Maldives pledges reforms after EU aid threat

The Maldives, stung by criticism of a degrading human rights record, assured the EU today that it was taking steps to lift a state of emergency and to introduce democratic reforms.

The government said it “remains wholly and totally committed to the process of democratic and constitutional reform” and is hopeful that it will be in a position to lift the state of emergency “in a matter of weeks”.

The EU Parliament yesterday voted to pass a resolution calling on the 25-nation bloc to “immediately cease all non-humanitarian aid … and to impose an immediate travel ban” on government leaders from the Maldives from entering the EU.

They also called on EU governments “to issue thorough warnings about the Maldives’ human rights record” to tourists who want to travel to the popular Indian ocean archipelago and demanded that President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom release all political prisoners.

EU Commissioner Guenter Verheugen joined the parliament in calling for the immediate repeal of the island’s state of emergency, imposed countrywide after an unprecedented pro-democracy rally last month.

The EU was angered when a diplomatic mission was denied access to several dissidents detained in the August 13 rally in the capital, Male. After a violent crackdown by security forces, 185 protesters were detained, and 78 remain in custody.

The Maldives government denied European diplomats were denied access or that it had cracked down on pro-democracy advocates.