Commonwealth special envoy visits the Maldives

Sir Donald MacKinnon, Special Envoy for the Maldives appointed by Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma, has arrived in Malé today, in a visit to the Maldives to discuss the issue of enhancing democratic institutions of the Maldives.

A Statement issued last night by the Commonwealth Secretary General’s Office said that Special Envoy MacKinnon is visiting the Maldives as part of the Commonwealth Engagement Program with the Maldives. The Statement also said that Envoy MacKinnon would stay here until coming Sunday.

Secretary General’s Statement also said that Sir MacKinnon had shared in the transformation of the Maldives to a multiparty democracy, and that he has a thorough understanding of the Maldivian political atmosphere.

Sir MacKinnon would, during his stay, discuss the matter of improving democratic institutions in the Maldives, and see what the Commonwealth can do to help the Maldives with this.

While Commonwealth Secretary General’s Statement spoke about “inhuman acts of the police” after Maldivian government changed on the 7th of February, it does not say anything about the terrorist attacks on courthouses, police stations, police officers and staff of the judiciary on the 8th of February.

Also, Commonwealth has not concerned itself with the many unconstitutional acts of the Maldivian government from 2008 until February 2012, including the kidnapping and enforced disappearance of a judge who had been demonized for a long time by the government on no basis legally established.

Secretary General Sharma’s Statement, however, spoke about “hopes” of an independent and fair presidential election in the Maldives this year.