The European Union has called on political parties in the Maldives to commit to early presidential elections “and to determine the legislative and constitutional measures required to ensure that these are free and fair.”
Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, also said that the EU “is of the view that the legitimacy and legality of the transfer of presidential power in the Maldives should be determined by an impartial, independent investigation as agreed by all parties in the Maldives. “
President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan has appointed members to such an inquiry, however former President Mohamed Nasheed’s party has disputed its impartiality, and called for the involvement of an independent international body.
The EU said it was ready “to offer further assistance in the field of governance, including in the justice sector, in conjunction with existing actions financed by Member States.”
In the meantime, Ashton said, “the EU calls on all parties to refrain from violence, inflammatory rhetoric and any provocative actions which could threaten the future of democracy in the Maldives.
“The police and army should exercise maximum restraint in the execution of their duties which must remain strictly within their constitutional mandate.”
In response to the EU’s statement, Nasheed’s Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) issued a statement “warmly welcoming the conclusions and sentiments contained therein”, and called for “immediate dialogue between responsible political parties possessing a democratic mandate (i.e. having seats in the Majlis or local councils) to agree on the date and conditions for free and fair elections, and to determine the constitutional and legislative measures required to make this happen.”
The MDP earlier this week boycotted a round of talks held in Nasandhura Palace Hotel, describing them as a “clear effort to delay substantive discussions”
The minority opposition Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM), headed by the former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, was present in talks but does not have official representation in the parliament or on an elected council. Under parliamentary regulations, MPs who joined Gayoom’s PPM from the Dhivehi Rayithunge Party (DRP) technically count as independent MPs until elected on a PPM ticket in the next parliamentary election.
China defers to India
A report in India’s Hindustan newspaper meanwhile suggests that China has “quietly conveyed” that it has no interest in “fishing in the troubled waters of the Maldives”, and was prepared to “help New Delhi settle the political crisis”.
“Top government sources said after inspired reports that Chinese were behind the overthrow of liberal Mohamed Nasheed’s regime, Beijing used diplomatic channels to assure at the highest levels that it has no political interest in Male’ and wanted New Delhi to take the lead in sorting out the current political crisis,” the Hindustan repored.
“While China offered help in case India wanted it in settling Male, it made it clear to New Delhi that it would be concerned if US, UK and other western powers moved in to resolve the crisis.”
India’s United Progressive Alliance (UPA)-led government “is confident of helping Maldives resolve the political crisis,” the paper reported. “It knows that the local people on streets are with Mohamed Nasheed but that the state power and institutions including army are with Abdul Gayoom, backed by Dr Mohammed Waheed Hassan.”
“Indian diplomatic managers want Waheed to step down and pave way for an interim government under Speaker which could hold free and fair elections for a stable government as early as possible. But the pragmatic picture shows that India will deal with both Waheed and Nasheed for a stable government in Male and does not expect the current President to step down before elections.”
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Until such time as there is a fair and unrigged general election in the Maldives all foreign tourists are advised to stay away from the Maldives. After all there are better and more stable places in the world to holiday.
A good call by the EU.
Every same person will call for an immediate election. These traitors have robbed our democracy and will destroy it if left alone.
Ahem, and this story comes on the day that Dhunya Maumoon claimed that there is no pressure from any external body for early elections.
As far as India goes, its playing its cards close to its chest. Of course, India wants a piece of the pie whether it is Waheed, Nasheed or another Gayyoom in the top seat. India is less concerned with democracy and other such niceties in the Maldives!
That's a dangerous game for India to play. The EU stance is very welcome. EU is the biggest trading partner to the Maldives (most of the tourism income flows from there) and EU has a lot of levers to pull in order to restore democracy here.
The international community should take note that Deputy Speaker Nazim just walked free of all charges of defrauding the State. This case has been pending in the Criminal Court for over 3 years, and less than 2 weeks after the democractically elected government was brought down, the case has been thrown out of the Criminal Court! This certainly, is no coincidence.
Look! Nazim got a safe runaway from the Abdulla Gazi-Azima Justice system that was setup by Gayyoom long, long ago knowing today's situation...How clever this old-man is?????????????
If one looks at today's cabinet, one can clearly understand if we have a democracy or autocracy (iron-fist system of government)
what to do?????????? I don't think the guys who robbed democracy shall be able to return it even if the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group declares the recent Power transfer was in a coup....Anyway, shall we wait and see how hungry Waheed is becoming a President only for the sake the position that he was looking at like a hungry cat watching at a tuna loin
“Top government sources said after inspired reports that Chinese were behind the overthrow of liberal Mohamed Nasheed’s regime, Beijing used diplomatic channels to assure at the highest levels that it has no political interest in Male’ and wanted New Delhi to take the lead in sorting out the current political crisis,” the Hindustan repored.
“While China offered help in case India wanted it in settling Male, it made it clear to New Delhi that it would be concerned if US, UK and other western powers moved in to resolve the crisis.”
This answers why the many housing project that President Nasheed started (to which there is a lot of Chinese interest is attached to) is said to be not performing as said by the newly appointed Housing Minister!
Let EU settle first their own problems, economy of Greece may be a good place to start. We don't care what EU say anymore, they don't have money to go on holidays, neither they have weapons to play a role in world geopolitics, if India, China USA don't make any statement, nobody will listen now.
Ms Ashton, you are seated in Belgium where there has been no democratic government and elections due since more than 2 years. Why don't you talk about them first before telling us what to do. Its so aanoying to see how all of you are so interested in poking your noses in others internal matters.
Judas Waheed, Just a friendly suggestion from someone who hates every cell in your body, elect Yasir as your Foreign Minister.
