MDP hold London press conference

The MDP yesterday held a press conference in London to brief members
of the international community on the obstacles to a free and fair
election in the Maldives.
Held in Westminster, the conference was well attended by Members of
Parliament, diplomats, media, NGO officials, and representatives from
the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission.
MDP Chairperson Mohamed Nasheed lead a presentation on the obstacles
to a free and fair election in the Maldives and presented the MDP's
proposals for moving forward with reform. He was joined by Ambassador
Ahmed Naseem, MDP's Representative to the UK, and Mohamed Aslam (MP
and MDP Elections Director) in a Questions & Answers session after the
presentation.
The presentation illustrated the government's failure to create either
a culture of democracy or the institutions of democracy. The use of
violence and arbitrary arrest to deter political participation was
highlighted, and the government's record on their Roadmap critically
analysed.
Yesterday's conference concluded the visit to the UK undertaken by MDP
officials, who were invited to join the Conservative Party local
elections campaign. Nasheed, Aslam, and MDP Party Development Officer
Shazley Shafeeg observed campaigning and vote-counting in Bury St.
Edmund's. The trip is one of many capacity-building initiatives
planned for the coming year between the Conservative Party and the
MDP.
MDP Chairperson Mohamed Nasheed said:
"It was very clear from the press conference that the international
community has become sceptical of the government's promises of reform.
"Not all of them were aware of the recent upsurge in police violence
and fabricated charges made against – photos of those attacked really
made an impact.
"And I think they were also surprised about how badly the Roadmap has
failed. The fact that only two bills have passed when the government
hold a majority in the Majlis is an impossible record for the
government to defend.
"We told the international community that they must try to get the
government back to the negotiating table, but not just to talk for the
sake of talking. They must pressure them to make real concessions and
keep their promises."