The Secretariat of the Majlis had announced that a no-confidence motion against Speaker of the House Abdulla Shahid has been scheduled to be heard on June 5, the day after the parliament reconvenes, reports Haveeru.
The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) passed the motion on April 17 alleging that Shahid had been making decisions relating to significant parliamentary issues without discussing them first with various political parties.
The motion was signed by 27 of the MDP’s then 32 representatives in the Majlis. The MDP currently has 31 members in the house after Shifag ‘Histo’ Mufeed defected to the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).
The party claimed that Shahid had been acting outside of his mandate by deciding to suspend certain parliament regulations, whilst opting to follow others that were alleged to be to his personal benefit.
Haveeru reports that the Parliament’s general committee must now decide on the number of MPs that will be involved in that debate, the extent of that debate and the time allowed for the debate.
The speaker has been targeted by MDP protesters following the motion, with large groups gathering outside Shahid’s residence to call for his resignation on April 21.
Ling Ya is fighting a challenging battle to protect young girls forced into sex slavery in Cambodia. She is a survivor of the sordid crime which is destroying lives of thousands of young girls in the turbulent region.
Khadija is among several lobbyists in Pakistan who are tirelessly working to push authorities to expedite the endorsement of stalled legislations on ending the sexual harassment and domestic violence Pakistani women are suffering.
Bothaina from Jordon is fighting with a system that allows a man to kill his wife for suspected infidelity and escape harsh punishment. Similar to several other Muslim communities, Jordanian young girls and women are forced to marry their rapists or abusers while some parents often dictate decisions for daughters who have to oblige in silence or face unimaginable consequences.
These are just only few stories shared by participants at the UNiTE Global Youth Forum held in Bangkok with a focus on strengthening the youth movement in ending gender inequality and violence against women and girls.
Forty participants aged 18-30 from 29 countries participated and shared their experiences and challenges they faced in ending violence against women and girls. The forum began on May 22 and came to a close on May 24 with all participants pledging to carry forward the UNiTE Campaign in their personal and professional lives.
Listening to these horrifying stories at the workshop, I was naturally prompted to ponder on the comparative successes my small island nation has achieved in ensuring the rights of women and girls. Indeed, we have come a long way forward.
UNiTE Global Youth Forum particpants
Progress in Maldives
In the Maldives – despite our religious conservative exterior – women can choose their spouses, marry, get divorced and even re-marry more easily than anywhere else in the world, while openly engaging in relationships outside marriage is not so taboo.
Not only do Muslim women and girls have equal access to education, health services and opportunities in Maldives – but these rights are guaranteed under the country’s constitution.
Women are also encouraged to be economically active in small and medium scale businesses to jobs in public officesor private companies. They receive equal protection under laws and are subjected to same punishments as men.
There is no institutional discrimination or barriers to political or social activism, thus allowing women to be teachers, police officers, judges, parliamentarians or even the President should she choose to be.
Accessible healthcare to mothers and newborns in Maldives have drastically reduced the maternal deaths and child mortality rates. Today, Maldives ranks as 45th best place to be a mother among 80 developing nations compared in international NGO Save the Children’s 13th State of the World’s Mothers report.
Participants from other countries noted the aforementioned legal frameworks, equal legal provisions and opportunities as some key solutions to solving several problems faced by women.
Perhaps it is these positive approaches that drive some people to ask, “What rights don’t women have in Maldives?” whenever the issue of women’s rights is raised here.
However, I was not surprised when a facilitator commented, “All things we say are needed for ensuring women’s rights are already in Maldives, but the numbers are yet so disturbing.”
What are these disturbing numbers?
Widespread domestic abuse and child molestation
Although the Maldives’ women development performance has been admirable with long standing pro gender equality policies, statistics available from multiple sectors indicate gross violations of women’s rights.
The country is faced with major challenges in addressing gender inequality and combating the widespread violence perpetrated against women and girls while growing religious conservatism is threatening the pace of women’s progress.
The first numbers showing the magnitude of women and girl’s suffering in Maldives was found in a 2007 survey namedMaldives Study on Women’s Health and Life Experiences which revealed that one in every three women aged 15 to 49 have experienced some form of physical or sexual violence during their life time.
