IDP may withdraw from all party talks – Hassan Manik

18 November 2007
Report: Soodh

The opposition party IDP has revealed that no action is being taken on the decision reached at the all party talks.

Islamic Democratic Party, IDP has threatened to withdraw from the talks as no actions has been taken on the party’s proposal to divide the 16 Members appointed by President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom to the Majlis equally among the political parties registered in the country. According to the party they have yet to receive any response from the Coordinator of All Party talks appointed by the government.

Speaking to Velidhoo News, IDP’s Vice President Mohamed Hassan Manik said that the party has already sent a letter to the Coordinator of All Party Talks because of the delayed response.

“We have submitted our proposal to divide the 16 members among all parties on the very first day of the talks; at the next meeting the Coordinator of all party talks, Mohamed Zahir told us that he had conveyed the proposal to President Gayoom, after that there is no word on the subject; at a time when priority is given to complete constitutional reform, IDP is proposing a very effective mechanism to do that; if this is going on then we might consider withdrawing from the talks” said a frustrated Hassan Manik.

Velidhoo News contacted the IDP’s President Umar Naseer to obtain further information on the matter. Umar noted that the fewer members are participating in the talks and that the number is decreasing with each meeting.

“Even at the beginning of the talks, I told them as the sessions goes on members will get less and less and time will come when we will not even achieve the quorum, for example at the last session 3 members out of 5 DRP members attended the talks, and only one from Adhaalath” said Umar IDP President.

Umar further said that President Gayoom must provide favorable response to their proposal of distributing the President’s 16 appointed Members to the Majlis equally among the political parties.

Umar says if no response is forthcoming he might have to withdraw his party from the all party talks.

If Umar withdraws his party from the talks then discussions will be held among DRP, Adaalath and MSDP.

The main opposition party MDP has right from beginning said that they will not participate in the talks. MDP has said that the government appointed Coordinator of All Party Talks is politically biased as he is an active member of the ruling DRP.