16 September 2004

The following Resolution was passed by the European Parliament sitting in Strasbourg by 153 votes in favour, nil against and 7 abstentions.

"Abouna Deva" Shenouda III Pope of Alexandria (Shenouda el-Thaleth, Baba Iskanderiyyeh) Feedback: The following anonymous feedback was received by this web site on 19 September 2004: "We know who you are. You are led by a Sri Lankan named Nirj Deva of the Cristian missionary party. He is not a Europen. He is a black convert like you trying to destroy Islam here. We will not let you succeed. Insha Allah. Allah Akbar." Recently a caricature of Nirj Deva, Member of the European Parliament., appeared in a Maldives-related website called The Truth, which appears to allege that the political crisis in the Maldives is the result of a grand conspiracy between Western governments and Christian Evangelical movements to establish Christianity in the Maldives. Even though the web site claims that "we are for the truth" it omits to let its readers know who publishes it and where it is published from. The regalia in the caricature of Mr Deva reproduced here is strikingly similar to that worn by Pope Shenouda III, primate of the Coptic Orthodox Church based in Cairo, which is also home to the el-Azher Islamic Seminary. The seminary could well be home to The Truth. (Note: the embarrassing (for The Truth) caricature of Mr Deva was removed from their site within hours of the above information being uploaded here. Does that confirm that The Truth is published by 3 Islamic law students at the el-Azhar Seminary?) "Maldives President Maamoun Abdul Qayyoom, a member of the constituent council [of the Muslim World League], called for efforts to defeat the dubious plans of Zionists and colonialists to weaken the Islamic nation and control its wealth." Extract from article by P.K. Abdul Ghafour, in the Saudi based Arab News on 19 September 2004. Arabs use the term "Zionist" to refer to the USA and Israel and "colonialist" or "crusader" to refer to Europe

JOINT RESOLUTION

in accordance with article 115 of the Rules of Procedure

on the political situation in the Maldives

• having regard to the EU's fact-finding mission to the Maldives following the imposition of a state of emergency,
    
• having regard to the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) which the Maldives signed in May earlier this year; (2, GUE)
    
    

1. whereas the announcement of a state of emergency, and the subsequent mass arrests (194 people, including 10 MPs) is a disproportionate reaction by the authorities to what was a largely peaceful demonstration;

   The Maldives Royal Family Web Site notes with satisfaction that the list of detainees mentioned here does not include the most overt religious fundamentalists who are allegedly affiliated with Middle Eastern terrorist movements. We abhor all acts of terrorism and have no sympathy for those who advocate, condone or take pleasure from such acts. Genuine reformers must be distinguished from those who are merely camouflaged in the attire of democracy.

   
     
2. noting that President Gayoom uses imprisonment to suppress parliamentary democracy and that he is currently holding the leadership of the Maldives Democratic Party in prison, including, Dr Mohamed Munavvar MP (former Attorney General), Ali Faiz MP, Ilyas Hussein MP, Ahmed Shafeeq MP, Ahmed Adil MP, Dr Hussein Rasheed Hassan MP (member of the National Human Rights Commission), Ibrahim Hussain Zaki (the widely respected diplomat and former Secretary General of SAARC), Ibrahim Ismail MP Mohammed Naseem MP, Ahmed Athif MP and Gasim Ibrahim MP, (former President of SAARC Chamber of Commerce and the pro-reform candidate for the post of Speaker in the Maldivian Parliament); (P, UEN)
    
3. whereas the following public figures are being held in incommunicado detention and have reportedly been subjected to torture: Husnoo Alsnood (lawyer and member of the National Human Rights Commission), Fathimeen Nisreen, Mohammed Niyaz, Ahmed Ibrahim Didi, Mohamed Zaki, Ibrahim Zaki, Maria Manike, Jennifer Latheef, Aminath Najeeb, Mohammed Naseem and Asad Whaeed; (Q, UEN)
    
4. considering the Commission's most recent Country Strategy Paper which listed the following as problems known to exist in the Maldives: "arbitrary arrest", "incommunicado detention", and the "lack of an independent judiciary" and which notes that "individual freedoms are restricted"; (D, PPE mod.)
    