Half of the women had experienced ‘severe’ injuries, such as gashes, fractures, broken bones or internal injuries while 6.3 percent women, who have ever been pregnant, reported having been physically abused during at least one pregnancy. Of those, 41 percent were punched or kicked in the abdomen.
“He (my husband) tied me up “face down” on a bed with a woven rope. I was eight months pregnant then…I had to stay like that for four hours. When he untied me, my hands and feet were swollen and cut. My stomach hurt really badly because I was tied “face down”…I cried. I had a stillborn child and the midwife told me that it was probably due to the violent act of my husband,” a respondent reported during the survey.
The survey also flagged that the violence is not limited to intimate relationships either.
Girls reported that male family members, particularly father or step-father perpetrated ‘physical violence’ while family friends, work colleagues and strangers ‘sexually abused’ them.
Meanwhile, the statistics analysed in the report also substantiated the high prevalence of childhood sexual abuse.
“We found that 12.2 percent of women aged 15-49 had been sexually abuse before the age of 15,” the report read. “Approximately 10 percent of women reported that their first sexual experience was either coerced or forced and that the younger the girl at the first sexual encounter, the more likely it was that sex was forced.”
The data also reflected the fact that girls are at greatest risk of sexual abuse by male family members and male acquaintances – this, and several sordid cases of inter-familial or incest cases prompted the authorities to endorse a legislation in 2010, stipulating harsher punishments for child abusers who are in a “trusted position” or otherwise guardians of victims.
However, the enactment of the Domestic Violence Bill in April has filled the gap in the legal system, which has been a great challenge in preventing violence against women and providing justice and protection to survivors of domestic violence.
However, we are yet to witness the positive outcome the important piece of legislation brings while much is needed to raise public awareness on it.
Little or no economic emancipation
Although the 2008 constitution has removed the bar on women from holding the highest political office and there is no institutional discrimination against women in politics and decision making per say—the numbers show a grim reality.
Only five out of 77 elected parliament members are women and 57 out of 1086 elected island and atoll council members are women. Even among the few women who are currently politically active, almost all are notably linked to high status families, or have been appointed to the position.
Only a staggering two percent of the economically active women hold senior decision making position compared to the eight percent of men while, according to planning department, the the unemployment rate for women is nearly double compared to male counterparts.
Over one third of working age women are economically inactive due to the gender stereotyping that demands house work and child care from women, the 2006 Census found. The absence of childcare facilities makes it difficult for women to remain employed after they have children
“I was a teacher for five years. But I had to stop working after birth of my child. I always hoped to start teaching when my son turned four. I did start even. But stopped because my husband’s family complained about looking after my son all the time and there is no child care facility here,” a 28 year old woman with a degree in education told this author.
“Besides, I don’t think my husband will approve putting our son in child care,” she added.
Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) has also reported that some employers discourage women from marriage or pregnancy, as it could result in employment termination or demotion.
Meanwhile, the Maldives has the highest divorce rates in the world, with up to 47 percent households headed by females and single mothers.
An audit of the courts found that large amounts of money received as child support has not been distributed to the recipients while some remains uncollected – indicating that single-mothers are bearing the financial burden of raising children.
A monthly allowance of Rf2000 (US$130) is distributed by state to single-mothers; however, flaws in the system and miscommunications leave many mothers empty-handed, especially in the atolls.
“I have a five year old son. His father has not provided child support since we got divorced. But I do not get child support because I am a civil servant. That is very upsetting because I can barely cover the costs,” a school supervisor working on Hithadhoo island commented.
Meanwhile, the high level of drug abuse results in many women co-dependent on drug users, the UNFPA Maldives says. It puts women at high risk of violence and abuse while those women who have experienced violence are significantly more likely to have health problems, emotional distress and thoughts of suicide.
Rising sexual health-illnesses
Reports also suggests that Maldivian women are greatly at the risk of reproductive illnesses due to unavailability of information on reproductive health.
Centre for Community Health and Disease Control (CCHDC) flagged high prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in a report released last year. Eighteen 18 HIV positive cases were detected and over 400 cases of STIs, of which 97 percent were women.
Detection STIs included chlamydia and gonorrhea – both conditions that can cause infertility if left untreated.
Rising STIs were associated with high risk behaviors such as increased sexual activities with reduced contraceptive use, lack of awareness and human trafficking for purposes including sexual entertainment.
Even though no specific statistics are available, anecdotal evidence additionally suggests that the number of unwanted pregnancies and unsafe aborions have dramatically increased – particularly among adolescents.
The current Health Minister Dr Ahmed Jamsheed acknowledged these disturbing trends in his blog last year.
Dr Jamsheed wrote on his blog in June 2011, “I believe that a high rate of abortion by our women, both in the Maldives and in neighbouring countries have been going on for some time.”
He made the comments following the discovery of three abandoned babies in the same year, out of which two were premature foetusus while the third was a dead new born.
“This is very much a public health and social issue, strongly related to societal values and faith. Criminalisation will never solve it and this will go on unless we address the root causes or have upstream interventions,” Dr Jamsheed argued.
Broader reproductive health should be taught in the schools, either incorporated to the curriculum or as a separate programme, he said. Furthermore, he contended, all barriers to access contraceptives must be removed.
He admitted: “I understand that some people would condemn this opinion, arguing that this will promote unlawful and out of wedlock sex. However, I don’t believe that the availability or non-availability of condom or contraceptives would ever be a factor determining whether two people who want to have sex will have it or not!”
UNFPA Assistant Representative Shadiya Ibrahim also echoed Jamsheed’s remarks contending that research has proven “sex education does not increase promiscuity”. Of 68 studies on family life and sex education in a scientific review, she said, 65 studies found no associated increases in sexual behavior.
“Young people taking part in such programs had higher levels of abstinence, later start of sexual activity, higher use of contraceptives, fewer sexual partners and/or reduced rates of STDs and unplanned pregnancy,” according to Ibrahim.
She added: “Non-health factors such as lacking education, lacking status in family, early marriage make girls highly vulnerable to unwanted pregnancy. It could be lacking basic knowledge and information about sexual and reproductive health and the means to prevent conception.”
“Other unintended pregnancies result from rape, sexual abuse and incest. Sexual education to boys and girls help reduce these instances and provide strategies for girls to reduce their vulnerability,” she observed.
Overwhelming majority of the married young girls are getting pregnant, which brings “high costs in lost opportunities, limited life options and poor health, according to her.
“It also affects the ability to provide opportunities for their children too. When young girls delay starting their families, they have better opportunities for further education and skill development and mean to fulfill whatever dreams they may have and contribute to productive integrated members of the society and economic development.” she further explained.
However, these contemporary strategies have fallen short from being transformed into concrete actions amid religious pressures in Maldives.
In addition, Education Ministry reported last year that girls are not being vaccinated and female school enrollment rates are falling. Both were associated with “religious reasons” which have been described as misinterpretation of religion by some Islamic scholars.
Meanwhile, claims that female circumcision is rising in practice in the Maldives also triggered alarm across the government and NGO sector in 2011.
“We are beginning to hear reports of this occurring, and I have heard on radio and television people justifying the practice. It is quite disheartening,” said President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan, who was Vice President at the time.
Though he did not pinpoint a specific area where female circumcision was taking place, but attributed the “general trend” to “rising conservatism and traditional values imported from other parts of the world.”
These perceived influence from growing conservative religious groups in the country, according to gender experts, “are causing fear that recent gains in addressing gender equality could be reversed.”
Therefore, they argued that the authorities must prioritise gender mainstreaming to achieve the international goals of gender equality and also expand the efforts into eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls.
February 7 and 8, 2012, was the beginning of a very violent period in the recent history of the Maldives inflicted by its own people, the police and the army, on unarmed civilians, writes former Deputy Health Minister Mariya Ali for Child Rights International Network.
The first democratically elected president was deposed in a coup d’état on February 7. Since then non-violent protests have continued mainly in the streets of the capital city, Male. So far, 412 people have been detained as political prisoners.
Testimonies of male and female detainees confirm that varying degrees of physical, mental and sexual abuse were perpetrated by the police. Violence from the police has been witnessed by children either through their families being directly affected by it or via images on television. Children who witness violence are traumatised with varying degrees of psychological damage that they carry throughout their lives.
