British business magnate Sir Richard Branson has
said that former President Mohamed Nasheed should not return to a prison
cell even if he is eager to return to the Maldives.
Expressing profound worry over the recent developments in the Maldives, in article posted on his website on February 24, Branson noted that President Abdulla Yaameen has been “cracking down on political opponents standing up for human rights and seeking to put an end to what is widely seen as endemic corruption and cronyism”.
He also urged the Government of Maldives to release “political prisoners and those convicted on fabricated charges, like President Nasheed, or, more recently, Sheikh Imran Abdulla,” to pave way for multi-party democracy, freedom of expression, and transparency.
Furthermore, describing President Yameen’s recent announcement to resume multi-party talks as “a step in the right direction”, Branson expressed doubt if it would turn out to be anything more than mere rhetoric.
“More than two decades ago, South Africa set out to manage a peaceful transition from decades of Apartheid to democracy. Part of the solution was the creation of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, chaired by the wonderful Archbishop Desmond Tutu. I sometimes wonder why the people of Maldives have not opted for some sort of mediation to address and overcome what seems to divide and polarise its population”, the article read.
The Government of Maldives had on Wednesday publicly announced “all political parties in Maldives have agreed to join the all-party dialogue”.
However, the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and Adhaalath Party (AP) have dismissed the claim as a “blatant lie” aimed at hoodwinking members of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group hours before its extraordinary sitting yesterday.
CMAG on Wednesday called on the government to take steps to "enable the release of political leaders under detention or custody and the return of those from outside the country, so that all political leaders can contribute to political life in Maldives," including contribution to the political dialogue and the 2018 elections.
Expressing profound worry over the recent developments in the Maldives, in article posted on his website on February 24, Branson noted that President Abdulla Yaameen has been “cracking down on political opponents standing up for human rights and seeking to put an end to what is widely seen as endemic corruption and cronyism”.
He also urged the Government of Maldives to release “political prisoners and those convicted on fabricated charges, like President Nasheed, or, more recently, Sheikh Imran Abdulla,” to pave way for multi-party democracy, freedom of expression, and transparency.
Furthermore, describing President Yameen’s recent announcement to resume multi-party talks as “a step in the right direction”, Branson expressed doubt if it would turn out to be anything more than mere rhetoric.
“More than two decades ago, South Africa set out to manage a peaceful transition from decades of Apartheid to democracy. Part of the solution was the creation of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, chaired by the wonderful Archbishop Desmond Tutu. I sometimes wonder why the people of Maldives have not opted for some sort of mediation to address and overcome what seems to divide and polarise its population”, the article read.
The Government of Maldives had on Wednesday publicly announced “all political parties in Maldives have agreed to join the all-party dialogue”.
However, the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and Adhaalath Party (AP) have dismissed the claim as a “blatant lie” aimed at hoodwinking members of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group hours before its extraordinary sitting yesterday.
CMAG on Wednesday called on the government to take steps to "enable the release of political leaders under detention or custody and the return of those from outside the country, so that all political leaders can contribute to political life in Maldives," including contribution to the political dialogue and the 2018 elections.
source-https://raajje.mv/59189
No comments:
Post a Comment