US embassy cable - 05COLOMBO845

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 000845 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS 
NSC FOR DORMANDY 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PREL, MV, Maldives 
SUBJECT: MALDIVES:  PROGRESS ON REFORMS:  GLACIAL BUT 
GETTING THERE 
 
REF: A. COLOMBO 837 
     B. COLOMBO 694 
 
Classified By: Charge' d'Affaires James F. Entwistle.  1.4 (b,d) 
 
1.  (C) Summary:  In a May 4 release, the Government of the 
Republic of Maldives said it would seek to legitimize 
political parties under the current constitution, based on a 
legal opinion by the current Attorney General Dr. Hassan 
Saeed.  The move stems from growing dissatisfaction across 
the political spectrum with the slow progress of the Special 
Majlis.  The Attorney General is not stopping with political 
parties, however.  He is moving ahead with drafting reforms 
for the civil and criminal justice systems, among others. 
Saeed's energy is refreshing and may provide needed activity 
to prove to Maldivians the government's commitment to 
reforms.  End Summary. 
 
Legalize political parties now! 
------------------------------- 
 
2.  (U) On May 4, the Government of the Republic of Maldives 
(GORM) issued a press release saying it aimed "to remove 
remaining obstacles to multipartyism."  In the text, Dr. 
Hassan Saeed, the Attorney General, is quoted as saying 
obstacles to the registration of political parties are not as 
"absolute" as his predecessor once concluded.  (Note: 
Saeed's predecessor is Mohamed Munavvar, a long-time Embassy 
contact who was one of the four MPs arrested and charged with 
sedition after the August 2004 unrest.  Munavvar is a 
supporter of increased political reform in Maldives, but not 
an official member of any opposition group.  End Note.) 
Given the current AG's revised opinion on the existing 
constitionality of political parties, the Majlis (Parliament) 
must decide if it will debate the issue when it returns from 
recess on June 2, President Gayoom is quoted as saying. 
 
3.  (U) In the statement, Chief Government Spokeman Dr. Ahmed 
Shaeed said this initiative grew out of the slow progress of 
the reforms in the Special Majlis.  Pursuing the 
establishment of political parties now "should send a strong 
signal to all those..here in Maldives and elsewhere, that 
this government is serious about reform and is determined to 
back up words with actions," Shaheed is quoted as saying. 
 
Announcement no suprise 
----------------------- 
 
4.  (C) In the context of the Special Majlis' beleaguered 
efforts, the GORM's May 4 announcement regarding the possible 
recognition of political parties is not suprising.  During an 
April 7 visit to Male', many interlocutors, both government 
and opposition, expressed to the Ambassador their 
dissatisfaction with the Special Majlis.  Discussing the 
constitutional body with the Ambassador, Saeed said that its 
110 members were taking a long time to debate and approve 
rules of procedure.  He said the body had 110 separate 
opinions since there were no political parties for the 
members to organize behind. 
 
5.  (C) Ibrahim Ismail, an opposition Majlis MP from Male' 
and former detainee, also expressed his hope for the success 
of the Special Majlis, but said he was starting to lose faith 
at the slow progress of the reform body.  When asked by the 
Ambassador what constructive role outsiders could play, 
Ismail suggested that the international community could hold 
the GORM to a timetable with benchmarks for progress in the 
reform process.  The Ambassador noted that several government 
officials he had met agreed a timetable was needed. 
 
6.  (C) Speaking in general about the Special Majlis' 
efforts, Ismail -- a man who, despite being under house 
arrest during the campaign period, unseated the government MP 
in Male' -- said that many MPs who would speak out against 
the government continued to feel intimidated not to do so. 
The government is not allowing true public debate, he said. 
Ismail felt that President Gayoom relinquished little, if 
any, real power in his reform package.  In his opinion, two 
fundamental changes needed to occur -- gender equality and 
anti-discrimination laws. 
7.  (C) In his converation with the Ambassador, Ahmed 
Abdulla, Acting FM and Minister of Information, Arts, and 
Culture, characterized the political reform process as a 
"time of transformation."  GORM is encouraged by the USG 
support for its efforts, he said.  The Ambassador underscored 
to him that the U.S. has great interest in Islamic states, 
especially forward-looking ones.  Ambassador encouraged 
Abdulla to take that interest and turn it into opportunity. 
 
Additional reform plans 
----------------------- 
 
8.  (SBU) During his meeting with the Ambassador, Saeed was 
full of energy and upbeat as always about all the many 
projects on which he and his staff were working.  One of the 
major projects is to liberalize the Maldivian media.  The AG 
said he was deliberating on the timeframe and mechanism for 
doing so. 
 
9.  (SBU) Saeed also discussed his plans to implement a bail 
system, saying he had the "green light" -- from the 
President, presumably -- to proceed.  Saeed felt the bail 
system needed only regulations, not further legislation. 
(Note:  Given the lack of a bail system, many in the prison 
population are only awaiting trial and not yet convicted and 
serving a sentence.)  The AG felt the prison population would 
significantly decrease as a result of allowing bail. 
 
10.  (C) He also discussed the debates beginning in 
Parliament to investigate alleged prison abuse.  Saeed said 
he heard about allegations of abuse, but felt that police try 
to cover it up.  The Ambassador noted that if the climate 
does not support the rule of law and human rights, then the 
police feel no constraints on their actions.  Saeed also felt 
that there was a conflict of interest in that the police and 
penitentiary officials were in the same ministry.  He 
suggested that the police could stay in the Home Ministry, 
while it might be appropriate for the Department of 
Penitentiary to move to the Ministry of Justice.  (Note:  As 
reported Ref A, GORM critics are alleging one prisoner being 
held on narcotics charges died as a result of mistreatment in 
March.  End Note.)  Saeed also expressed his intent to 
strengthen the judiciary, saying that the GORM has provided 
training for several senior justices.  He hoped that a 
criminal justice reform package would pass the People's 
Majlis by the end of the year and added that a civil justice 
action plan would be published shortly.  (Note:  The AG made 
similar points in an April 26 meeting with DCM and econoff. 
End Note.) 
 
11.  (C) The Ambassador heard similar calls for law 
enforcement reform from Ahmed Mujuthaba, Chair of the Human 
Rights Commission, highlighting the high number of people in 
prison because of the lack of provisions for bail.  Based on 
continuing visits to prisons by HRC members, Mujuthaba 
thought that conditions had deteriorated to pre-September 
2003, when a custodial death led to riots in the prison and 
on Male'.  The Commission Chair also thought most of the ill 
treatment occurred during the arrest phase, before detainees 
were questioned. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
12.  (C) Saeed, a young-looking lawyer, is a newcomer to 
Maldivian politics and was not part of the government before 
his appointment as Attorney General by Gayoom in December 
2003.  His pro-reform energy within the government is 
refreshing and it appears so far that his actions have 
Gayoom's blessing.  His views on necessary changes by the 
government differ little from those of opposition leader 
Ismail and the independent Human Rights Commissioner. 
Saeed's success in spearheading reforms lends credibility to 
Gayoom's desire to change.  We hope that some of his drive 
and energy soon infects the Special Majlis.  End Comment. 
ENTWISTLE