Monday, March 05, 2007

Maldives Update: March 5, 2007.

Following a four-day visit to Male by the UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges, the United Nations has urged the Maldives to grant judicial independence in order to hasten the transition towards democracy.
Maldives: UN law expert stresses need for ‘guaranteed’ judicial independence, UN News Center, 15 February 2007.

Also See: Eminent jurists begins probe into South Asian counter-terrorism laws. Important in all the states of the region, it has a particular significance in the Maldives where dissidents are occasionally branded terrorists in order to exert the maximum coercion possible.

Will international attention hasten the democratization process? The results have been mixed so far.
Phillip Wellman, International Eyes On Maldives Reforms, Minivan News, March 1, 2007
Finding An Excuse For Reform, Minivan News, March 4, 2007.

Paul Roberts, International Observer To Mediate DRP-MDP Talks, Minivan News, March 4, 2007.
Mariyam Mohamed, No democracy till 2010; What do we do now, just wait? Dhivehi Observer, March 4, 2007.

Meanwhile people
express their concerns over a recent surge in police brutality that has occurred in both Male and Addu Atoll.
Phillip Wellman, MDP Holds Demonstration, Minivan News, February 22, 2007.

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