MALDIVES: DESPITE REFORM ROADMAP, QUESTIONS ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 000662

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM MV
SUBJECT: MALDIVES: DESPITE REFORM ROADMAP, QUESTIONS ON
DIRECTION AND SPEED OF DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS

REF: COLOMBO 445

Classified By: DCM JAMES F. ENTWISTLE FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (U) Summary: On March 27 the Government of the Republic of
Maldives (GORM) unveiled its much-hyped "Reform Roadmap"
which calls for increased press freedom, a new constitution
by June 2007, and a multi-party election in October 2008.
Since then, however, little progress has been made and
constraints on the press have been heavier than ever. The
opposition has conducted three protests over three weeks to
highlight social injustice and the lack of political rights.
While President Gayoom easily won leadership of the
government's Dhivehi Rayyethunge Party (DRP- Maldivian
people's Party) in its first party congress held April 19-21
in Male', four vice-presidency positions were hotly
contested. While the publication of the Roadmap was a
victory for the reformists, the DRP leadership competition
highlighted deepening rifts in the party, and as yet, it is
unclear whether the New Maldives can fully triumph over the
old. End summary.

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ROADMAP TO LEAD THE WAY?
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2. (U) The Government of the Republic of Maldives (GORM)
presented its highly publicized "Reform Roadmap" on March 27,
committing to democratic reforms based on a two-year
timeline. The document calls for a new constitution by June
2007 with a multi-party election by October 2008. The
deadline for the election coincides with the end of President
Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's current term, irritating the
opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) which wants an
election some time in 2007. In addition to constitutional
reform, the Roadmap includes a police powers act and a bill
to codify the Human Rights Commission, as well as a new penal
code to be introduced as a bill by August. The first two
bills are now before parliament. The MDP, in typical
fashion, responded to the GORM's proposals with skepticism;
numerous interlocutors told poloff that with President Gayoom
still in power, bills in parliament were not adequate to
ensure civil liberties.


3. (C) In an April 24 phone conversation with poloff, Ibrahim
Mohamed Didi, an MDP Member of Parliament (MP) serving on the
parliamentary committee to discuss the Human Rights
Commission bill, said the bill is facing amendments in
committee but will stay within UN guidelines. He expects the
bill to go to the full floor of parliament for debate and a
vote when parliament resumes in June after a month's recess.
Didi said the MDP has introduced a freedom of assembly bill,
to be discussed in parliament April 25, and that the
government's police powers act will be discussed April 26,
just before the recess is due to begin.

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PRESS FREEDOM UNDER FIRE
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4. (SBU) Although the Roadmap also promised media reform,
journalists continue to face harassment and prosecution. On
April 19, Fahala Saeed, a reporter for Minivan News, the only
pro-opposition daily, was sentenced to life in prison for
possession of heroin with the intent to sell. Saeed is
adamant that the drugs were planted on him when he was
summoned to the police station on October 13 for
"investigation." According to a Minivan reporter who
attended Saeed's trial, state witnesses testified that the
packets found contained 1.1 grams of heroin in the form of
brown sugar. (Note: In Maldives posession of over 1 gram is
considered prima facie intent to sell. End note.) Saeed was
not permitted to testify on his own behalf, and he was barred
from calling two witnesses in his defense.


5. (SBU) On April 18, Minivan's sub-editor Nazim Sattar was
summoned to court for an article he published in August 2005
and charged with disobedience to order. The article quoted
someone as saying that abusive police officers must be found
and made to feel that violence is painful. The state's case
is that the article constitutes incitement. The disobedience

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to order charge can carry a fine of approximately 20 USD or
up to six months in jail. Minivan staff have told us that
Sattar is the de-facto editor of the paper, and his absence
could undermine the paper's ability to continue publication.
Other Minivan journalists have reported police harassment,
and one correspondent is being held in prison although his
family and colleagues have not been advised o the charges
against him.

