US embassy cable - 04COLOMBO842

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 05 COLOMBO 000842 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS 
NSC FOR E. MILLARD 
 
E.O. 12958:  DECL:  05-20-14 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PHUM, ECON, SENV, MOPS, MV, Maldives, Human Rights 
SUBJECT:  Maldives:  A/S Rocca's visit shows reform has 
momentum 
 
Refs:  Colombo 698, and previous 
 
(U) Classified by Ambassador Jeffrey J. Lunstead. 
Reasons 1.5 (b, d). 
 
1.  (C/NF) SUMMARY:  Assistant Secretary of State for 
South Asian Affairs Christina B. Rocca visited Maldives, 
May 16-17.  Highlights of the visit included meetings 
with President Gayoom, FM Fathulla Jameel, Defense 
Minister Adam, Human Rights Commissioner Mujthaba, and 
UNDP Resident Representative Minh Pham.  During the 
meetings, A/S Rocca discussed the GoRM's plans for 
political reform, including the upcoming special session 
of the Majlis (parliament), Maldives' least developed 
country (LDC) status, and the Maldivian detainee in 
Guantanamo, among other subjects.  GoRM interlocutors 
emphasized their full commitment to moving forward with 
political reforms.  A/S Rocca's visit highlighted U.S. 
interest in Maldives and underscored our strong support 
for the democratic reform agenda.  END SUMMARY. 
 
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Meeting with President Gayoom 
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2.  (C) During their visit to Male', Assistant Secretary 
Christina Rocca and Ambassador Lunstead met with 
Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on May 17.  A/S 
Rocca said the U.S. appreciated Maldives' moderate voice 
as an Islamic nation in international matters.  She said 
that Gayoom had achieved great economic success in 
Maldives.  The current attempt to reform the political 
system through the convocation of a Special Majlis 
("Parliament") to amend the Constitution was an 
opportunity to match that economic achievement and leave 
his legacy for the future. 
 
3.  (C) Gayoom said that after the vote for the Special 
Majlis on May 28, he would suggest areas where the 
Majlis could consider changes.  The Majlis members would 
decide, in an open and transparent fashion, and then he 
would approve the changes.  The Ambassador said that he 
had seen a dramatic change in atmosphere in Maldives in 
his three visits over the last six months.  It appeared 
now that all Maldivians agreed on the need for political 
change; the question was the breadth and the pace of 
change.  Gayoom said that he had already brought in a 
number of changes.  The police were being separated from 
the Defense Ministry and moved to the Home Ministry. 
Those accused of crimes now had access to legal counsel 
immediately, and all interrogations were to be recorded. 
The Human Rights Commission had been established, and 
the prison system was being reformed to emphasize 
rehabilitation. 
 
4.  (C) On the issue of graduation from Least Developed 
Country (LDC) status, Gayoom said that Maldives was 
proud to graduate and would not want to be an LDC 
forever.  However, they needed a transition strategy, 
because of the country's unique needs.  Just two weeks 
ago, a tidal surge had caused havoc on a number of 
northern islands, punching large holes in the 
breakwaters surrounding the islands.  Gayoom then passed 
out photos of that damage.  Maldives would continue to 
need assistance to deal with such challenges.  The 
Ambassador noted that there might be some opportunities 
for the U.S. to provide some technical assistance, even 
if project assistance were not available, and noted that 
various USG agencies, such as the Army Corps of 
Engineers, might be able to offer such technical 
assistance.  Gayoom said the Maldives would be grateful 
for anything we could do. 
 
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Discussions with MFA Officials 
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5.  (C) In his May 17 meeting with A/S Rocca, Foreign 
Minister Fathulla Jameel discussed political change in 
the Maldives, as well as wider political change in the 
region.  Jameel was particularly upbeat about the 
upcoming Special Majlis, speaking generally about the 
session's potential for strengthening democratic rights 
in the Maldivian Constitution.  He also spoke of the 
work that the Majlis and Attorney General's office had 
been undertaking, specifically to draft laws addressing 
areas in the Constitution that called for actions in 
"accordance with the law," as well as laws to address 
new issues, such as intellectual property rights. 
Calling the Human Rights Commission an "exciting 
development," Jameel was hopeful that the body would be 
adequately independent and an appropriate watchdog, 
without interfering with the process of law.  On the 
trade front, Jameel also stated that the GoRM was 
dealing with discrepancies in export goods -- mainly 
garments -- being falsely certified as being of 
Maldivian origin.  Econoff replied that Maldivian 
customs officials had an excellent working relationship 
with U.S. customs officials on this matter.  Jameel, 
overall, was quite appreciative of Maldives' strong and 
growing relationship with the U.S., noting the recently 
signed MOU on the American Corner (see below) and the 
continuing development of the Fulbright program.  In 
response, the Assistant Secretary commended Jameel on 
the tremendous advances the country had achieved in the 
last 30 years. 
 
