Amid growing clamour for India’s intervention in the ongoing political turmoil in the Maldives, New Delhi has asked the island nation to ensure that space for legitimate political dissent is safeguarded and safety and security of foreign workers is secured.

India’s statement, made at the Universal Periodic Review of Maldives at the 22nd Session of the Working Group on UPR of the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva last week, follows reports of human rights violations and impingement on press freedom in the island nation.

“We have seen reports by U.N. agencies that press freedom is being abridged. The Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers has also reported their increased politicisation. Maintaining public trust requires strong adherence to due process. The space for legitimate political dissent must be safeguarded,” India has said.

However, India is yet to respond to the demand from pro-democracy and human rights activists to put pressure on the current leadership in Male to consider the release of the former President, Mohammed Nasheed, and other political detainees.

‘Missed the chance’

Former Ambassador Kuldip Sahdev, who headed the MEA’s Maldives division, said India had already missed the chance to intervene when the coup took place. Referring to the strategic importance of the Maldives, he said the international community, particularly India, had a role to play in restoration of democracy.

“Things will only get worse in the Maldives in the coming days; now India needs to sit up and take notice and carve out a role for itself,” he said.
(The Hindu)