President Gayoom reaffirms his unswerving commitment to bring full liberal democracy to the Maldives
President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom today reaffirmed his unswerving commitment to bring full liberal democracy to the
Maldives. The President made the remark in a telephone conversation with the Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Mr.
Don McKinnon, who had called the President to inquire about his wellbeing and that of the people of the Maldives,
following the incidents of 12 and 13 August.
The President thanked Secretary General McKinnon for his thoughtful gesture in calling him at the present time. The
President said that he would not let fundamentalist elements and other political extremists derail the reform agenda
that he had laid out on 9 June.
Secretary General McKinnon reassured the President that, at a time of national emergency, the Commonwealth Secretariat
would extend whatever assistance that the Maldives asked for. He noted that the Commonwealth warmly welcomed the
President’s reform proposals of 9 June, and encouraged the President to continue to strive towards achieving these
objectives, in spite of attempts to disrupt that process.
A British protectorate for nearly 75 years, the Maldives at Independence opted to remain outside the Commonwealth. It
was President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom who in 1982 secured membership for the Maldives in the Commonwealth, an organisation
committed to democracy and development.
Notes to editors:
The President’s reform agenda can be found on http://www.presidencymaldives.gov.mv.
The Press Release on the mob violence on Thursday and Friday can also be found on http://www.presidencymaldives.gov.mv.