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PERIODIC PROTESTS
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6. (SBU)In addition to press freedom concerns, the
oppostion has also highlighted worries about the treatment
of women. In March, MDP MP Mariya Didi told poloff she,
along with other women in the opposition, has faced police
harassment and been slandered in pro-government websites.
Websites have featured photographs and derogatory articles
about other female reform activists such as Minivan Radio
journalist Fathimath Shaheeda and occasional Minivan website
correspondent Sabra Nordeen. Didi organized a protest
against gender-based harassment in Male' on March 30. In the
lead-up to the protest, the women who were meeting to plan
for it were pelted with engine oil in a public park.
Nevertheless, the day of the protest itself was peaceful.


7. (SBU) In contrast, a protest on April 14 saw reports of
street violence and police heavy-handedness. The
demonstration, held to protest economically restrictive
fishing policies and the appointment of unelected members of
parliament (an opposition pet peeve),was broken up by
police. An opposition MP was reportedly beaten and kicked
with reinforced boots during his arrest; he was later
released from police custody and sought medical attention.
People in the crowd threw stones and eyewitnesses reported
fisticuffs. MDP Deputy Secretary General Aishath Aniya was
arrested at the demonstration and remained in detention for
nine days.


8. (SBU) According to Minivan website's correspondent, the
MDP, in order to avoid violating political party regulations
limiting demonstrations, asked a newspaper editor to organize
an April 21 protest. The demonstration, ostensibly
addressing high rent costs, nevertheless ended in the arrest
of the organizer and several participants. An NGO
representative working with the MDP to strengthen its
internal democracy told poloff from Male' that the local mood
is somewhat bleak, and many are frustrated with the arrests.
However, he noted, high profile opposition members arrested
at the protests, including Aniya, were all released April 23.

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NEW MALDIVES V. OLD
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9. (C) Commenting from Male' on the protests during an April
18 phone conversation with poloff, Foreign Minister Ahmed
Shaheed said he disagreed with hard-line Home Minister
Thasmeen's heavy-handed approach. Shaheed said Thasmeen was
notably left out of the "New Maldives Caucus," a group of
eleven reform-minded DRP members who were collaborating
before the DRP congress, held in Male' April 19-21. The
group set up a website and campaigned as a unit within the
DRP to elect its members to party leadership positions.
Shaheed said he and other progressives would continue to work
toward reform "even if we are reduced to becoming a pressure
group or we have to resign our cabinet positions." Noting
his involvement with a new NGO seeking to promote liberal
democratic values, Shaheed said he might pursue his reform
goals through civil society rather than government service in
future. He expressed hope that the New Maldives group could
wrest power from the old guard in the party.


10. (SBU) Shaheed initially contested but then withdrew his
candidacy for a DRP vice presidency position at the DRP
Congress. Two members of the New Maldives Caucus, Attorney
General Hassan Saeed and Finance Minister (and MDP defector)
Gasim Ibrahim won places, as did hard-line Home Minister
Thasneem and moderate Ahmed Syam Mohammed also won a place.
President Gayoom easily won the party Presidency; his only

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competitor was barred from attending the Congress. On April
22, Saeed and Shaheed called Minivan website's correspondent
and offered a candid interview, which ran in the website
April 23, discussing rifts within the DRP and assessing that
Saeed's election as a DRP vice president was a mandate for
"more aggressive reform." They also said President Gayoom is
fully supportive of speedy democratization, and hard-line MPs
with a majority in parliament would be the only ones who
might slow down the process.

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COMMENT
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11. (C) The Roadmap's publication stakes the government's
credibility on its ability to deliver time-bound reform.
While the ambitious document provides a strong framework for
democratization, the apparent attacks on press freedom would
call the government's sincerity into question. While the
GORM's subsequent actions have not been entirely consistent
with Roadmap's rhetoric, the MDP, for its part, has merely
criticized the document without proposing any alternatives.
Shaheed and Saeed's decision to offer an interview to an
English language, pro-opposition website, the editor of which
is a British citizen blacklisted from Maldives, indicates
their strong desire to convey their liberal position to the
press and to the public. The two have clearly drawn
battle-lines against the hard-liners in their own party. It
remains to be seen whether New Maldives, with two of its
members now DRP vice presidents claiming a mandate from the
party electorate, can fully push forward the reform agenda.
End comment.
LUNSTEAD