Dunya: We refuse to be dictated about our national affairs and domestic politics

Minister of Foreign Affairs Dunya Maumoon said the Maldives refuse to be dictated about national affairs and domestic politics.

Speaking at a high level session at the UN Human Rights Council today, the minister said that pressure from the international community on national affairs of the county obstructs the Maldivian institutes in their progress.

“…The Maldives will always work with it’s friends and partners in consolidating democracy in the country. Maldivians are convinced that overcoming the challenges of democratization would require more, not less, democracy. However, we refuse to be dictated to about our national affairs and domestic politics.” Minister Dunya Maumoon said.

She has criticized the international community for their silence in some proceedings of the country. And accused the international community of keeping it’s silence when a judge in service of the Criminal Court (chief judge Abdulla Mohamed) was arrested.

“A sitting judge was abducted in the middle of the night by the military in 2012, kept in detention without charges or trial. Silence prevailed. When the current president, as a member of the parliament was arbitrarily detained in 2010 without charge, a similar silence had prevailed within the international community.” The minister said.

She said the Maldivian democracy has had to grow rapidly in front of the harsh criticism from the international community.

“Throughout our democracy consolidation journey, we have been criticized for not intervening judicial cases and for assuring that rule of law prevails. Our institutions, with limited experience in governance themselves, have had to grow in the harsh light of international pressure.” The minister said.