Commonwealth to send envoys to investigate Maldives 'coup'

The Commonwealth said today it would send a ministerial mission to the Maldives to investigate the circumstances of the ousting of president Mohamed Nasheed.

The decision was taken after an emergency telephone conference by the nine-member Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), which deals with serious violations of the 54-nation bloc’s political values.

“CMAG agreed to constitute a ministerial mission which will visit Maldives urgently to ascertain the facts surrounding the transfer of power, and to promote adherence to Commonwealth values and principles,” the Commonwealth Secretariat said in a statement issued in London.

Nasheed, who resigned on February 7 after three weeks of protests capped by a police mutiny, and was replaced by President Mohamed Waheed, briefed the telephone conference, as did Maldivian Foreign Minister Mohamed Naseer.

Participants in the meeting, including foreign ministers from Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Sierra Leone, also heard feedback from a Commonwealth Secretariat team already in the Maldives.

They “underlined the importance of adherence by member countries to the Commonwealth’s fundamental political values” including the rule of law, respect for human rights and constitutional democracy, the secretariat statement said.

“CMAG recognised the impressive gains made by Maldives in recent years in consolidating multi-party democracy, and expressed its solidarity with the people of Maldives to select a government of their choice through democratic means,” it continued.

“CMAG stressed that the way forward must be determined by Maldivians themselves, through inclusive political dialogue in an atmosphere of non-violence, restraint and stability.”

The group agreed to meet again following the ministerial mission.

AFP