US embassy cable - 05COLOMBO192

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000192 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR DRL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, ELAB, KDEM, KSEP, PGOV, PREL, MV, Human Rights, Maldives 
SUBJECT: UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PROMOTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS 
IN MALDIVES 
 
REF:  SECSTATE 267453 
 
1.  Per Reftel, Mission submits the draft report on 
Supporting Human Rights and Democracy in Maldives. 
 
Begin text. 
 
In 2004, Maldives President Gayoom, head of the 
parliamentary-style government, began a process to 
strengthen democracy and introduce political reforms.  His 
commitment to reform, however, was questioned when his 
government appeared to crackdown on outspoken reformists. 
During 2004 -- the first year of his sixth term -- the 
President had declared a state of emergency, which suspended 
certain fundamental rights, in the wake of the August 2004 
civil unrest.  As a result, his government spent the last 
three months of the year preparing charges of sedition 
against several parliamentarians, some who had been held in 
solitary confinement for over 60 days. 
 
From August to December, U.S. diplomats engaged in 
discussions with the Maldivian government to encourage the 
fair treatment of all detainees as well as to gauge the 
GORM's continuing commitment to reform.  Press statements, 
both from the U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka and spokesmen for 
the Department of State, publicly called on the Maldivian 
government to treat detainees in accord with international 
standards on human rights.  During multiple visits to 
Maldives throughout this time frame, U.S. officials 
successfully persuaded the government to allow U.S. access 
to some of the detainees, including those who had been 
transferred to house arrest. 
 
In the aftermath of the December, 26, 2004 tsunami which 
caused devastation on a nation-wide scale, President Gayoom 
ordered all charges to be dropped against everyone, except 
for two people, who had been indicted in connection with the 
August 12-13 civil unrest. 
 
Secretary Powell, stopping in Maldives after President 
 
SIPDIS 
Gayoom had announced his commitment to reform in a June 9 
speech, praised the Maldivian leader and expressed the U.S. 
government's belief in the ability of the Maldivian 
government to create a more open, democratic political 
process. 
 
The U.S. government has pursued the promotion of human 
rights in the Maldives in a variety of other tangible 
actions. 
 
Through U.S.-funded training, Maldivian police officers 
participated in police investigative and management training 
classes.  The Maldivian Police Department, which became a 
separate entity from the National Security Service, in 
September 2004, will be able to utilize such training as it 
focuses on implementing a community policing model. 
Upcoming training for police officers will include a human 
rights segment. 
 
Human rights training is a key component of all U.S.- 
Maldivian military-to-military programs.  The United States 
has sent Maldivian military officers to professional 
military education courses in the United States and funded 
Maldivian attendees at senior service schools. 
 
In December 2003, President Gayoom established the Maldivian 
Human Rights Commission by presidential decree.  The 
Commission made major strides in addressing human rights 
complaints throughout the year and took a forefront role in 
monitoring the treatment of detainees arrested following the 
August 2004 unrest.  The Commission effectively functioned 
despite the Majlis' failure to pass implementing legislation 
for the human rights body.  In response to the Commission's 
capacity-building efforts, the U.S. Government sponsored two 
Commissioners for International Visitors Programs in the 
U.S. in August-September 2004.  To provide further expertise 
for the Commission, the Embassy received funding to bring 
several U.S.-based human rights experts to Maldives to 
enhance the body's ability to address complaints and educate 
the public on human rights.  Mission is now working with the 
Commission to identify human rights scholars to participate 
in this program. 
 
At present, Maldives does not have complex labor laws and 
does not allow unions to be formed.  Within the context of 
the Government's focus on reform, Maldives plans to 
strengthen its labor laws.  The U.S. Embassy has been 
awarded grant money to host a labor seminar to bring 
together Maldivian government and civil society leaders with 
experts on labor law in the Asian region to aid the 
government in the redrafting of its laws. 
 
End text. 
 
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