India’s role appreciated by President Dr Mohamed Waheed, but criticised by other political parties; India-mediated cross-party peace talks halted; India offers to replace all police vehicles destroyed during the unrest; UK High commissioner to the Maldive
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  • According to reports, President Dr Mohamed Waheed has sent a letter of appreciation to the Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, for the warm felicitations on his assumption of office as Maldives’ President. In his letter, President Waheed also briefed the Prime Minister on the steps the government was taking to continue the efforts of democratic consolidation in the Maldives. 1 Meanwhile, Home Minister Mohamed Jameel also thanked
    Indian Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai for brokering the roadmap negotiations and told Press Trust of India that India has a moral obligation to safeguard democracy in the Maldives. However, several political parties in the talks had accused India of interference in Maldivian internal affairs. 2

    However, according to reports, the India-mediated cross-party peace talks initiated by President Mohamed Waheed Hassan have been halted after the facilitator of the talks, Ahmed Mujuthaba, had to leave the Maldives for a personal matter. 3

    According to reports, the Indian government has offered to replace all police vehicles destroyed during the unrest that flared across the country following the recent transition of Presidential power. The police bore the brunt of the anger that followed former President Nasheed’s resignation, resulting in damage that the Ministry of Home Affairs has estimated to amount to Rf183million. 4

    In other developments, according to reports, UK High Commissioner to the Maldives and Sri Lanka, John Rankin, has emphasised that democracy must continue in the Maldives, “and [there must be] no return to the autocratic rule that has been in existence prior to 2008.” In his regular “Ask the High Commissioner” interview, Rankin said the UK had called on “all parties to exercise good faith to try to find a way through the current problems and consensus for the way forward.” “The UK recongises states, not governments,” he explained. Rankin said the UK backed the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG)’s call for early elections, and for agreement as to the constitutional changes required for that to happen. 5

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