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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| The Maldives' fragile democracy is under threat once more | The Maldives' fragile democracy is under threat once more |
| (4 months later) | |
| The outlook for democracy in the Maldives is deteriorating. Last week, former president Mohamed Nasheed, the country's first democratically elected leader, was put under "island arrest" and banned from leaving the capital Male (Report, 27 September). This limits not only his freedom of movement but also his ability to mount an effective democracy campaign across his own country. | The outlook for democracy in the Maldives is deteriorating. Last week, former president Mohamed Nasheed, the country's first democratically elected leader, was put under "island arrest" and banned from leaving the capital Male (Report, 27 September). This limits not only his freedom of movement but also his ability to mount an effective democracy campaign across his own country. |
| The ban was then followed by a series of orders to appear in court this week on spurious civil and criminal charges – a strategy of legal harassment pursued by the illegitimate regime of Mohamed Waheed. Its sole purpose is to sideline Nasheed from active politics and further stamp out any political opposition. | The ban was then followed by a series of orders to appear in court this week on spurious civil and criminal charges – a strategy of legal harassment pursued by the illegitimate regime of Mohamed Waheed. Its sole purpose is to sideline Nasheed from active politics and further stamp out any political opposition. |
| The circumstances surrounding Nasheed's removal from power earlier this year remain a matter of dispute, but other matters are beyond doubt. | The circumstances surrounding Nasheed's removal from power earlier this year remain a matter of dispute, but other matters are beyond doubt. |
| Since February: | Since February: |
| • No date has been set for free and fair elections by this unelected regime, which has links to former dictator Abdul Gayoom. | • No date has been set for free and fair elections by this unelected regime, which has links to former dictator Abdul Gayoom. |
| • Nearly 2,000 peaceful demonstrators calling for elections have been detained by security forces, many beaten and hospitalised. | • Nearly 2,000 peaceful demonstrators calling for elections have been detained by security forces, many beaten and hospitalised. |
| • Amnesty International has described events in the Maldives as a "human rights crisis", reporting widespread police brutality and arbitrary arrests. | • Amnesty International has described events in the Maldives as a "human rights crisis", reporting widespread police brutality and arbitrary arrests. |
| • The Federation of International Human Rights has concluded that since the removal of Nasheed, the Maldives has suffered a deterioration in democracy and freedom of assembly and expression. | • The Federation of International Human Rights has concluded that since the removal of Nasheed, the Maldives has suffered a deterioration in democracy and freedom of assembly and expression. |
| Sadly, much of this remains largely unreported by the world's media. | Sadly, much of this remains largely unreported by the world's media. |
| A young and fragile democracy is under threat once more and we therefore call upon Mohammed Waheed to set a firm date for free and fair elections immediately, to end the culture of systematic police brutality and to release all political detainees including opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed. | A young and fragile democracy is under threat once more and we therefore call upon Mohammed Waheed to set a firm date for free and fair elections immediately, to end the culture of systematic police brutality and to release all political detainees including opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed. |
| We also call upon the international community, including the British government and the rest of the Commonwealth, to condemn this latest campaign of harassment, to demand an end to all human rights abuses and to urge the current regime to hold democratic elections at the earliest opportunity. Dave Hardingham Friends of Maldives, Thom Yorke Musician, Jonathon Porritt Forum for the Future, Ed Norton Actor, environmental campaigner, Minnie Driver Actor, Richard Branson Virgin Group, Darryl Hannah Actor, marine activist, Tim Smit Eden Project, Anna Friel Actor, Rhys Ifans Actor, Kim Cattrall Actor, campaigner, Mark Lynas Environmentalist, author, Peter Singer Princeton University, Bill McKibben Founder, 350.org, Mark Seddon Former Labour NEC member, Guin Batten British Olympic medallist, environmentalist, Alex Jaconelli Psychologist, Benedict Rogers Conservative Human Rights Commission, John Glenn MP, Karen Lumley MP, Karan Bilimoria House of Lords, Eric Avebury House of Lords, Emrys Parry Artist, Trevor Forrest Cinematographer, John Kelly, Jon Shenk Director, The Island President, Raj Kulasingam Lawyer, Alex Cathcart Playwright, Alan Hendry Documentary maker, Peter Carroll Gurkha Justice Campaign, Jules Peck Director, Flourishing Enterprise, Kathleen Enright Sustainability expert | We also call upon the international community, including the British government and the rest of the Commonwealth, to condemn this latest campaign of harassment, to demand an end to all human rights abuses and to urge the current regime to hold democratic elections at the earliest opportunity. Dave Hardingham Friends of Maldives, Thom Yorke Musician, Jonathon Porritt Forum for the Future, Ed Norton Actor, environmental campaigner, Minnie Driver Actor, Richard Branson Virgin Group, Darryl Hannah Actor, marine activist, Tim Smit Eden Project, Anna Friel Actor, Rhys Ifans Actor, Kim Cattrall Actor, campaigner, Mark Lynas Environmentalist, author, Peter Singer Princeton University, Bill McKibben Founder, 350.org, Mark Seddon Former Labour NEC member, Guin Batten British Olympic medallist, environmentalist, Alex Jaconelli Psychologist, Benedict Rogers Conservative Human Rights Commission, John Glenn MP, Karen Lumley MP, Karan Bilimoria House of Lords, Eric Avebury House of Lords, Emrys Parry Artist, Trevor Forrest Cinematographer, John Kelly, Jon Shenk Director, The Island President, Raj Kulasingam Lawyer, Alex Cathcart Playwright, Alan Hendry Documentary maker, Peter Carroll Gurkha Justice Campaign, Jules Peck Director, Flourishing Enterprise, Kathleen Enright Sustainability expert |
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