This year, the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) celebrated Maldivian Children’s Day in their full army clothing, with a designated area created to look like a war zone, and with officers helping children to hold real firearms correctly in their hands and showing them how to use them. Although the MNDF declared that the firearms were not loaded, it failed to recognise the timing and the symbolic message behind the event.
Against the backdrop of continuing violence, growing religious extremism in the island paradise, combined with the message from the current President Mohamed Waheed – “Be courageous. Today you are all mujaheddin [those who fight jihad] who love the nation” – children are internalising the use of violence as a norm.
In many cases social scientists have observed that multiparty systems, especially in a presidential political system, have inevitably transformed into two-party contests. While many parties are usually present at birth of a nascent democracy, as it matures the contest for power between these parties slowly become a fight for survival ensuring that only the strongest parties survive.
The video below demonstrates how multiparty systems filter out smaller parties as the democracy matures:
We are not of the view that a two-party system is better than a multiparty system. In fact a multiparty political system allows for more voter choice. We however do think that a multiparty system is much less likely to occur in a presidential system compared to a parliamentary political system (which is perhaps why MDP was right in endorsing a parliamentary political system when it was put to referenda). Maldivian politics too, seems like it is moving towards a two party political system. While it might be too soon to jump to conclusions, here is how we think it might happen;
The reason why we think MDP and PPM are the most likely two parties to survive is because we believe that they are the two parties with strong and exclusive principles. MDP was the founding party of Maldivian Democracy. It has stood boldly for individual freedoms, social welfare and has continuously opposed the use of force in maintaining social order (at least in principle). PPM on the other hand has endorsed a system Maldivians saw for 30 years where the emphasis is on social order, even at the expense of individual freedoms.
DRP though part of Ithihad (coalition), we predict that them moving away from it. First of all they took the bold move of forcing Gayoom to leave the party, and since then tension between DRP and PPM have been unresolvable.
Most PPM supporters feel bitter about DRP and are less likely to work with them. We think that feeling is mutual from DRP supporters towards PPM as well. The only thing now keeping MDP and DRP separated seems to be their disagreement with Mohamed Nasheed. Even then, we think if the earliest elections move to a second round DRP is much more likely to endorse the MDP candidate over Gayoom.
Given that we feel that both MDP and DRP will maintain similar ideologies the question must be answered as to why we believe MDP will survive over DRP. This is because MDP by far has a larger support base than DRP; whose members seem to be still stuck on crossroads after Gayoom left the party to form PPM.
Secondly, MDP is the party that founded democracy, and has continued to mature with these same principles while DRP was a party used to support an autocrat who they seem to disagree with now. In terms of number and consistency, it’s easy to see why MDP will win over DRP. We also predict PPM to win over DRP in the first round of the next election.
Apart from the fact that PPM continues to win former DRP members, PPM also enjoys the potential support from AP and JP as part of the Ithihad. Furthermore, we think that the lack of an exclusive principle in DRP means that swing voters who decide to vote for democracy will vote for MDP, leaving DRP expecting to win votes only from their own members.
The Adhaalath Party (AP) seems to be losing a lot of support it used to enjoy from the highly religious community in Maldives. The recent scandals, as well as the contradictory statements regarding political activism by their leaders have casted doubt on their sincerity, credibility, and commitment to Islamic principles.
Though AP leadership is expected to campaign with PPM in the second round of the upcoming elections, overtime the votes of AP members are most likely to transfer to a party which they feel, can accommodate a favorable Islamic environment.
If the Jumhooree Party (JP) was to support a principle; it would be in favor of liberalised markets and maximum commercial freedom. They seem to support least possible taxation and most possible freedoms in terms on investment and commerce. We argue that the party is likely to make coalition with a party that agrees to maintain the trade liberalisation ideology. We also would like to point out that such a coalition makes perfect sense for PPM since there seems to be no conflict of interest in adhering to the principles of JP.
Overall, our conclusion is that Maldives is likely to move towards a two-party political system as the political history matures. Perhaps parties like AP or JP might not completely die out, but it can be said with relative certainty that the main battles for presidency is to most likely happen between MDP and PPM.
All comment pieces are the sole view of the author and do not reflect the editorial policy of Minivan News. If you would like to write an opinion piece, please send proposals to [email protected]
“In the Maldives, after the excesses of the Nasheed years, many people will instead have been looking for stable and dignified government,” writes Dr Hassan Saeed for local newspaper Haveeru.
That is why last week President Waheed marked his 100 days in office with a simple press conference, which through its demeanour demonstrated a strong contrast with the previous four years.
This contrast with the past was further reflected this week when Nasheed and his MDP celebrated and experienced justice at first hand. Judge Abdulla of Criminal Court to whom Nasheed, as the former President denied justice, this week, delivered justice to Nasheed!
The Government backed by the Attorney General’s legal opinion asked the police to evict President Nasheed and his MDP activists from the central government’s Usfasgandu land they have been occupying in the capital Male. The Government has a responsibility for the upkeep of that land so were well within their rights to seek control of property that they administer on behalf of the people.
The Police, seeking to clarify the legal basis of the Government decision, sought a court order from the Criminal Court. The Court decided that it cannot be clearly determined that the issue or case was within its mandate and therefore ruled that it cannot issue an order to dismantle the Usfasgandu area. This again shows that MDP allegations of one-sidedness of the Police and Judiciary are false.
Ironically the Chief Judge of the Court is Judge Abdullah whom Nasheed kidnapped and held in forceful custody for 21 days against court orders of all levels. Barely three months ago Nasheed planned to “abolish” lower courts and declared those judges “illegal”.
The Commission of National Inquiry (CNI), established to ascertain the circumstances behind the controversial transfer of power on February 7, has temporarily ceased its work to accommodate changes to its composition.
According to local newspaper Haveeru, the CNI has said its investigation had been discontinued as of May 16 to allow for changes approved by President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan to come into effect.
On April 16, The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (GMAG) warned of taking “stronger measures” against the Maldives government should it not revise the composition and mandate of the CNI within 30 days over concerns about its impartiality.
A day before CMAG’s deadline, the government agreed to allow a retired Singaporean judge to co-chair the CNI, and also permit former President Mohamed Nasheed to appoint a representative to the commission.
The Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure has decided to involve the Human rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM) in its ongoing feud with Male’ City Council (MCC).
The ministry has forwarded a case to police as well as the HRCM in relation to its civil servants who have been assigned to work at the Dharubaaruge conference center.
President of the HRCM Mariyam Azra confirmed that a complaint had been received today regarding the right to work of these civil servants. She said that the HRCM will work with the CSC to resolve the issue.
In one of a series of jurisdictional disputes in the capital, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) informed the MCC in April that its Dharubaaruge staff had been transferred to the Housing Ministry following a cabinet decision to transfer the conference centre to the central government.
Upon receiving the letter, the MCC sent all members of staff home and locked the doors to the conference centre.
This prompted a swift response from Housing Minister Dr Mohamed Muiz who declared that the centre had been closed unlawfully. Police were sent in and the centre forcefully reopened.
Dr Muiz told Sun Online that Housing Ministry staff had been arriving for work at the conference centre since mid-April and being forced to stand outside as the MCC refuses to accept the legality of the transfer of ownership.
The minister argued that this situation contravened the workers human rights.
“Eighteen civil service employees of Dharubaaruge have to stay out in the sun every day after reporting to work. They can’t enter Dharubaaruge to work. So whether it’s City Council or another institution, they are denying these employees their rights,” Muiz told Sun.
MCC Councillor Mohamed Abdul Kareem denied that this was the case and said that the MCC had made interim arrangements with the CSC.
“No, they are not waiting outside, they are working at the Housing Ministry. We have arranged a temporary permit with the CSC to use our civil servants in the Dharubaaruge until the legal dispute is resolved,” said Kareem.
Mohamed Fahmy Hassan, Chairman of the CSC said that there was no prospect of Housing Ministry staff gaining access to the building until the MCC had agreed to the transfer and a full inventory of the facilities and equipment had been conducted.
“We have instructed the Ministry of Housing to make arrangements for staff to sign up and go home until the situation with the MCC is dealt with,” said Fahmy, though he was unsure whether these instruction had been carried out.
