CMAG suggests six things to the Maldives along with freeing political prisoners

Instead making a definitive action against the Maldives, the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) has proposed six things for the Maldives.

The Extraordinary Meeting by the CMAG today ended after giving the Maldives a reasonable timeframe to do certain things.

A statement issued by the Commonwealth regarding the meeting today said that that CMAG believes it is important to oversee if the country is continuing to do the listed actions.

And so the CMAG proposed actions are an all-party talk initiated by the Government and granting freedom all the political prisoners in the country. It also includes taking steps to improve the Judicial System and bring a halt to the terrorism charges to suppress the political debate.

Ministers underlined the importance of the following occurring as matters of priority and with urgency:

- An inclusive, purposeful, time-bound and forward-looking political dialogue, initiated by the Government and with the constructive participation initially of representatives of all political parties, aimed at achieving deeper and enduring understanding between government and opposition parties of their respective roles and responsibilities, a shared sense of national priorities, and overall a stronger climate of political pluralism in Maldives;

- Steps to be taken by the Government to enable the release of political leaders under detention or custody and the return of those from outside the country, so that all political leaders can contribute to political life in Maldives, including the political dialogue and the 2018 elections, pursuant to the Commonwealth Charter and the inalienable right of the people of Maldives to choose their political representatives;

- Steps to be taken to prevent the ongoing use of anti-terrorism or other legislation to stifle national political debate, and to address concerns raised regarding due process in judicial cases involving political figures;

- Renewed consideration and swift ensuing action to implement the recommendations made earlier by the Commonwealth on the separation of powers and independence of the judiciary in Maldives;

- Consideration by all concerned of practical confidence-building measures that promote freedom and space for civil society; and,

- The Commonwealth Secretariat to continue to offer all possible support to Maldives to implement its plans to address its human capacity and other technical assistance needs, particularly in order to advance the legislation and other elements of the legal framework required to give full effect to the letter and spirit of the constitution of Maldives and the independence of its institutions.