Dhivehi Observer :: The People's Press ::

British MPs Roger Gale and Robert Key engage the British Parliament

Friends of Maldives Press Release - www.friendsofmaldives.co.uk 21 July 2004

Robert Key

Roger Gale

The Republic of Maldives is experiencing an unprecedented display of opposition to the President’s Government. 24 of the 108 Members of the the People's Special Majlis – the body cahrged with Constitutional amendments -walked out of the first session, and marched to the Presidential Palace to register their dissent. The Special Majlis was convened to consider amendments to the Constitution, as per President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom’s speech of 9 th June 2004, allowing for a multi-party democracy to operate for the first time in Maldives. However, many independent Members believe that Gayyoom’s promise is an empty one, designed to appease the international community.

Members commended the crowds gathered for remaining peaceful while they waited in the rain for an audience with the President. The increase unrest in the capital has become a concern for opposition groups such as the Maldivian Democratic Party (banned in Maldives and working in exile). The fact that the walk-out was conducted peacefully was welcomed by all sides in the dispute.

MPs in the UK have expressed concern for the instability in Maldives government and have posed questions in The Houses of Parliament in London. Roger Gale, MP for North Thanet, and Robert Key, MP for Salisbury, have both been instrumental in raising the profile of these events in the UK. They have requested a statement from the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Jack Straw MP.

Questions to the FCO (Hansard):

21 st July 2004: Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what information he has received concerning the first sitting on 19th July of the special Majlis in the Republic of Maldives; and if he will make a statement.

21 st July 2004: Mr Robert Key ( Salisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the situation in the Maldives.

In a recent meeting, Roger Gale MP suggested establishing links with international election observation bodies, including the Parliamentary Association for the Commonwealth, the Carter Foundation and AWEPA. He suggested that this was an effective way of increasing pressure on the Maldives government to allow such observers to attend. Mr Hussein Shihab of the Maldives Foreign Ministry, in a meeting with the All Party Group on Maldives in London, said that he would consider independent observers but as yet there has been no evidence that this will be the case.

An MDP spokesman said that the involvement of British MPs reveals confidence in their work and strengthens their continuing efforts towards democratic reform – particularly in the organisation of open debates on reform for the general public, which are being hindered by government officials and the National Security Service.

See questions 107 and 111 on Hansard

Rebecca Cork 21/07/04 - www.friendsofmaldives.co.uk

Rt. Hon. Roger Gale, Member of Parliament, UK www.rogergale.co.uk
Rt. Hon. Robert Key, Member of Parlaiment, UK www.robertkey.com