MDP protests against deportation of its consultant Adam Cooper

Politically motivated deportations to be raised in Majlis

The MDP strongly protests against the irregular and unjustified deportation of its political consultant, Mr. Adam Cooper. In light of the continued abuse of power by the Immigration Controller, the issue of politically-motivated deportations will now be raised within the People’s Majlis by the MDP.

The decision to deport Cooper was taken by Ibrahim Shafiu, Immigration Controller and Coordinator for the President’s Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP). He has publicly stated that Cooper was deported because he “refused a summons to the [Immigration] office”.

However, when summoned, Cooper did go to the Department of Immigration. Upon arrival to the scheduled meeting, the Immigration Controller refused to meet Cooper with his lawyer present. Following this, Mr. Cooper wrote to the Immigration Controller stating: “I would like to reiterate my willingness to meet with you to discuss whatever issues you desire”.

The summons was issued soon after Cooper had contributed opinion pieces in the local press analysing media and judicial legislation, and calling for a less partisan and personal political debate. Articles on pro-government websites responded with calls for Cooper to be beheaded.

No written communication was ever issued by a government department to Mr. Cooper or his employers raising any concerns about his work. The only communication received this year regarding Cooper’s employment was a letter from the Ministry of Employment granting Mr. Cooper an extension on his work permit up to January 2008.

Upon deportation, Cooper was informed that he had “violated Immigration rules and regulations”. No Department of Immigration has yet been able to identify what rule and regulation Cooper allegedly broke that warrants immediate deportation.

Diplomatic representations have been made to the Maldivian government on this issue. MDP leaders have also attempted to negotiate with the Minister of Defence, Ismail Shafiu, who oversees the Department of Immigration. The MDP proposed to allow Cooper into the country for a month to wrap up his work and collect his belongings. Minister Shafiu has failed to respond to this proposal.

Mohamed Aslam, MP for Addu Atoll will now raise the issue of politically-motivated deportations in the People’s Majlis.

Adam Cooper said:

“Obviously I’m very disappointed about what’s happened. Whatever the government’s concerns about my work, I think I should have been given the opportunity to address those concerns before I was deported.

“I am very surprised that turning up to a meeting with a lawyer is considered sufficient grounds for deportation. I would like to have been informed precisely what rule and regulation I had supposedly broken.”

“I hope that the government will reconsider their decision.”

MDP Acting President Ibrahim Hussein Zaki added:

“The Immigration Controller has a long record of deporting anyone that he doesn’t like on spurious grounds. Of all the civil servants working for the DRP, he is the one who abuses his power for political reasons the most.

“Adam’s is the latest in a long line of unjustified deportations of those working for political reform, human rights, or journalism. The government accuses these people of breaking rules, being Islamic terrorists and Christian missionaries simultaneously, and so on. Not once have they produced any evidence to support their claims

“Both the Immigration Controller and Minister of Defence must learn how to exercise their power in a responsible and mature way, not according to the whim of DRP.”