EU urges travel warnings for Maldives tourism

By Daniel Bosley

MALE, Maldives

The European Parliament has passed a resolution on Thursday calling on member states to issue travel warnings to tourists about the deteriorating human rights situation in the Maldives.

As political tension in the island nation builds ahead of mass opposition protests planned for Friday, Members of European Parliament expressed “grave concern about increasing tendencies towards authoritarian rule in the Maldives.”

The resolution called on all sides to “refrain from any action that may further aggravate this crisis” which has seen 140 protesters arrested since February.

Both police and opposition groups in the Maldives have expressed fears that a rally planned for May Day, also known as International Labor Day, could turn violent as thousands descend on the capital island, Male, from across the archipelago.

The Maldivians Against Brutality coalition -- largely comprising the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and the religious Adhaalath Party -- hopes to gather 25,000 people for Friday's event. They have assured that the gathering will be peaceful.

“The protest is against the government's brutality and lawlessness,” explained MDP Spokesman Imthiyaz Fahmy. “We call the government to free all those held in jail unlawfully including former President Mohamed Nasheed and [Former Defense Minister] Colonel Mohamed Nazim.”

Nasheed and Nazim were handed 13 and 11-year sentences last month in trials criticized internationally for a lack of due process.

Government-aligned MPs in the People’s Majlis, the parliament, have this week approved adjustments to the Prisons and Paroles Act which effectively strips Nasheed of his party’s leadership. 

Vociferous MDP protests in the chamber since Nasheed’s conviction have led the parliament speaker to ban megaphones and horns.

Today’s EU resolution called for Nasheed’s immediate release, saying that his trial had failed to meet either national or international standards of justice.

Maldivian ministers dismissed the resolution at a press conference on Thursday, saying it was non-binding and that the final document had been weakened. 

Tourism Minister Ahmed Adeeb said the opposition had refused an opportunity for negotiations and accused them of potting to overthrow the government. 

"Our security forces are ready," he said. 

International concern over the growing crisis has heightened elsewhere this week, with the U.S. State Department calling on Maldivian authorities to “credibly investigate the disappearance” of local journalist Ahmed Rilwan, who is believed to have been abducted in August last year.

Amnesty International described the human rights situation as “rapidly deteriorating” following a visit to the country this month, prompting a furious response from the government, which accused the NGO of colluding with the opposition to tarnish the country’s image.

President Abdulla Yameen has also attacked foreign detractors, urging security forces to resist foreign interference in the country’s affairs.

“I do not believe my government must seek permission from the international community in enforcing a court’s verdict. Maldivians will protect our interests. In protecting Maldivian citizens, remind yourselves of the oath you’ve taken,” he told soldiers this week.

Last week Yameen said that the threat of mass protests on May Day would not force either his resignation, or negotiations with the opposition.

“May 1 is coming. I will wait and watch. Those who violate the laws must know they will be punished. We have been advising [the opposition] through the relevant institutions,” Yameen told media.