MALDIVES: PRESIDENT GAYOOM RATIFIES NEW

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000744 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS; TOKYO FOR A/S BOUCHER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL MV SUBJECT: MALDIVES: PRESIDENT GAYOOM RATIFIES NEW CONSTITUTION REF: A. COLOMBO 686 ¶B. COLOMBO 656 ¶1. (U) As expected, President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom ratified Maldives' new constitution on August 7, providing a legal foundation for the first multi-party presidential elections in Maldives' history. The new constitution sets up a framework for several politically independent bodies, most significantly an Election Commission and Supreme Court that will oversee the upcoming vote and adjudicate any disputes that arise from the results. Appointing the members of both institutions will be the next major step in a series of actions the government and opposition must work together to accomplish before an October 10th deadline for the selection of the next President. ¶2. (U) An opposition Maldives Democratic Party representative described the ratification as a "big achievement" and said the party planned a celebration in an open park on the capital island of Male tonight. During an August 6 meeting with the South and Central Asian Affairs A/S Boucher the Police Superintendent had predicted public celebrations after the announcement. NGO representatives working on monitoring the upcoming election reported no public celebrations as of ¶1500. However, the public was reportedly happy with having the day off, since the President had declared a national holiday. ¶3. (U) In a telephone interview on August 7 with TV Maldives, Ambassador welcomed the ratification of the new constitution as an historic step. Echoing Assistant Secretary Boucher's public and private comments during his August 6 visit, the Ambassador congratulated the Government and opposition parties for working together to achieve this milestone. But he also cautioned that much important work remains to be done. He urged that the opposition parties continue to work with the Government both to pass the legislation needed to implement constitutional reforms and also to appoint the members of the Election Commission, independent judiciary and other independent institutions that will be crucial to ensuring that the upcoming Presidential elections are free and fair. ¶4. (U) A full readout of Boucher's August 6 meetings in Male will be reported septel. BLAKE