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Maldives
crisis: US-C’wealth express concern In a bid to restore peace in the area the Commonwealth organised an all-party talks in Male on February 5, which was not attended by the Maldivian government’s main opposition the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and the Islamic Democratic Party (IDP). The reason for the MDP not taking part in the talks was due to the government not giving in to their demands to release Chairman Mohamed Nasheed and human rights activist Jennifer Latheef.The all-party talks were convened by Commonwealth Secretary General Tan Sri Musa Hitham and Tan Sri Anver’s special envoy. Tan Sri Musa visited the Maldives twice last year and held a series of discussions with representatives of all parties. The MDP welcomed on Wednesday President Bush’s encouragement of democratic reforms in the country. Last week Mr. Bush replied Mr. Gayoom’s letter to the White House celebrating 40 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. “The US President… offered his encouragement to President Gayoom to continue his efforts in implementing reforms to make the Maldives a modern democracy with empowered political parties and an independent judiciary,” the President’s Office in Male’ said. “Highlighting that diplomatic ties between the Maldives and the United States remained strong, President Bush noted that the two countries shared a commitment to economic growth, welfare of its citizens and the cause of freedom. He concluded his letter by stating that he looked forward to progress on the ambitious reform programme in the Maldives and to building stronger bilateral relations in the years ahead.” |
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