Commonwealth can help Maldives by encouraging ethical governance – Foreign Minister

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

The Maldives is calling on the Commonwealth to be more forceful in promoting democracy, and in particular to emphasise the importance of Member states adhering to the Latimer House rules adopted by the Commonwealth in 2003.

The Commonwealth is currently reviewing the mandate and operational methods of its watchdog on democracy, the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) set up in 1995.  Both President Nasheed and Foreign Minister Shaheed have criticised at various Commonwealth high level meetings the current method of operation of CMAG, which now acts only after a serious breach in constitutional governance has occurred. The Maldives has been seeking Commonwealth engagement in a preventive rather than a punitive manner.

“The current rules call for a punitive engagement of the CMAG; our view is that there is no need to wait and watch until the constitutional order breaks down,but that the Commonwealth must find a mechanism to engage with countries before a serious breach occurs,” said Foreign Minister Shaheed, who is now a member of the 8-nation Ministerial Action Group.

“At there view taking place in London today, we will ask the Commonwealth to pursue more forcefully the implementation of the Latimer House principles, which emphasise zero tolerance on corruption, the values of ethical governance and on the relationship between the three-branches of government, namely, the executive, the judiciary and the legislature,” said Dr Shaheed.

“Our appeal is partly related to the situation currently in the Maldives, where there is gridlock between the parliament and the legislature, and where numerous difficulties are being faced in the government’s fight against corruption, but it is also based on our firm conviction that effective institutions lie at the heart of a functioning democracy,” the Minister added.

“It is obvious to any observer that there have been many violations of both the letter and spirit of the Latimer House principles in the Maldives in recent months,thereby seriously undermining the effectiveness of the executive, jeopardizing the rule of law and ethical governance, and encouraging impunity; and I believe that  the Commonwealth can help democracy in the Maldives by encouraging adherence to the Latimer principles,” Dr Shaheed said.

“We have welcomed offers of assistance from the Commonwealth and the international community, and we believe such assistance must be focused on promoting dialogue, enhancing the independence and integrity of parliamentarians and the judiciary, and on promoting ethical governance, as emphasised in the Latimer principles,” added Dr Shaheed.

The CMAG meeting held in London today at the level of Senior Officials will deliberate on a new mandate and method of operation for the CMAG, and the Maldives will be represented by its High Commissioner in London, Dr Farhanaz Faizal. The Maldives was elected to the CMAG last October at Port of Spain. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Ahmed Shaheed attended the first meeting of the newly constituted CMAG in London from 14-15 April this year.

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