The legal battle between the MCC and the government continued to smoulder this week as the police, responding to a request from the Home Ministry, requested an order from the Criminal Court to dismantle the Maldivian Democratic Party’s (MDP) Usfasgandu protest area.
This area was one of 32 plots of land given over to the MCC as part of the 2010 decentralisation act and was reclaimed by the Housing Ministry on May 9 after its warnings for political activities in the area to cease went unheeded.
After some deliberation, as well as pleas from the MCC, the Criminal Court decided that this Usfasgandu did not fall under its remit, leaving the police to consider its next move.
President Mohamed Waheed Hassan has accepted an invitation from the Commonwealth to attend Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee.
As the head of a Commonwealth member nation, President Waheed was invited to attend the celebration by Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma, the President’s Office stated.
“Prresident Dr Mohamed Waheed is pleased to accept the invitation for the President and First Lady Madam Ilham Hussain, to attend the Diamond Jubilee luncheon of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Head of the Commonwealth,” the President’s Office stated.
“The Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Kamalesh Sharma invited the President and the First Lady, in an official letter, to attend the luncheon, where Commonwealth governments would officially celebrate Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee.”
The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) was today distributing a letter from Secretary General Sharma to former President Mohamed Nasheed, dated December 6, 2011, inviting him to a lunch at Marlborough House on Wednesday, June 6, 2012, to be attended by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.
“This will follow the weekend of official celebrations of the Jubilee in the UK,” the letter stated.
The Maldives is currently on the formal agenda of the Commonwealth’s Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), following the controversial transfer of power on February 7. CMAG has called for an independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding this transfer of power, as well elections in 2012.
The government – and President Waheed – last week complied with a demand to reconstitute the commission of national inquiry after CMAG criticised its independence, however Waheed also challenged CMAG’s mandate to place the Maldives on its agenda.
Parties in the new ruling coalition also proposed a motion to pre-emptively withdraw from the Commonwealth. MP of the coalition Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP), Riyaz Rasheed, attacked the Commonwealth’s commitment to democracy by slandering the Queen and claiming the UK was not a democracy.
“Look, the Queen has been in power for 50 years. Is that good? No, that’s inappropriate. If we wanted to point fingers, we can,” he said.
“After 50 years, the English Queen, she is physically challenged. But she is still Queen, and if she wants she can remove the Prime Minister. Where is democracy? Where is democracy? That is not a democracy,” he added.
In response, Chairman of the UK’s All Party Parliamentary Group on the Maldives, MP David Amess, was reported to have said in a March meeting that the Maldives government apologise for the outburst, and suggested that President Waheed’s attendance at the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations would be inappropriate.
Minivan News understands that the Secretary General has issued fresh invitations to heads of government in Commonwealth countries that have experienced a change in leadership since the originals were sent, such as Jamaica, Bahamas and Malawi.
Former High Commissioner to the UK, Dr Farahanaz Faizal, said she was not sure if the invitation was re-issued, or if Waheed had replied to Nasheed’s invite.
“In any case, unless the invitation was recalled, Waheed as head of government can attend, as the invitation was to the Head of Government,” she said. “So there is nothing untoward about Waheed attending the lunch hosted by the Commonwealth Secretary-General. It is an invitation for a luncheon at Marlborough House, not part of the UK government’s official [Jubilee] celebrations.”
The International Herald Tribune has published an exclusive interview on its India Ink blog with President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan discussing his government’s aims for transparent democracy and sustainable initiatives.
“Mohammed Waheed Hassan, president of the Maldives, concluded a five-day state visit to India last week, his first since taking over in February after Mohamed Nasheed, the country’s first democratically elected leader, stepped down.
Mr Nasheed said he was forced to leave in a coup that was orchestrated by loyalists to Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, the former dictator.
During his visit to India, Mr Hassan rejected calls from Mr Nasheed and others for early elections, saying that under the constitution, the next elections in Maldives could not be held earlier than July 2013. He also said Indian leaders impressed upon him the importance of all political stakeholders in the Maldives working together to take the democratic process forward.
In an interview, conducted through e-mail, Mr Hassan rejected allegations that he is being influenced by Mr Gayoom and pledged that he would do all he could to preserve the country’s relationship with India,” the paper wrote.
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