Maldives seeks to exit the Commonwealth
30 April 2012 7:03 PM GMT
Days after former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom urged a rethink of Maldives's association with the Commonwealth, a bill to withdraw the country's membership from the grouping has been introduced in the parliament.
The bill was submitted yesterday by lawmakers of Gayoom's own Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and another smaller group, the Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP).
The development comes at a time when an intergovernmental body of the Commonwealth is seeking a detailed inquiry into the deposition of former president Mohamed Nasheed who has claimed he was ousted in a coup.
The move also came days after former president Gayoom appealed to 'rethink the whole situation' with regard to Maldives's role in the Commonwealth group of nations.
The 54-member Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) is putting pressure on Maldives to revise the composition of a panel that will look into the incidents of February to ascertain the details of the controversial ouster of Mohamed Nasheed, according to a report in the Minivan news.
The CMAG has warned it would consider 'stronger' measures against the government should it fail to establish a 'credible' and 'independent' Commission of National Inquiry.
The bill was submitted in the parliament by PPM MP Ahmed Ilham, and DQP MP Riyaz Rasheed represented DQP.
Speaking to the press later, Riyaz charged that the action was taken as the Commonwealth was attempting to protect the interests of one party without determining the reality of the situation.
Riyaz said the principles of the Commonwealth entail action in accordance with the laws of a nation in question and accused the organisation of violating its principles.
Ilham said he did not believe that withdrawing from the Commonwealth was the best option but stressed that the decision to submit the bill was taken in consideration of the issues that the country might have to face in future.
The bill stipulates that from 60 days of its ratification, Maldives would be withdrawn from the Commonwealth.
In addition, once the Maldives withdraws from the Commonwealth and wishes to rejoin later, it can only be done after authorisation from a law passed by the Parliament.
In recent weeks, some government-aligned politicians have called on the country to renounce its membership in the Commonwealth. However, the government itself has stressed it remains committed to the organisation.
Last week, while commemorating the death of former Foreign Minister Late Fathulla Jameel, Gayoom argued that Maldives does not fit in the criteria of the Commonwealth of Nations as it was never a British Colony, but was a British Protectorate.
The former president also claimed the Commonwealth's role has changed since the Maldives joined back in 1982.
'Earlier, smaller nations had the opportunity to express their interests to the world through Commonwealth. That's why we decided that Maldives should join Commonwealth. But now things are very different,' Sun Online quoted the former president as saying.
The bill was submitted yesterday by lawmakers of Gayoom's own Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and another smaller group, the Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP).
The development comes at a time when an intergovernmental body of the Commonwealth is seeking a detailed inquiry into the deposition of former president Mohamed Nasheed who has claimed he was ousted in a coup.
The move also came days after former president Gayoom appealed to 'rethink the whole situation' with regard to Maldives's role in the Commonwealth group of nations.
The 54-member Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) is putting pressure on Maldives to revise the composition of a panel that will look into the incidents of February to ascertain the details of the controversial ouster of Mohamed Nasheed, according to a report in the Minivan news.
The CMAG has warned it would consider 'stronger' measures against the government should it fail to establish a 'credible' and 'independent' Commission of National Inquiry.
The bill was submitted in the parliament by PPM MP Ahmed Ilham, and DQP MP Riyaz Rasheed represented DQP.
Speaking to the press later, Riyaz charged that the action was taken as the Commonwealth was attempting to protect the interests of one party without determining the reality of the situation.
Riyaz said the principles of the Commonwealth entail action in accordance with the laws of a nation in question and accused the organisation of violating its principles.
Ilham said he did not believe that withdrawing from the Commonwealth was the best option but stressed that the decision to submit the bill was taken in consideration of the issues that the country might have to face in future.
The bill stipulates that from 60 days of its ratification, Maldives would be withdrawn from the Commonwealth.
In addition, once the Maldives withdraws from the Commonwealth and wishes to rejoin later, it can only be done after authorisation from a law passed by the Parliament.
In recent weeks, some government-aligned politicians have called on the country to renounce its membership in the Commonwealth. However, the government itself has stressed it remains committed to the organisation.
Last week, while commemorating the death of former Foreign Minister Late Fathulla Jameel, Gayoom argued that Maldives does not fit in the criteria of the Commonwealth of Nations as it was never a British Colony, but was a British Protectorate.
The former president also claimed the Commonwealth's role has changed since the Maldives joined back in 1982.
'Earlier, smaller nations had the opportunity to express their interests to the world through Commonwealth. That's why we decided that Maldives should join Commonwealth. But now things are very different,' Sun Online quoted the former president as saying.
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