Writing for the Huffington Post, UK journalist Mark Seddon has suggested that the Commonwealth should to threaten to expel the Maldives, following what the nation’s former government called a military coup d’etat on Tuesday, February 7.
“The Commonwealth should immediately threaten to expel the Maldives, as it did when the military seized power in Fiji. And the behemoth that is the European Union should threaten sanctions unless Mohamed Nasheed and his supporters are freed and returned to their rightful place – in government,” Seddon writes.
In his article, Seddon accuses the UK government of “waxing on about the importance of democracy in the Maldives while parading the accepted wisdom that Nasheed had somehow stepped down of his own volition, and been replaced by his vice president.”
“Prime minister David Cameron, despite having boldly declared that ‘Mohamed Nasheed is a friend of mine’, a few months back echoed this pusillanimity with his own: ‘this country does have strong links with the Maldives’, said Cameron, onion in hand, ‘and a good relationship with President Nasheed, but we have to be clear. President Nasheed has resigned, and we have a strong interest in the well-being of several thousand British tourists and in a stable and democratic government in the Maldives.’
“On the basis of that performance, just who would want to be a friend of David Cameron?” Seddon writes.
Observing that “The ‘Maldives Spring’ pre-dated that of the Arab Spring by six years,” Seddon continues that Maldivians “surely deserve a whole lot better from the international community? The mealy mouthed response from the British in particular just will not do. Diplomatic relations should be immediately suspended until the rule of law is once again established.”
Read more on the Huffington Post online.
(0)Dislikes
(0)Related Posts
Comment: Did former Maldives leader receive a fair trial?
Journalist’s family backs independent inquiry into disappearance
US shines spotlight on missing Maldives journalist
Government slams UK lord’s op-ed on Nasheed trial
Maldives slides in RSF press freedom index to 112th place
Adeeb denies connection with former Raajje TV journalist Asward
Nice comment on our president thank you
Totally agree that Maldives should be explelled from the Commonwealth and the UN as well. The present President is a terrorist.
UK or USA will only interfere if it benefits them like in Libya.Maldives got no oil,therefore why would UK or USA be concerned?
Maldives is not Iran, this unlawful govt will not survive 1 week under sanctions of any sort.
I fully support a travel ban on Europeans to this military state. This is probably the only way we can be free of this tyranny by the oligarchs. This is the only way we can bring these traitors to justice. Never again!
What is the point of living like a dog in a golden kennel? I'd rather be a pauper who is free.
President Nasheed is the only politician who can and will stand against human rights. Simple basic human rights and not the whitewashed crap.
He had to battle hypocrites coming in all colours. In doing so, he himself had to enroll crooked chameleons as well. Which was the mistake he made.
Sad to see him step down.
.
Asim, He did not step down. He was forced out by the MNDF and the Police. You may not believe what Nasheed says but there is the video clip which clearly shows that the MNDF refused to obey his orders to control the situation without resorting to arms and live bullets.
Now in any military jargon it is called a Mutiny and is punishable by a court martial and even life imprisonment.
Now the MNDF knows this and they would do all they can to stop this and would not hesitate to shoot and kill civilians.
Wouldn't it be ironic that Nasheed refused the MNDF to open fire on the Police while the MNDF and the Police themselves would open fire on Nasheed and other civilians and kill them to keep themselves( The thugs) in power?
Urgent
Urgent
Urgent
No Voted government rule breaking police are gathered in Huvadhoo Atoll Vilingili and decided to visit all the islands in huvadhoo atoll to arrest all the MDP leading activists. i am calling international media and UN human rights to observe it, cox no media gonna cover the events they play in a atoll level.