6.  (C/NF) Turning to the issue of the Maldivian 
detainee at Guantanamo, Jameel reiterated the GoRM's 
request for his return.  A/S Rocca replied that the USG 
was ready to begin discussions about his eventual 
return, but that the U.S. would likely insist on certain 
conditionalities, such as his being kept under 
constraint in Maldives.  In response, Jameel said the 
GoRM would be willing to take appropriate action upon 
his return, after knowing more about the situation.  (In 
a separate May 16 conversation, the Deputy Foreign 
Minister and A/S Rocca agreed that the best course of 
action forward would be for Maldivian Ambassador to the 
U.S. Mohamed Latheef to work directly with the 
Department in Washington.  Human Rights Commissioner 
Ahmed Mujthaba also asked the Assistant Secretary about 
the status of the Maldivian detainee -- a conversation 
reported on May 19 on HAVEERU, the government-controlled 
English-language news website.) 
 
7.  (C) Speaking more widely about relations among 
countries in the South Asia region, Jameel was looking 
forward to the next South Asian Association for Regional 
Cooperation (SAARC) Foreign Ministers meeting scheduled 
for some time in July, noting that with the recent 
Indian election it would likely be the first meeting 
between the new Indian FM and Pakistani FM Kasuri. 
Jameel was also optimistic about SAARC's efforts 
regarding a possible regional free trade agreement plus 
security and counterterrorism coordination.  A/S Rocca 
underscored continuing U.S. support for SAARC. 
 
8.  (C) A/S Rocca also met on May 16 with Deputy Foreign 
Minister Hussain Shihab.  He welcomed the Assistant 
Secretary's visit, calling it well-timed given what he 
 
SIPDIS 
said were the GoRM's efforts to make itself more 
effective and responsive.  Citing two specific changes 
in recent months, Shihab said the government now 
required all interrogations to be recorded 
(electronically) and now permitted any detained citizen 
to have a lawyer present from the beginning of the law 
enforcement-judicial process.  (A September 2003 prison 
riot over the death in custody of a prisoner followed by 
rioting on Male' was a key factor that led the GoRM to 
begin to address prison system reform issues.) 
Discussing the planned Special Majlis, A/S Rocca asked 
Shihab about its exact mandate.  Shihab stated that 
while some suggestions for constitutional change would 
come from the President's Office, it was incumbent upon 
the session's 100 participants -- 50 regular Majlis 
members plus 50 others to be elected on May 28 -- to 
also put forward ideas. 
 
9.  (C) Shihab went on to ask about the status of an 
earlier request for a Maldivian branch of a U.S. pilot 
school.  Econoff replied that the FAA was hesitant to 
establish overseas pilot schools.  In response to 
Shihab's confirmation that the GoRM was still interested 
in the pilot school idea, econoff said the U.S. would 
review the request.  Shihab also asked about the status 
of a request for consultations between the Maldivian 
Health Ministry and U.S.-based doctors.  The Ambassador 
advised that the U.S. National Institutes of Health had 
been contacted, but the U.S. was waiting for a GoRM 
reply on the specialities and fields of interest of the 
Maldivian health professionals.  Shihab said he would 
send information on this topic through Ambassador 
Latheef in New York. 
 
10.  (C) Following their discussion, Shihab and A/S 
Rocca signed a memorandum of understanding providing for 
the establishment of an "American Corner" in the 
Maldivian National Library.  Shihab expressed his 
appreciation for this enhancement in the two countries' 
bilateral relationship, and added that the resources in 
the "American Corner" alcove would increase Maldivians' 
understanding of U.S. and world issues.  The Assistant 
Secretary also highlighted this step forward in U.S.- 
 
SIPDIS 
Maldivian relations and said that the program's 
connection with the National Library was particularly 
helpful in allowing for resources to be centrally 
located and accessible to all Maldivians. 
 
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Meeting at Defense Ministry 
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11.  (C) A/S Rocca met May 16 with Abdul Sattar Adam, 
Minister of State for Defense and National Security, who 
also spoke about President Gayoom's political reform 
agenda.  He welcomed the upcoming special Majlis session 
and the ongoing drafting and debate of the bill formally 
establishing the Human Rights Commission.  Adam went on 
to speak positively about the planned September 2004 
transfer of the police from his ministry to the Home 
Affairs Ministry.  Such separation of the police and 
defense forces was a wise idea and should work to 
improve governance, the Ambassador noted.  Adam agreed 
but indicated that, after the transfer, the police 
forces might be lacking in manpower and non-lethal 
weapons expertise.  A/S Rocca noted the upcoming program 
in which U.S. Treasury officials were scheduled to come 
to Maldives to work with their Maldivian counterparts on 
combating money laundering and terrorist financing.  She 
added that the U.S. continued to explore additional 
avenues for training.  The Ambassador and Adam both 
expressed their support for the ongoing discussions 
between the two countries' military services.  Adam also 
remarked that the fire department would remain in his 
ministry and asked if there was any U.S. program that 
could provide training for firefighting personnel.  The 
Ambassador replied that we could help identify 
organizations in the U.S. that might help, as he was 
unaware of any State Department-organized assistance in 
this area. 
 
