Maldives democracy on ‘negative trajectory,’ warns top US diplomat
Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Biswal said the Maldives has seen “a steady weakening of its fragile democracy and an erosion of the rule of law” with the imprisonment of opposition leaders, who “remain behind bars simply because they gave voice to their views, and because the government’s skin is too thin to brook any criticism or competition.”
31 Mar 2016, 9:00 AM
The Maldives is on a “largely negative trajectory” following the widely condemned imprisonment of opposition leaders, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Nisha Desai Biswal has said.
Speaking at the Centre for a New American Security last Monday on US foreign policy priorities for 2016, Biswal said the “positive momentum” of neighbouring Sri Lanka was in sharp contrast to the Maldives, “which has seen a steady weakening of its fragile democracy and an erosion of the rule of law.”
“Opposition politicians remain behind bars simply because they gave voice to their views, and because the government’s skin is too thin to brook any criticism or competition,” she said.
“History shows that such tactics are short-sighted and counterproductive, and we strongly encourage the Maldives to return to the democratic practices that will best ensure its future success, economic and otherwise.”
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