Report: Soodh
Dr. Kim Howells has expressed his satisfaction on the progress of the reform process that is going on in Maldives and said “We should not underestimate the challenges in attempting to make the transition from a political system that was based heavily on patronage and state control to a multi-party liberal democracy in the space of just a few years “.
Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Dr. Kim Howells made the statement while debating in British Parliament on 17October
In his speech at the Parliament Dr. Howells noted the extent of progress Maldives have made especially in areas such as in freedom of expression and the media, the formation of political parties and the development of civil society. He said he hoped further developments in other areas in the future.
Dr. Howells noted that 13 chapters had been written and is being put together by a constituent assembly, and the United Nations Development Program has provided assistance in the drafting. He called it very “encouraging news”.
Noting that to change the political system of a country from a state controlled regime to a liberal multiparty democracy within a short time would not be easy; he said that British Government is very satisfied with the ongoing political reform in Maldives.
Answering a question from a member of the Conservative Party whether observers would be posted from Briton and the Commonwealth to observe the first multi party elections scheduled for next year, Dr. Howells said that due to the nature of Maldivian geography it would not be possible to cover the entire country as there are 200 inhabited islands however he noted that there should be sufficient domestic observers, through the Maldives human rights commission and the political parties.
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