Maldives ‘disappointed’ after being thrashed in UN vote

The Maldives expressed its disappointment Friday after being thrashed by Indonesia in a UN Security Council seat vote.

Indonesia got more votes than the Maldives in the contested election for one Asia-Pacific seat by 144 to 46, Reuters reported.

The Maldives said it would continue “to champion its priorities at the UN” despite the loss.

“In its 72 years of the United Nations, only 8 Small Island Developing States (SIDS) have had the opportunity to serve on the Security Council,” the foreign ministry said.

“The Maldives is disappointed that small States are not getting the opportunity to meaningfully contribute to the international peace and security.”

Indonesia has previously served three terms on the UN Security Council.

To secure election for a two-year term, a member state must receive at least two-thirds of all votes cast for that seat. Five new members are elected each year.

Fisheries minister Mohamed Shainee said the Maldives had put up a “brave fight”, a response to former president Mohamed Nasheed’s assessment of the UN vote.

2009 vana aharu UNHRC ge gon’di Raajje kaamiyaabu kuree record 185 vote aai eku. 2010 vana aharu sarukaarun masaikaiy feshee UNSC gon’di hoadhumah.RYameen ge sarukaaru failve aguvettifai othumun miadhu Raajje ah mi libunee varah bodu ladhuvethi kameh.Miadhu libunee enme 46 vote

— Mohamed Nasheed (@MohamedNasheed) June 8, 2018

You think it was a good fight? Mr.Minister it was a landslide victory for Indonesia. &pls note that Size doesn’t matter in a vote. Indonesias victory is not because of its population or size. you don’t know the https://t.co/Ct9ICqsn2v time pls dont ignore International Community

— Shamau Shareef (@schamau) June 9, 2018

Maldives was uncontested due to our international standing. Indonesia made the bid in 2016 – much later than Maldives. Indonesia was encouraged by the international community to contest as Maldives’ rogue regime reps sitting at the council cannot be risked.

— Aeko Fathih (@aekofathih) June 9, 2018

Photo: UN Photo/Manuel Elias