Commonwealth envoy warned of ‘severe democracy deficit’ in Maldives
“The long-term detention of political leaders has eroded the government and the judiciary’s legitimacy. The inability of political leaders to participate in political life could prevent a credible presidential election in 2018,” reads Dr Willy Mutunga’s briefing note to the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group.
28 Sep 2016, 9:00 AM
The Commonwealth secretary general’s special envoy to the Maldives briefed the organisation’s watchdog last week about a “severe democracy deficit” in the country and recommended placing pressure on the government.
“The curtailment of fundamental freedoms of expression and assembly has created an environment of fear and intimidation,” reads Dr Willy Mutunga’s 14-point briefing note to the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, according to Asian News International.
“The long-term detention of political leaders has eroded the government and the judiciary’s legitimacy. The inability of political leaders to participate in political life could prevent a credible presidential election in 2018,” he warned.
After a second review of the Maldives’ progress on six priority areas, the CMAG placed the Maldives on its formal agenda last Friday, citing the lack of progress in resolving an intractable political crisis triggered by the jailing of opposition leaders in early 2015.
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