IDP withdraws from All Party Talks

22 November 2007
Report: Soodh

Islamic Democratic Party, IDP, has withdrawn from all party talks conducted by the Coordinator for all party talks.

Deputy President of IDP, Mohamed Hussain Manik said the main reason for withdrawal is because no action has so far been taken on the decision reached at the talks. Hussain Manik said the party has not received any response to their proposal submitted at the first meeting of the talks and that a formal letter has been sent to the Coordinator requesting a response to their proposal.

Hassan Manik says according to the Coordinator of all party talks, the delay in response is due to the fact that no answer has been provided by the President.

“Even in our letter sent to the Coordinator on all party talks, we have stated that IDP will withdraw from the talks if no answer is given; President has said that Reform Agenda will be implemented with the advise of all the political parties, we submitted our proposal for the distribution of the President’s Members with the support of the other 3 parties, it is a waste of our time if our views are not forwarded to the Majlis; there were a lot of support for the talks initially, now each party is represented by one or two Members, some days one or two party may be at the talks, that is why we are saying President has no sincerity regarding the Talks” said IDP Vice President Mohamed Hassan Manik.

IDP has said that the All Party Talks is just drama shown by the President to the international community, media and the people of the Maldives that Reform Agenda is being implemented with the advice of other political parties.

As IDP is saying the decisions reached at the All Party Talks are not acted upon, Miadhu contacted other parties for their comment on the issue. Adhaalath and Maldives Social Democratic party, MSDP says even though IDP has made such allegations they are not true.

Leader of MSDP Reeco Ibrahim Manik said “even though IDP is making the allegations, I will not believe it, our views are sent to the Majlis, to allocate the appointed Members of the President amongst the parties is not part of the agenda, what is on the agenda to complete the constitution reform”.

President of Adhaalath Party said even though members are divided as IDP wants, opinion amongst parties will still differ.