JOINT STATEMENT BY FRIENDS OF MALDIVES (FOM) AND MALDIVES AID

14th August 2008

Maldives Aid and Friends of Maldives (FOM) welcome the ratification of the amended Constitution on 7th August 2008, after a four year process delayed by President Gayoom and his government. The Constitution marks an important milestone in the country's transition to democracy, introducing much needed democratic reforms to weaken the power of the President.(1)

The Constitution paves the way for the country’s first multi-party presidential elections, to be held before October 10th 2008, providing Maldivian citizens with a choice of presidential candidates for the first time in the country’s history. The Constitution paves the way for the country’s first multi-party presidential elections, to be held before October 10th 2008, providing Maldivian citizens with a choice of presidential candidates for the first time in the country’s history.

It is vital that the upcoming elections should be made as free and free and fair as possible.

 Maldives Aid and Friends of Maldives remain strongly concerned that:

• The vitally important voter registry verification process is not being conducted in a fair manner and the final voter list will therefore be subject to the risk of corruption by authorities –

- Maldivian citizens have only been allowed 15 days to verify their entries on the voter registry released by the Elections Commission on 31st July

- The voter registry has been published in English only, making verification difficult for many citizens who are unable to read English

- The voter registry is only available online and in island offices, limiting access for island residents

• The President is allowed, in the terms of the amended Constitution, 30 days to establish a new independent Elections Commission, meaning that the Commission may only be in place for a short period before polling

• An election date has not yet been set, despite the launch of political party campaigns, including the government party, the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party

• President Gayoom has declared the Maldives has no need for international election observers (2)

Maldives Aid and Friends of Maldives demand that:

• The deadline for verification of the voter registry be extended until at least 25th August, believing this should be manageable within current time constraints

• The voter registry be immediately translated into Dhivehi

• The voter registry be available in hard copy and in prominent public places on larger islands

• An independent Elections Commission is established before the thirty day deadline and an election date announced as a matter of urgency

Notes to the Editors:

 (1) The Constitution of the Maldives as ratified on 7/8/08 can be accessed here: http://www.maldivesinfo.gov.mv/home/index.php

 (2) DRP Condemns Opposition over White Foreigners and Jews in Maldives’ http://www.minivannews.com/news/news.php?id=4786

(3) Maldives Aid is a contributing organization to the Go Vote Campaign, a civil society effort to boost turnout and campaign for freedom and fairness in the upcoming presidential elections.