I welcome the EU position as the correct one!
And democratic is the EU, ladies and gentlemen.
They are not allowing the neighboring Turkey to join but they are willing to give EU membership to Israel - a country far away in the middle east.
What about the minority rights of many ethnic groups in Europe.
I am not condoning a coup but Is the EU itself a model of democratic governance?
@Ekaloa on Wed, 22nd Feb 2012 3:24 PM
"We don’t care what EU say anymore,..."
Oh yes you do! Does the word "travel advisory" mean anything to you? Your daily bread comes from EU money! Don't bite the arm that feeds you...
EU countries are most undemocratic and racist countries, France don't allow women to wear veil, Denmark don't respect other religions. What democracy they talk, I was so scared when I was in Europe to travel even in a public train.
I used to have doubts but now all doubt is cleared. There are many suffering from island mentality. Some literally perceive themselves as superior or exceptional to the rest of the world. There is a broader worldview out there folks, look beyond your island! Maldives would crumble without the support of other nations. We are a net importer, in toto. You should never insult the midwife when you are still fertile.
Please check out in case the following failed to be caught sight of.
Indian diplomatic managers want Waheed to step down and pave way for an interim government under Speaker which could hold free and fair elections for a stable government as early as possible.
But the pragmatic picture shows that India will deal with both Waheed and Nasheed for a stable government in Male and does not expect the current President to step down before elections.
@Ahmed bin Addu bin Suvadheeb
'daily bread comes from EU money'
May be you eat bread daily but Maldivains do not. We like our roshi and mashuni. Even if we eat bread, we certainly do not eat it daily like Europeans of which you may be one, at least in thinking.
If it is your belief that Maldivians only survive on the mercy of Europeans and their 'travel advisories', may I ask you to do a reality check.
Ever heard of the EU debt crisis and an emerging economy called China?
When something is brown outside and WHITE inside, it is called the coconut mentality.
Freeze I'm the EU
put your hands in the air and give me all your money
Its a travel advisory..
If we Maldivians don't allow it the world is missing a luxury they cant afford to because unlike us they don't beliv we will be here for long! haha.....sad we don't realise our own worth...if the world deserts us we will 4get everything and enjoy the miracles of creation in the sea and beachside and eat fish n kattela...afterall this is what the europeans pay 5000 dollars a n8 for!
What a shame! " Nasheed, the global president, the champion of the earth and the best friend of British PM couldn't complete one year term in his office ". SHAME SHAME SHAME
If we Maldivians don’t allow it the world is missing a luxury they cant afford to because unlike us they don’t beliv we will be here for long! haha…..
banbukeyo I can assure this European can afford more luxuries than you can afford, but I don't consider the Maldives a luxury anymore - it is just a load of low intellect Islamic people ripping off tourists
Mihail, grade twelve student, who addressed the “Insaarfu ge Dhathuru” has been suspended by the Villa College run by MP Gasim Ibrahim,
Gasim Ibrahim the philanthropist who paid, planned and carried out the 7 February 2012 coup, by his ill earn money, has destroyed the future of Maldives and now he has decided to destroy this prospective patriot of Maldivies who is studying in his Villa College.
Official EU backing is a pressure for Default president Waheed to see through a early election.
@ Coconut Mentality
A small charity named Friends of Maldives operating in a UK town called to boycott Villa Resorts and Deen Resorts and the Maldives Tourism Minister went in full gear to damage control, threatened to sue the Friends of Maldives. Shows how important the EU is to Maldives Tourism, don't you agree?
@Coconut mentality on Wed, 22nd Feb 2012 7:05 PM
"Ever heard of the EU debt crisis and an emerging economy called China?"
I don't live under a rock. If the EU matters so little to the illegal regime of Waheed, then how come he hurriedly dispatches his boy, Hassan Saeed to growl at the Foreign Office in the United Kingdom?
Just out of interest, do you actually know the total contribution of China to the Maldivian economy?
Maldives cannot have early elections this year and then again have Presidential elections in 2013...it does not make sense calling for two elections in one year!
Coconut Mentality: When something is brown outside, white inside with a hollow core. Just saying. So basically most of those are probably more cynical than anything, I mean hey, there's no core to anything they say.
I'm not taking part in the political debate, but I do hate when persons make false statements about my country, i.e.:
Ekaloa on Wed, 22nd Feb 2012 4:38 PM
EU countries are most undemocratic and racist countries, France don’t allow women to wear veil, Denmark don’t respect other religions. What democracy they talk, I was so scared when I was in Europe to travel even in a public train.
Denmark has total religious freedom and our present minister of religious affairs, Manu Sareen, is Indian and comes from a Hindu family.
Why "Ekaola" is scared of riding trains in Europe is a puzzle. Which of the 50 countries in Europe is he refering to? European trains are quite safe, apart from a few terrorist attacks, and full of foreigners as well as locals.
Ekaloa must be the representative of stupidity here.
@ Coconut mentality
If you think the EU is out of money, you are completely completely completely wrong. Though it is true many Southern EU-countries are struggling, Western and Northern EU-countries wealth and the wealth of people living there only decreased a little bit. That means it is still the most wealthy region in the world.
So yes, many Europeans still can afford to visit The Maldives and yes, losing the income of European tourist would be a huge blow for the economy of The Maldives.
i hate injustice....i love to be fair... at the moment Maldives is in a crisis...democracy(people's power) was overthrown by a coup and this transition is leading us to a dictatorship(origin of coup power)...the current so called president is paving the path for dictatorship. i support the EU stance on this matter is right n every incident has to be investigated n justice has to prevail, i believe the whole world will be with us.