5. whereas the protest was to demand constitutional reform and the release of political prisoners; Another Third World dictatorship under sanctions: The European Union imposed sanctions on Togo in 1993 "for showing lack of progress in the move towards multi-party democracy and the promotion of human rights.".... A leader of the Togolese rubber stamp opposition recently lamented: "Of course, we want democratic, and transparent elections but for the moment we want the resumption of economic aid first",
    
6. whereas this small island nation in the Indian Ocean has been ruled over the past 26 years by a tough totalitarian regime;
    
7. whereas the election system in the Maldives is fundamentally flawed due to the one-party system and the judicial system is also biased; (PPE mod.)
     
8. whereas the reform process in the Maldives is at a crucial stage;
     
9. whereas President Gayoom has suggested a change to the constitution which would limit his powers and permit political parties in the country, although opponents of the regime are very sceptical of any proposed changes;
     
10. whereas the EU delegation which visited the islands was denied access to detainees;
      
11. noting that the Maldives signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on 13 March 1991, yet continues to detain minors in prison; (PPE)
      
12. noting that the Maldives declared its international commitment to eliminate all forms of gender discrimination by signing the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) on 31 July 1993; (C, GUE)
      
13. whereas in this atmosphere of intimidation, the citizens of the Maldives do not have freedom of speech and expression as the President controls the media; (PPE)
      
14. whereas the Maldives has a special relationship with the European Union and benefits from development assistance; (PPE)
      
15. whereas trade with the Maldives has increased, with imports from the Maldives into the EU reaching 38 million euro in 2002; (PPE)
      
16. noting that the European Commission has made available a cooperation budget for the Maldives of 2 million euro; (PPE)
      
17. considérant que les Maldives appartiennent au Groupe des "Pays les Moins Avancés" et dépendent très largement à l'extérieur pour leur développement; (H, PSE)
      

18. The "busy-bodies" hit back On 24th August 2004 this web site received an email from a certain "Aishath Ali" (newsofmaldives@hotmail.com) who sends out an email newsletter from Malé. Referring to the European Union Ali concluded her email with the quote: "We are worried that these busy-bodies will only encourage extremists and militants to delay and disrupt the constitutional process here ......"

    whereas European Union aid is not given to corrupt regimes, who ignore their international commitments, but rather is conditional upon the recipient's record of good governance, the rule of law, human rights and their commitment to reform; (PPE)
      
19. whereas the EU will be paying close attention to future developments, in accordance with human rights stipulations laid down in the Cotonou Agreement and related agreements;
      
20. whereas President Gayoom has in the past established successfully a thriving tourism industry, he has also established what can only be described as a thriving family business and political network throughout the country; (PPE)
      
21. Whereas last year 106,451 Italians, 77,642 Germans, 71,440 Britons, not to mention those from other Member States, travelled to the Maldives unaware of the lack of respect of the Maldivian authorities for fundamental human rights and the number of people who are detained without trial. (PPE mod.)
      
       

1. Calls upon President Gayoom to immediately repeal the state of emergency in the Maldives, guarantee the fundamental human rights of his citizens, and release the pro-democracy reformers he arrested on 14th August 2004; (1, PPE)
     
2. Calls on the Government to press ahead with an open and thorough reform process, which will be the best way to ensure stability in the country;
     
3. Souhaite que soit entrepris le processus démocratique promis, en particulier le pluralisme politique et la liberté de choisir ses dirigeants; (2, PSE)
     
4. Calls for the early conclusion of an agreement with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on prison monitoring;
     
5. Calls on the Commission and Member States to immediately cease all non-humanitarian aid to the Maldives and to place an immediate travel ban in order to prevent members of the Government and other officials of the Maldives from entering the Member States of the European Union; (4 and 5, PPE mod.)
     
6. Calls on the EU and Member State Governments to determine where Maldivian government funds are being banked overseas; (6, PPE)
     
7. Calls on the European Union to issue thorough warnings to all tourists planning to go the Maldives of the human rights record of this country; (7, PPE mod.)
    
8. Calls on the European Commission to initiate an official, longer term, European Union educational programme whereby tourists are made aware of countries human rights records whilst choosing their travel destinations and are warned of countries where these are not in accordance with internationally agreed standards; (8,PPE)
     
9. Demande au Gouvernement des Maldives d'autoriser une délégation de l'Union européenne à rencontrer les militants ayant manifesté en faveur de la Démocratie; (3, PSE)
     
10. Instructs its President this Resolution to the Commission, the Council, the Secretary General of the United Nations, the Commonwealth, the Government of the United States, the World Tourism Authority and all tourism related bodies, IATA and ATOL licensed tour operators and airlines, the Government of India and the Governments of SAARC countries. (10,PPE)