The Indian High Commission in a statement released on February 23, 2013 announced that former Maldives President Nasheed had left the High Commission. The statement says, “It will be recalled that the former President had entered the Indian Mission in Male on 13 February 2013 on his own volition and had similarly decided to leave on his own. It is hoped that with this development the former President will again resume his social and political life.” The statement further noted that the Indian delegation led by Shri Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, currently visiting the Maldives, and the High Commissioner of India to Maldives had held a series of meetings with the officials of the Maldivian government and other stakeholders. The Indian government thanked all those who cooperated in these efforts. 1

In another development, according to reports, Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake has, while commenting on the situation in the Maldives, said that the US has been in very close touch throughout the whole crisis with India. 2

Reportedly, China has cautiously made its first comments regarding the political situation in Maldives saying that they hoped the issue will be handled properly, after former president Mohamed Nasheed sought refuge in the Indian High Commission in Male'. 3

Meanwhile, according to reports, the Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator (SDAA) of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Denise Rollins visited Maldives on February 21, 2013. The US embassy in Colombo said that SDAA Rollins met with President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dhunya Maumoon, officials from the Ministry of Environment and Energy, Elections Commission, United Nations representatives, and civil society groups and held discussion to explore support areas for climate change and governance initiatives in Maldives. 4

In other developments, according to reports, the Maldivian government has welcomed the preliminary observations of UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, Ms Gabrielle Knaul. A statement by the Foreign Ministry says that Attorney General Azima Shakoor has welcomed the preliminary observations and thanked the Rapporteur for her honest assessment of the justice system in the Maldives. 5

Reports noted that a delegation of Sri Lanka Customs led by Mr J P Wijeweera made a two days official visit to the Maldives. During the visit Maldives Customs Service and Sri Lanka Customs Service have commenced efforts to establish a system whereby information can be shared between the two authorities at a faster speed. Discussions were also held on collaborating in relation to training staff, sharing intelligence information, cooperating to find solutions to challenges faced in determining commodity prices and auditing, and signing an MoU to strengthen cooperation between the two authorities. 6

• 1. “Nasheed entered, as well as left the High Commission on his own volition: India”, The Sun Online, February 24, 2013 at http://sun.mv/english/9977.
• 2. “We have been in very close touch throughout this whole crisis with India: Blake”, The Sun Online, February 21, 2013 at http://sun.mv/english/9888.
• 3. “Hope that relevant issue could be properly handled: China”, The sun online, February 20, 2013 at http://sun.mv/english/9805.
• 4. “US Government holds aid discussions with Maldives”, The Sun Online, February 23, 2013 at http://sun.mv/english/9917.
• 5. “Government welcomes preliminary observations of UN Special Rapporteur”, The Sun Online, February 24, 2013 at http://sun.mv/english/9981.
• 6. “Work begins on a system to share information between Customs of Maldives and Sri Lanka”, The Sun Online, February 24, 2013 at http://sun.mv/english/9979.