TM calls on Govt to address Human Rights Watch concerns

Transparency Maldives (TM) has called on the Government of Maldives to address the issues raised by Human Rights Watch (HRW) regarding freedom of assembly and speech.

A motion was submitted to Parliament on Tuesday, with regards to these concerns. Only eight Members of Parliament voted to review the matter, while 32 had voted against the motion.

TM statement issued on Wednesday said that the Parliament vote to reject review of the HRW report was deeply concerning. The statement called on the government, President’s Office, and the Parliament to address the issues raised in the report, implement measures to protect freedoms of assembly and speech. Transparency Maldives said the report clearly demonstrated that authorities were, under various pressures, had severely restricted freedoms of assembly and speech.

The HRW report, issued on April 14, 2022, said that ‘despite progress in media freedom under President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, the government has neglected other essential reforms, leaving the justice system vulnerable to pressure from powerful interest groups, and groups that advocate violence against journalists and critics of the government.’

It also noted that the Solih administration had failed to address the issue of attacks on activists. HRW said the administration had installed the Commission on Deaths and Disappearances, but had not yielded any results. The Commission was established in 2018, under a Presidential decree.

The report also said that while reporters claim no censorship or criminal charges, government had often relented to pressure from politicians and powerful religious groups, instead of upholding free speech and association.

HRW had recommended donors, such as the USA, the UK and EU, need to support credible steps toward strengthening independent institutions in the country.

The report came at a time when the Solih administration had enforced multiple crackdowns on opposition led movement to remove Indian military personnel from the country.