Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05COLOMBO1469
2005-08-19 06:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:  

DEMOCRACY IN MALDIVES: ARE WE THERE YET?

Tags:  PGOV PHUM MV 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001469 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2015
TAGS: PGOV PHUM MV
SUBJECT: DEMOCRACY IN MALDIVES: ARE WE THERE YET?

REF: A. COLOMBO 997

B. COLOMBO 1295

C. COLOMBO 1420

D. COLOMBO 1449

Classified By: CHARGE' D'AFFAIRES JAMES F. ENTWISTLE FOR REASONS 1.4(b)
and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001469

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2015
TAGS: PGOV PHUM MV
SUBJECT: DEMOCRACY IN MALDIVES: ARE WE THERE YET?

REF: A. COLOMBO 997

B. COLOMBO 1295

C. COLOMBO 1420

D. COLOMBO 1449

Classified By: CHARGE' D'AFFAIRES JAMES F. ENTWISTLE FOR REASONS 1.4(b)
and (d)


1. (SBU) Summary: August 12-17 poloff visited Male' and met
with government officials, members of the opposition party,
and civil society groups to discuss the reform process in
Maldives. Most contacts said that while the Maldives has
seen some democratic progress, much work remains to be done
to ensure greater rights. End summary.

--------------
DEMOCRACY (IN)ACTION
--------------


2. (SBU) In the wake of pro-reform demonstrations in Male'
(Reftels C and D),many interlocutors noted that the crowds
consisted primarily of curious on-lookers, not
politically-minded protesters. (Note: We have had no reports
of demonstrations or violence in Male' after August 14.
Sources in Male' tell us the streets have remained calm. End
note.) Numerous people told poloff that most Maldivians lack
general political awareness. The Minister of Education
pointed out that history, government, and civics are not/not
offered as classes at secondary schools. In addition,
cabinet ministers, members of the Human Rights Commission,
and civil society representatives all told poloff that
multi-party democracy remains an alien concept for
Maldivians.


3. (U) Nevertheless, four political parties have been
registered since June (Reftel A). In chronological order of
official recognition, they are: the opposition Maldives
Democratic Party (MDP),the government's DRP (the local
language name roughly translates as 'Maldivian People's
Party'),the Islamic Democratic Party (IDP),and the Adalath,
or Justice Party. Despite the existence of four parties, all
interlocutors spoke only in terms of "the government" and
"the opposition."


4. (C) Poloff spoke to several Maldivians who disagreed with
current government policies but were unwilling to commit to
any party. A proprietor of a small business criticized both
the government and the MDP, saying each side had a personal
agenda that might not support the interests of average
Maldivians. However, he did say, "Last year I wasn't even
allowed to say as much as (the first syllable in the
President's name),and now I can say 'I don't like President

Maumoon Abdul Gayoom,' and that's the result of somebody's
sacrifice, and I appreciate that." An employee at the Human
Rights Commission also said she was not affiliated with any
party, but added, "It's a united front against the current
government."

--------------
REFORMERS: MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE
--------------


5. (SBU) In addition to the recognition of political parties,
the July 14 Cabinet re-shuffle has been one sign of
democratic progress (Reftel B). On August 18 President
Gayoom appointed Gasim Ibrahim, a wealthy businessman who had
been among the detainees kept in solitary confinement after
the previous year's demonstrations, as Finance Minister.
(Note: The MDP had considered Gasim one of their own, but
the resort owner had been keeping a low profile politically
since his release from detention late last year. End note.)
The majority of the new cabinet ministers are young
technocrats with broad experience with issues in their
portfolios. The Minister of Education spent almost twenty
years as a curriculum developer and teacher trainer, the
Minister of Gender and Family worked at UNICEF for six years,
and the Minister of Justice is a newly minted lawyer educated
in England. In meetings with poloff, these Ministers
discussed unique challenges within their fields and their
intent to work with other Ministries and government actors to
press for necessary changes. For example, the Gender and
Family Minister seeks to found community centers for
children, the Education Minister discussed having
Parent-Teacher Associations provide an adult to accompany
children from their community to schools far from their local
islands, and the Justice Minister said he will urge the
President to appoint more female judges.


6. (SBU) Some MDP members in Male', however, contended that
the changes to the cabinet were merely cosmetic. They
conceded that there are some sincere efforts at reform on the
part of a few government officials, but expressed great
frustration that more has not been done. As one speaker put
it, "It's always a small step forward and then a big step
backward." MDP members were gravely concerned about alleged
arbitrary arrests and physical abuse by police and National
Security Service forces during the August 12-14
demonstrations (Reftels C and D) as well as the lack of press
freedom in Maldives. They cited numerous grievances with the
current regime, but when poloff asked them to outline their
alternate political vision, they were unable to provide
specifics. Instead, they reiterated general platitudes about
the need for greater freedom and respect for human rights.

7. (SBU) Members of the MDP were not alone in their call for
continued reform. In fact, even members of the government's
DRP supported that view. One DRP speaker told poloff that
the birth of the party system has given people a greater
voice in government. He explained that he was drawn to the
DRP because he wants to institute change from within the
system. He cited examples of cabinet changes and tax reforms
as evidence that progressives have the President's attention,
and he said he wanted to use that position to press for
greater freedom.


8. (C) Another DRP member addressed MDP complaints of unfair
arrests: "I am 34 years old, I have a wife and kid, I've
lived on Male' for 27 years, and I've never been arrested."
Yet he went on to add that of his six brothers, two are in
jail after the August 12-14 demonstrations. In a separate
meeting, the Minister of Gender and Family said that there
are political divisions within families and among close
friends, and in the small Maldivian community, many are
deeply saddened by the strife surrounding the reform process.
Yet she ended on a hopeful note: "As a minister, I see in my
colleagues a willingness to reform and change."

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


9. (C) Government officials and MDP members alike claimed
that most Maldivians are comparatively ignorant about
politics. Nevertheless, poloff met a number of individuals
unaffiliated with any party, all of whom seemed very
politically engaged. One waiter spoke eloquently about the
lack of labor laws and the slow constitutional reform process
as compared to the quick progress in Iraq. It seems that the
reason many people have yet to join a political party is not
a lack of political awareness, but rather the fact that no
party has outlined a clear platform or philosophy of
governance. Regardless of political affiliation, however,
Maldivians seem united in their desire to see greater freedom
and democratic reforms. Many of them, including government
officials, are seeking guidance on how best to move forward.
The Defense Minister made a candid, self-deprecating comment,
perhaps summarizing the view of many Maldivians: "What do I
know about democratization? I've been here all my life."
The U.S. should assist Maldivians by supporting the progress
they have made so far and by encouraging further peaceful
reforms.


ENTWISTLE