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The real impact of EU sanctions on the Maldives

23.09.04, European Commission, Brussels

There have been a number of statements made by the Maldivian government and a number of concerns expressed by Maldivian citizens after the sanctions resolution in the European Parliament last week (16^th Sept.). One the one hand, Gayyoom is attempting to play down the significance of the European Parliament's resolution (we won't even bother commenting on Gayyoom's ridiculous statement about "Zionists and Christians". On the other hand, many Maldivians are worried that they will be subjected to painful pre-war Iraq style sanctions. Neither of these interpretations are correct.

Let us deal firstly with the concerns that the sanctions, by banning trade or preventing tourists from Europe visiting the Maldives, could wreck the Maldivian economy. This fear is unfounded. The sanctions resolution passed last Thursday is clearly limited to certain things: there is a call for a travel ban on Gayyoom and his ministers, which means they would not be able to enter the member states of the European Union; there is a call for the cancellation of all non-humanitarian aid; and there is a proposal to warn tourists of the human rights record of the Maldives. Crucially though, there is no mention of banning tourists or stopping trade or anything else which would hurt the Maldivian people.

It is perhaps worth bearing in mind the reason why the European Parliament voted for this resolution last Thursday. The European Parliament voted for it because it is very concerned about reports of torture and abuse by the Maldivian government, especially after the 12/13^th August pro-democracy demonstrations. Also, the European Parliament, which is part of the government of the European Union, is built on the principles of democracy, human rights and liberty. It is therefore naturally disgusted at the increasingly dictatorial form of government it sees developing in the Maldives. So the European Parliament is very worried and wants to help the Maldivian people but at the same time it wants to punish Gayyoom and his government and pressure him to change.

The sanctions recommended last week would do all of these things. If they are implemented, they would prevent Gayyoom or his ministers from visiting any of the 25 member states of the European Union (Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Holland, Ireland, Greece, Belgium, Austria, Luxembourg, Demark, Sweden, Finland, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Cypress and Malta). If Gayyoom or one of his ministers stepped foot in one of these countries they would be immediately arrested. The sanctions resolution also includes a call to stop all aid to the Maldives apart from that for humanitarian purposes.

A travel ban imposed only on Gayyoom and his ministers would punish them (and only them) and the cancellation of non-humanitarian aid would stop money the Maldivian government might use for itself but not the money that helps everyday Maldivians. This makes perfect sense. Voting for a form of sanctions that would hurt the Maldivian people, the very people the Europeans are trying to help - would be self-defeating.

Now let us deal with the comments made by the Maldivian government. The Maldivian government has claimed that "only" 170 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) voted for the resolution and therefore nobody really cares about the Maldives in the European Parliament. This is, to use those infamous words, simply not true. In fact, it is deliberately misleading.

The European Parliament has to worry about many things. For a start it has to discuss the problems of the 450 million people it is responsible for. For this reason all MEPs cannot sit, discuss and vote in every single debate in Parliament. There simply isn't time. Those MEPs who did not attend the debate on the Maldives simply left it to the 177 MEPs who did go to decide on behalf of all the MEPs (there are 785 MEPs in total). This is common practice in the European Parliament. One hundred and seventy seven is actually quite a lot for a debate on a subject such as human rights and in fact showed a keen interest in Europe about the Maldives. The fact that 170 of the 177 voted in favour of the resolution (the other 7 abstained) further shows how concerned people are. Few resolutions are passed in the European Parliament without a dissenting vote.

The Maldivian government has also said that the European Parliament is unimportant and does not make the law. In regards to law-making, to a certain extent this is true. Sanctions are not yet in place even after the resolution in the Parliament. This is because other people in the European Union, such as the European Commission (which is a bit like a cabinet), also have to agree on sanctions for them to take effect. However, unlike in the Majlis, in the EU MPs have a big say in the way things are run. This is one of the reasons why the European Union is a democracy and the Maldives is not. The fact that the European Parliament has voted for this resolution and unanimously is very important. Whilst it may not be certain, it is now likely that sanctions will be imposed.

If and when depends on Gayyoom and whether he abides by the European Parliament's demands. These demands include the lifting of the State of Emergency, the release of all political prisoners and genuine democratic reform. If Gayyoom continues to behave he has been sanctions could be imposed in the next few weeks and months.

Gayyoom should also not underestimate the damage the European Parliament has already done to him and his government. The word "sanctions" is headline-grabbing and this resolution has been in the international media a lot. People also know that the EU only ever imposes sanctions on truly awful regimes. Gayyoom's credibility has been damaged incalculably by this resolution. The name of President Gayyoom is now associated with torture, lies and dictatorship to many leaders, diplomats and citizens across the world. If the sanctions are actually imposed, the damage will only become greater.

The European Parliament has sent a clear message to the people of the Maldives: we care for you and we're trying to help. It has also sent a clear message to Gayyoom and his government: we don't like you and we'll punish you if you continue to abuse your people.

The decision is really up to Gayyoom. He can continue his crack-down, face sanctions and become famous throughout the world as a brutal, murdering dictator. Alternatively, he can do what his people want him to do: release the detainees and start to introduce real democracy in the Maldives. If he chooses the latter option, perhaps history will remember him in a rather better light.

Friends of Maldives

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www.friendsofmaldives.co.uk