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Students for Democracy meet in Colombo Press statement Students for Democracy studentsfordemocracy@gmail.com 2 August 2004   graphic by Naushad Waheed A pro-democracy forum organized by Sri Lanka based Students for Democracy was held at Galle Face Hotel on 1 August 2004. The well-attended forum covered some of the main reforms proposed by President, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom in his much publicized address on 9 June 2004. The panelists focused on human rights issues in the Maldives, the need for political pluralism and the imperative for separation of powers and the establishment of an independent judiciary. During the lively, proactive discussion that followed, the invitees raised the question of widespread human rights abuse in the Maldives and the need for firmly establishing the rule of law. The participants felt that continued disregard for fundamental human rights and endemic violation of the constitution by Gayoom’s regime, in power for 26 years, could seriously undermine the social, political and economic stability of Maldives. Many of the speakers called upon Gayoom to stop human rights abuse and to firmly establish the rule of law as an immediate measure to preempt instability in the country. Students for Democracy is a non-partisan organization formed by Maldivian students in Sri Lanka. The main objective of the organization is to promote participatory liberal democracy in the Maldives. top

Related articles and links Forum on Democratic Reform held in Colombo today Dhivehi Observer 1 August 2004

Maldives Culture is an independent internet magazine of Maldive cultural issues.
Editors and translators: Michael O'Shea and Fareesha Abdulla, Australia
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