European Union diplomats visiting the Maldives on Wednesday warned that “the clock is ticking” for the country’s reform process, adding: “You can hear it all over Malé.”
During a trip that included meetings with the President, Attorney General and Elections Commissioner, the diplomats said they had seen “strong progress” in the Maldives, but warned the government not to “fall at the last fence” of democratic reform.
With the EU providing electoral support for the presidential elections expected this year, “if you fall at the last hurdle then it’s your and our own credibility that is at stake,” said James Moran, EU director for Asia.
Independent commissions are key to a free and fair election, the diplomats cautioned, adding putting a fully independent elections commission in place would require at least three months prior to the country’s first multi-party polls.
Despite pledges in the government’s much-publicised Roadmap to the Reform Agenda, the elections commission is still headed by a presidential appointee.
The three diplomats – Moran, ambassador to the Maldives Julian Wilson and South Asia Unit head Helen Campbell – were in the Maldives on a pre-election visit, and confirmed the EU would provide a degree of election observation and make a “very clear judgement” on whether the upcoming presidential polls are free and fair.
There is “enormous pressure given the need to have elections in the autumn of this year”, Moran said at a press conference held in the government’s Fansavees briefing hall in Malé. “As time passes, it will be harder and harder to get a credible electoral process.”
An active, independent police integrity commission and judicial services commission are also crucial, added Wilson. It would be “very serious for the international community” if these were not put in place.
And on the civil service commission – currently the subject of heated debate in the Majlis (parliament) – despite a reluctance to take a definite line on a matter “for the Maldivian people”, Moran said: “Independence, actual and perceived, is important. We would hope any parliamentary decision would be in that direction.”
However the early local elections favoured by the opposition would disrupt the timeframe possible before incumbent president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom completes his term in December, risking leaving “everything flawed because of a lack of time”, according to Wilson.
Constitutional reform is currently stalled following deadlock over transitional arrangements to implement the constitution in progress, but the diplomats said on Wednesday the president had assured them elections would not take place under the existing constitution, despite delays.
“This is one of the reasons I am confident in saying we will expand our electoral support,” said Moran.
The diplomats added they had seen an “impressive level of commitment” to change from both government and opposition, and praised the country’s implementation of the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), with Wilson saying this amounted to a “serious piece of surgery” on a national level.
The EU will not provide a full observation or monitoring mission for the presidential elections, which will be the culmination of a reform process that started in 2003.
But it has pledged an “expert team” of up to five members, one of whom is already stationed in Maldives to assist with pre-election issues such as voter registration and identification.
Closer to the time, “we will mobilise parliamentarians, diplomats and other eminent people to be here and assist with observation of the election,” said Moran.
During a trip that included meetings with the President, Attorney General and Elections Commissioner, the diplomats said they had seen “strong progress” in the Maldives, but warned the government not to “fall at the last fence” of democratic reform.
With the EU providing electoral support for the presidential elections expected this year, “if you fall at the last hurdle then it’s your and our own credibility that is at stake,” said James Moran, EU director for Asia.Independent commissions are key to a free and fair election, the diplomats cautioned, adding putting a fully independent elections commission in place would require at least three months prior to the country’s first multi-party polls.
Despite pledges in the government’s much-publicised Roadmap to the Reform Agenda, the elections commission is still headed by a presidential appointee.
The three diplomats – Moran, ambassador to the Maldives Julian Wilson and South Asia Unit head Helen Campbell – were in the Maldives on a pre-election visit, and confirmed the EU would provide a degree of election observation and make a “very clear judgement” on whether the upcoming presidential polls are free and fair.
There is “enormous pressure given the need to have elections in the autumn of this year”, Moran said at a press conference held in the government’s Fansavees briefing hall in Malé. “As time passes, it will be harder and harder to get a credible electoral process.”
An active, independent police integrity commission and judicial services commission are also crucial, added Wilson. It would be “very serious for the international community” if these were not put in place.
And on the civil service commission – currently the subject of heated debate in the Majlis (parliament) – despite a reluctance to take a definite line on a matter “for the Maldivian people”, Moran said: “Independence, actual and perceived, is important. We would hope any parliamentary decision would be in that direction.”
However the early local elections favoured by the opposition would disrupt the timeframe possible before incumbent president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom completes his term in December, risking leaving “everything flawed because of a lack of time”, according to Wilson.
Constitutional reform is currently stalled following deadlock over transitional arrangements to implement the constitution in progress, but the diplomats said on Wednesday the president had assured them elections would not take place under the existing constitution, despite delays.
“This is one of the reasons I am confident in saying we will expand our electoral support,” said Moran.
The diplomats added they had seen an “impressive level of commitment” to change from both government and opposition, and praised the country’s implementation of the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), with Wilson saying this amounted to a “serious piece of surgery” on a national level.
The EU will not provide a full observation or monitoring mission for the presidential elections, which will be the culmination of a reform process that started in 2003.
But it has pledged an “expert team” of up to five members, one of whom is already stationed in Maldives to assist with pre-election issues such as voter registration and identification.
Closer to the time, “we will mobilise parliamentarians, diplomats and other eminent people to be here and assist with observation of the election,” said Moran.
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