Hussain Hassan from New Delhi
President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik has said that Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), prompted by the influence of former President Mohamed Nasheed’s Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), attempts to intimidate and force Maldives into doing things a certain way.
The President made this statement while addressing Ambassadors of various countries at Taj Palace Hotel in New Delhi. He also said that CMAG, without conducting a proper study of the situation in Maldives, had warned to take action against Maldives and issued a deadline to revise certain things. He accused CMAG of having been influenced by a certain group of people in making these demands from the government, without holding any discussions with the government.
President Waheed said that Commonwealth, an organisation which champions small nations, is demanding something from Maldives that is beyond the rules of Commonwealth nations, and that this is not acceptable.
The President also noted that the parties represented in the coalition government have proposed a bill to the Parliament, calling to withdraw Maldives from Commonwealth. He said that the parties believe that Commonwealth was making demands from Maldives which were against international declarations.
He said, however, that he will not ratify this bill even if it is passed by the Parliament, because he does not support withdrawing Maldives from Commonwealth.
President Waheed went on to say that the tourism industry in the Maldives was not affected by the change of government. Even though political unrest existed for some time from the day the government changed, no school, business, or government office had to be closed as a result of the conflicts.
The President was accompanied by Foreign Minister Abdul Samad Abdullah, Housing Minister Dr Mohamed Muiz, Finance Minister Abdullah Jihad and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dhunya Maumoon in this meeting with foreign Ambassadors.