MALDIVES: PROGRESS ON REFORMS: GLACIAL BUT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 000845 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS NSC FOR DORMANDY E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2015 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL MV SUBJECT: MALDIVES: PROGRESS ON REFORMS: GLACIAL BUT GETTING THERE REF: A. COLOMBO 837 ¶B. COLOMBO 694 Classified By: Charge' d'Affaires James F. Entwistle. 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (C) Summary: In a May 4 release, the Government of the Republic of Maldives said it would seek to legitimize political parties under the current constitution, based on a legal opinion by the current Attorney General Dr. Hassan Saeed. The move stems from growing dissatisfaction across the political spectrum with the slow progress of the Special Majlis. The Attorney General is not stopping with political parties, however. He is moving ahead with drafting reforms for the civil and criminal justice systems, among others. Saeed's energy is refreshing and may provide needed activity to prove to Maldivians the government's commitment to reforms. End Summary. Legalize political parties now! -------------- ¶2. (U) On May 4, the Government of the Republic of Maldives (GORM) issued a press release saying it aimed "to remove remaining obstacles to multipartyism." In the text, Dr. Hassan Saeed, the Attorney General, is quoted as saying obstacles to the registration of political parties are not as "absolute" as his predecessor once concluded. (Note: Saeed's predecessor is Mohamed Munavvar, a long-time Embassy contact who was one of the four MPs arrested and charged with sedition after the August 2004 unrest. Munavvar is a supporter of increased political reform in Maldives, but not an official member of any opposition group. End Note.) Given the current AG's revised opinion on the existing constitionality of political parties, the Majlis (Parliament) must decide if it will debate the issue when it returns from recess on June 2, President Gayoom is quoted as saying. ¶3. (U) In the statement, Chief Government Spokeman Dr. Ahmed Shaeed said this initiative grew out of the slow progress of the reforms in the Special Majlis. Pursuing the establishment of political parties now "should send a strong signal to all those..here in Maldives and elsewhere, that this government is serious about reform and is determined to back up words with actions," Shaheed is quoted as saying. Announcement no suprise -------------- ¶4. (C) In the context of the Special Majlis' beleaguered efforts, the GORM's May 4 announcement regarding the possible recognition of political parties is not suprising. During an April 7 visit to Male', many interlocutors, both government and opposition, expressed to the Ambassador their dissatisfaction with the Special Majlis. Discussing the constitutional body with the Ambassador, Saeed said that its 110 members were taking a long time to debate and approve rules of procedure. He said the body had 110 separate opinions since there were no political parties for the members to organize behind. ¶5. (C) Ibrahim Ismail, an opposition Majlis MP from Male' and former detainee, also expressed his hope for the success of the Special Majlis, but said he was starting to lose faith at the slow progress of the reform body. When asked by the Ambassador what constructive role outsiders could play, Ismail suggested that the international community could hold the GORM to a timetable with benchmarks for progress in the reform process. The Ambassador noted that several government officials he had met agreed a timetable was needed. ¶6. (C) Speaking in general about the Special Majlis' efforts, Ismail -- a man who, despite being under house arrest during the campaign period, unseated the government MP in Male' -- said that many MPs who would speak out against the government continued to feel intimidated not to do so. The government is not allowing true public debate, he said. Ismail felt that President Gayoom relinquished little, if any, real power in his reform package. In his opinion, two fundamental changes needed to occur -- gender equality and anti-discrimination laws. ¶7. (C) In his converation with the Ambassador, Ahmed Abdulla, Acting FM and Minister of Information, Arts, and Culture, characterized the political reform process as a "time of transformation." GORM is encouraged by the USG support for its efforts, he said. The Ambassador underscored to him that the U.S. has great interest in Islamic states, especially forward-looking ones. Ambassador encouraged Abdulla to take that interest and turn it into opportunity. Additional reform plans -------------- ¶8. (SBU) During his meeting with the Ambassador, Saeed was full of energy and upbeat as always about all the many projects on which he and his staff were working. One of the major projects is to liberalize the Maldivian media. The AG said he was deliberating on the timeframe and mechanism for doing so. ¶9. (SBU) Saeed also discussed his plans to implement a bail system, saying he had the "green light" -- from the President, presumably -- to proceed. Saeed felt the bail system needed only regulations, not further legislation. (Note: Given the lack of a bail system, many in the prison population are only awaiting trial and not yet convicted and serving a sentence.) The AG felt the prison population would significantly decrease as a result of allowing bail. ¶10. (C) He also discussed the debates beginning in Parliament to investigate alleged prison abuse. Saeed said he heard about allegations of abuse, but felt that police try to cover it up. The Ambassador noted that if the climate does not support the rule of law and human rights, then the police feel no constraints on their actions. Saeed also felt that there was a conflict of interest in that the police and penitentiary officials were in the same ministry. He suggested that the police could stay in the Home Ministry, while it might be appropriate for the Department of Penitentiary to move to the Ministry of Justice. (Note: As reported Ref A, GORM critics are alleging one prisoner being held on narcotics charges died as a result of mistreatment in March. End Note.) Saeed also expressed his intent to strengthen the judiciary, saying that the GORM has provided training for several senior justices. He hoped that a criminal justice reform package would pass the People's Majlis by the end of the year and added that a civil justice action plan would be published shortly. (Note: The AG made similar points in an April 26 meeting with DCM and econoff. End Note.) ¶11. (C) The Ambassador heard similar calls for law enforcement reform from Ahmed Mujuthaba, Chair of the Human Rights Commission, highlighting the high number of people in prison because of the lack of provisions for bail. Based on continuing visits to prisons by HRC members, Mujuthaba thought that conditions had deteriorated to pre-September 2003, when a custodial death led to riots in the prison and on Male'. The Commission Chair also thought most of the ill treatment occurred during the arrest phase, before detainees were questioned. Comment -------------- ¶12. (C) Saeed, a young-looking lawyer, is a newcomer to Maldivian politics and was not part of the government before his appointment as Attorney General by Gayoom in December ¶2003. His pro-reform energy within the government is refreshing and it appears so far that his actions have Gayoom's blessing. His views on necessary changes by the government differ little from those of opposition leader Ismail and the independent Human Rights Commissioner. Saeed's success in spearheading reforms lends credibility to Gayoom's desire to change. We hope that some of his drive and energy soon infects the Special Majlis. End Comment. ENTWISTLE