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UK government's parliamentary
response to questions about Maldives human rights abuses 16-17 March 2004
[Answer] Mr. Mike O'Brien: The last official meeting between Ministers was in 1999 when my right hon. friend the Deputy Prime Minister visited the Maldives. Our High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, also accredited to the Maldives, met with the Maldives Deputy Foreign Minister in Colombo on 30 January this year.
Officials in London last met the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) on 24 February 2004. Our High Commission in Colombo has regular contact with MDP representatives, and the High Commissioner was the first Head of Mission to meet them on 8 January this year. The discussion with the Maldivian Foreign Ministers covered issues relating to small island states, and our bilateral relations. Discussions with MDP representatives covered MDP concerns about human rights and limitations on their ability to conduct political activity in the Maldives. [Question] Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about the activities of the National Security Service of the Maldives; and what assessment he has made of these activities. [Answer] Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Maldivian Democratic Party has raised concerns with us regarding the activities of the National Security Service in the Maldives, particularly relating to its role during the civil disturbances in Male' on 19 and 20 September 2003. We continue to monitor reports of human rights abuses in the Maldives, and are considering with our European partners what further action we might take. [Question] Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of respect for human rights in the Maldives. [Answer] Mr. Mike O'Brien: In December 2003, the Maldives established a Human Rights Commission to protect, promote and preserve human rights in the Maldives. Officials from our high commission in Colombo called on the chair of the commission in January, and expressed to him our concern about reports of human rights abuses in the Maldives. We will continue to monitor the situation closely, and are considering with our European partners what further action we might take. [Question] Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations between the EU and the Maldives. [Answer] Mr. Mike O'Brien: EU Heads of Mission in Colombo maintain a close interest in the Maldives and many visit regularly. Interest has been heightened in the light of recent events and the reports of human rights abuses. [Question] Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the current (a) bilateral treaties, (b) agreements and (c) protocols between the British Government and the government of the Maldives. [Answer] Mr. Mike O'Brien: The UK has three such agreements with the Maldives: a 1953 Agreement on the Protection of the Islands; a 1976 Exchange of Notes terminating a 1965 agreement relating to military access; and a 1996 Agreement concerning air services. [Question] Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the current Government advice is to British citizens in respect of (a) bilateral trade with and (b) tourism in the Maldives. [Answer] Mr. Mike O'Brien: Advice on trade issues is usually tailored to meet particular needs of individual British companies considering business in the Maldives. Travel advice for the Maldives, produced by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), is available on the FCO website: www.fco.gov.uk. Tourists are advised that while most visits are trouble free, they should take care of their valuables and other personnel possessions. We also draw attention to the fact that possession of drugs carries severe penalties and that public observance of a religion other than Islam is prohibited. [Question] Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens visited the Maldives in 2003 (a) on official business, (b) on commercial missions and (c) on holiday. [Answer] Mr. Mike O'Brien: The total number of foreign visitors to the Maldives in 2003 was 563,593, according to Maldivian Government Statistics. We do not have figures either for British visitors, or for the purposes of visit. [Question] Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on behalf of prisoners at Maafushi Island Prison in the Maldives. [Answer] Mr. Mike O'Brien: Since their formation in exile in November 2003, the Maldivian Democratic Party has raised, with Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials, human rights issues, including the condition and treatment of prisoners in Maafushi Island Prison.
[Answer] Mr. Mike O'Brien: We are aware that the Maldivian authorities arrested an unconfirmed number of people in the capital Malé on 13 February in advance of a demonstration planned for 14 February by those sympathetic to the Maldivian Democratic Party. We look to the Government of the Maldives to charge those arrested promptly, in accordance with local law, or to release them. We have concerns about the protection of human rights in the Maldives, including the right of freedom of expression. We will continue to raise these concerns with the Government of the Maldives. |
Maldives Culture is an independent internet magazine of Maldive cultural issues.
Editors and translators: Michael O'Shea and Fareesha Abdulla, Australia
We invite contributions from Maldivians and others interested in Maldives.
Contributions and comments - mc_editors@hotmail.com
