Meaning of Commonwealth letter distorted - New Maldives

02 November 2007
Report: Soodh

Former Attorney General Dr. Hassan Saeed has issued a press release stating that government media TVM has distorted the meaning of a letter sent by Commonwealth to the government of Maldives. The letter declines Commonwealth support to an amendment proposed to the Majlis by many members of the cabinet to bar Dr. Hassan Saeed from running for presidency.

According to the press release, the letter sent by commonwealth opposes the amendment submitted to the Majlis by government ministers to ban Dr. Hassan Saeed from competing in the presidential elections. The press release states the attempt to distort the content of letter of commonwealth by TVM was regrettable. In this regard the wordings in the letter which reminded the government its responsibility to honor its commitment to international conventions on human rights and the requirement of the commonwealth to have a free and independent judiciary, was not clearly explained in the news item aired by TVM.

The press release of New Maldives thanked the Secretary General of Commonwealth for reminding the government to abide by international human rights standards and to adhere to the principles of the commonwealth. New Maldives also thanked the Secretary General for having urged the government to make elections, free, fair and all inclusive.

New Maldives through the News Release stated that they would inform the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on the government lack of interest to establish a fully free and independent judiciary indicated by statements made by government ministers. New Maldives states that this conflicts Harare Principles as well as Latimer House Rules. Further the News Release stated that if the government intends to hold presidential elections without establishing a free and independent judiciary, New Maldives would take up the issue with other international agencies as well.

The news item of TVM referred in the news release stated that government valued the policy employed commonwealth in supporting the reform process of Maldives. The news item of TVM said that this was indicated in the letter sent to Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid.