Old Dauntseian elected President of the Maldives

Congratulations to Mohammed Nasheed (OD 84-86, Mercers House) who secured a place in the history books on 28th October by becoming the third president elect of the Maldives since the Indian Ocean archipelago became independent from Britain in 1965. He takes over from Maurnoon Abdul Gayoom, who had led the nation for 30 years and whose regime has received much criticism over the years. Mohammed was sworn in as president and took his oath of office on Tuesday 11th November.

Mohammed (or 'Mez' as he was known to his school friends during his Sixth Form career at Dauntsey's) is leader of the Maldavian Democratic Party (MDP). His victory in the elections caps a a remarkable journey for an activist whose criticism of Gayoom and crusading for democracy saw him charged 27 times and jailed or exiled to remote atolls, Sri Lanka and the UK for a total of six years.

He was an Amnesty International 'prisoner of conscience' and many of his old school friends have campaigned on his behalf over the years. Indeed, Dauntsey's pupils campaigned for his release from his earlier incarceration in 1993 and in January 2006 representatives of the Friends of Maldives (run by David Hardingham (OD 77-82) spoke to the Sixth Form as he had, once again, been incarcerated at that time.

The Head Master and Old Dauntseians' Association have sent messages of congratulations to Mohammed, and we are proud of his great achievement. On his election, Mohammed said "This is a happier day than ever in the history of the Maldives. The Maldives will change, it will have a peaceful government". We wish him and the people of Maldives all the very best as they embark on this new, peaceful era.