Days after calls made separately by a visiting delegation of European parliamentarians and former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed for resumption of talks with political parties, Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has announced his plan to hold negotiations with the parties again.
The move would be “in the interest of progress, development and national unity,” according to a release issued by the office of the President on Thursday evening.
Hope on successful talks
The release also stated that invitations would be sent to the parties “in the days that follow.” It expressed the hope that the talks “will prove successful and that they will deliver on the promise of meaningful progress to the people.”
Earlier this week, the delegation, consisting of three Members of the European Parliament, wanted the government of the Maldives to release immediately political prisoners and ensure full independence of judiciary; freedom of expression and rights of the political parties.
Richard Howitt, a member of the team and vice-chair of the delegation in the European Parliament for relations with countries of South Asia, told The Hindu on Tuesday night that “unless things start to change and change now, it is difficult to foresee whether the [presidential] elections for 2018 can be free or fair.”
Nasheed tweets
Mr. Nasheed tweeted on his account on Wednesday, urging his successor to release the political detainees and hold the talks.
Asked whether Mr. Gayoom’s action was in response to this week’s developments, Ibrahim Hussain Shihab, international spokesperson at the President’s office, replied that he had no comment to make. However, he added that the President had been consulting his Ministers on the issue of talks with other parties.
