplete documentation and other processes.
Speaker of the Parliament Mohamed Nasheed speaking during Sunday's press conference
