European Union Parliament asks India, China and EU countries to reestablish democracy in Maldives

Brussels, Mar 15 Expressing its grave concern over the current political crisis in The Maldives, the European Parliament, through a determination, has called upon the Governments of India and China to work with nations in the European Union (EU) to help deliver political and democratic stability in the emergency ridden archipelago.

In a 16-point resolution presented and passed unanimously not long ago, the EU Parliament called on the EU "to make full use of all instruments available to its to advance respect for human rights and democratic principles in the Maldives, including, possibly, the suspension of EU financial assistance to the nation pending the resumption of the manage of law and abidance by democratic principles."

The resolution said there was a need for introducing targeted measures and sanctions against those in the nation undermining human rights, and to freeze the assets abroad of, and impose travel bans on, certain members of the Maldivian Government and their driving supporters in the Maldivian business group.

It further called on the Government of The Maldives to do "an extensive change of the judiciary, to establish the impartiality of the Judicial Service Commission, to re-set up the autonomy of the Prosecutor General, and to regard due procedure of law and the privilege to a fair, impartial and independent trial."

The resolution also perceived that, under the Constitution, "elections must be held in 2018", and focused on that "prompt move ought to be made to guarantee that these races are straightforward and dependable; that voters are given a honest to goodness decision and that parties are able to campaign freely."

Expressing deep concern over the serious and deteriorating political and human rights situation in The Maldives, and the increasingly authoritarian rule of President Yameen and his Government, the EU Parliament, as indicated by its determination distributed by the site www.europarl.europa.eu, approached The Maldives "to lift the highly sensitive situation promptly, to regard the institutions and their competencies as provided for in the Constitution, and to respect the central privileges surprisingly, including the privilege to opportunity of articulation and get together, and also the lead of law; communicates its developing worry over the current activities of the administration, which truly harm and undermine vote based system, and run counter to the Maldives' Constitution and the nation's international human rights obligations."

It also condemned the "continued intimidation of, and threats against, journalists, bloggers and human rights protectors in the Maldives", and asked the Maldivian experts to ensure the wellbeing of all considerate society activists, human rights safeguards and media specialists in the nation.

It also deplored the crackdown on political rivals in The Maldives, and approached the administration to drop all charges against each one of those being held for political reasons and discharge them instantly and unequivocally.

It said it is very worried over the increasing breakdown of the principle of separation of the executive, judicial and other powers in The Maldives, and called on "responsible authorities to find a way to reestablish and maintain the standards cherished in its Constitution."

It said that the Maldivian Government must take part in a comprehensive exchange with leaders of every political parties to prepare for sound, straightforward and comprehensive decisions. It approached the EU to likewise effectively keep on supporting UN facilitation for and of such a dialogue.

The EU Parliament said that it "Trusts that the only way to reverse the deterioration in democracy, human rights and freedoms in The Maldives is through a procedure of honest to goodness exchange, including every political parties and other civic leaders."

"It further trusts that, as a first step towards reconciliation, the government must release all opposition politicians at present held in prison, and reiterated the "EU's firm opposition to the death penalty, in all cases and without exception; strongly condemns the announcement of the reintroduction of the death penalty in the Maldives, and desires the legislature and parliament of the Maldives to respect the moratorium on the death penalty that has been in place for more than 60 years."