12.  (C) Ambassador said that we appreciated Maldives' 
friendship and assistance.  He noted that our two 
militaries had a good cooperative relationship, and 
Maldives had helped us out, for example, when we needed 
an urgent landing clearance.  Adam emphasized Maldives' 
commitment to helping the U.S. in the global fight 
against terrorism.  Ambassador said our governments 
should look for ways to cooperate even more closely, and 
offered to arrange some briefings on how we might to so. 
Adam enthusiastically agreed, saying, "Whatever you 
need, we will do." 
 
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 
Human Rights Commissioner reviews plans 
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13.  (C) During their May 16 meeting, Ahmed Mujthaba, 
head of the Human Rights Commission (HRC), and A/S Rocca 
discussed the status of the draft HRC bill, the work 
with which the Commission was involved, and the HRC's 
needs as it tried to get fully up to steam.  Optimistic 
about the draft HRC bill now being reviewed in a Majlis 
committee, Mujthaba felt that the current version of the 
bill reflected some of the concerns of the Commission, 
namely the body's need for independence from the 
government and its need to be able to continue an 
investigation even after a case has been referred to the 
legal system. 
 
14.  (C) Mujthaba said there were plans to hire 
additional lawyers to increase the Commission's capacity 
for conducting investigations -- to date, over 70 
complaints had been received and the nine commissioners 
had met 35 times since the HRC's December 2003 
inception.  If the current draft of the bill passed, 
officially separating the HRC from the government, 
Mujthaba said he would also have to hire new 
commissioners, as some commissioners were currently 
government employees and may be ineligible for continued 
service with the Commission.  He also touched on plans 
to increase public consciousness on human rights issues, 
including one workshop planned for June to increase 
awareness about human rights among members of the media. 
The Ambassador commented that several U.S.-based 
organizations involved with capacity building and 
training on human rights issues may also be able to 
provide assistance.  Mujthaba stated his interest in 
such assistance, but wanted to proceed carefully with 
any high profile organization to avoid antagonizing any 
MPs not in favor of the commission and thereby possibly 
putting the draft HRC bill in jeopardy. 
 
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Meeting with UNDP Representative 
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15.  (C) In a May 16 conversation with A/S Rocca, UNDP 
Resident Representative in the Maldives Minh Pham (Amcit 
-- pls strictly protect) focused his remarks on the 
country's proposed graduation from LDC status and the 
newly establish Human Rights Commission.  Regarding LDC 
graduation, Pham said he thought government opinion, 
originally centered on delaying graduation, had slowly 
swung to acceptance (a view that was confirmed to A/S 
Rocca during her meeting with President Gayoom the 
following day).  A feature of graduation would be an 
appropriately structured and paced transition strategy, 
Pham said, and the UNDP was ready to help the GoRM 
develop such an action plan.  The UNDP was also intent 
on working with the HRC to build capacity within that 
body and increase its standing among international human 
rights organizations. 
 
=-=-=-= 
COMMENT 
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16.  (C) A/S Rocca's visit highlighted U.S. interest in 
Maldives and underscored our strong support for 
democratic reforms.  As noted, after years of semi- 
autocratic one-man rule by Gayoom, the political reform 
agenda has really taken off in Maldives in the past 
several months.  In the meeting with A/S Rocca, Gayoom 
was relaxed and carried the discussion on for twice the 
scheduled length.  He does seem convinced of the need to 
go forward with political reform; a question remains 
whether some of his cronies can thwart these plans, or 
at least retard the pace.  With expectations so high, 
murmurings of discontent are likely if moves toward 
genuine reform are seen as being kicked down the road. 
 
17.  (C) COMMENT (Continued):  With Maldives in this 
transition stage, targeted assistance in various areas 
could have a significant impact.  Maldives may be that 
rarity today -- a friendly Islamic country moving of its 
own accord towards a more democratic system.  That is 
something we should encourage.  Septels will follow with 
suggestions on how we might proceed.  END COMMENT. 
 
18.  (U) Assistant Secretary Rocca did not have an 
opportunity to review this message before departing 
Post. 
 
19.  (U) Minimize considered. 
 
LUNSTEAD