:: Dhivehi Observer :: Peoples Press ::

Declaration by the Heads of Mission of the European Union accredited to the Maldives on the State of Emergency and the detention of Members of the Special Majlis.

The Heads of Mission of the European Union accredited to the Maldives sent a delegation to Maldives to discuss the detention of Members of the Special Majlis, the events that led to their arrest and the reform process. On 6 September 2004 the European Union delegation met the Maldivian Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The EU delegation expressed its concern about the continuing detention without charge of members of the Special Majlis and others, and the ongoing state of emergency. The EU called upon the Maldivian government to immediately repeal the state of emergency, restoring all fundamental rights to the detainees and creating an atmosphere in the Maldives which would encourage an early return to normality for all Maldivians. The EU reaffirmed its support for the reforms announced by the President on 9 June 2004, and urged the government to continue with the process, including by setting an early date for the resumption of the Special Majlis, for an early finalization and implementation of the reforms.

The leader of the delegation, Netherlands Ambassador Susan Blankhart, speaking on behalf of the European Union Heads of Mission, said, "The announcement of a state of emergency, and the subsequent mass arrests (including of many reformist leaders) seem to be a disproportionate reaction by the Maldivian authorities to what was a largely peaceful demonstration. These events have the potential to derail the reform process, which is at a crucial stage. The EU hopes that the government will press ahead with an open, inclusive, and thorough reform process, which will be the best way to ensure continued stability in the Maldives. EU will be paying close attention to developments."

The EU welcomes the steps being taken by the Maldivian government to enter into an agreement with the International Committee of the Red Cross on prison monitoring, and looks forward to the early conclusion of such an agreement.

Despite their request the EU delegation was not granted access to: Mr. Gasim Ibrahim, Dr. Mohamed Munavvar, Mr. Ibrahim Hussain Zaki, Dr. Hussain Rasheed, Mr. Ibrahim Ismail, Mr. Ilyas Hussain, Mr. Ali Faiz, Mr. Mohammed Naseem, Mr. Ahmed Shafeeq, Mr Ahmed Athif and Mr. Ahmed Adil, detained members of the (Special) Majlis.

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For press & public affairs please contact Mr. Harry van Dijk – Deputy Head of Mission on tel. 011-2596914 or nethemb@sri.lanka.net