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Maldives

Answer

The Government monitor developments in the Maldives closely. We make clear our concerns about democracy and human rights to the Government of the Maldives. The British high commissioner in Colombo accredited to the Maldives did so personally, to President Gayoom in September. The high commissioner and his deputy also separately made representations to Foreign Minister Dr. Ahmed Shaheed in late October.The British high commission in Colombo is also active in co-ordinating EU action locally. As Presidency, we led an EU fact-finding mission to the Maldives in August that met Government Ministers, officials and detainees, including Mohamed Nasheed. An EU statement issued on 2 September emphasised the Maldivian authorities' responsibility to uphold the right of political parties to meet freely and to carry out peaceful political activities. It noted the seriousness of the charges against detainees, calling for due process and making clear that the credibility of trials would come under close scrutiny. We will continue bilaterally and with our EU partners to underline to the Government of the Maldives its democracy and human rights obligations.We strongly support continued democratic political reforms in the Maldives. We welcomed the legalisation of political parties in June 2005. We are, however, seriously concerned by the Government of the Maldives approach towards the opposition, including the trials of Mohamed Nasheed and Jennifer Latheef, which appear to have political motivations. Freedom of association and expression are essential to the reform process. I discussed these cases with Mohammed Latheef (father of Jennifer Latheef), the Maldivian Democratic Party's (MDP) Chief Spokesman on 8 November. Mohammed Latheef told me that, in spite of the manner of her incarceration, her treatment by the Maldivian authorities was of an acceptable standard. I trust this will continue to be the case. I assured him of the UK's support for the democratic reform process and human rights in the Maldives. I underlined the importance of the MDP remaining engaged and peacefully committed to the democratic process. We welcome recent moves from the Government of the Maldives to establish dialogue with the MDP. We look forward to seeing early progress. We commend the offices of the Commonwealth Secretary-General's Special Envoy in this regard.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

440 c160-1W;440 c160-1W; 29038

Session

2005-06

Subjects

Detainees Human rights EU action Prisoners Politics and government Reform Maldives

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk