Reports indicated that nine Maldivian citizens have been arrested by security forces in the northern region of Pakistan. The government on its part offered no intervention regarding the release of these people, and stated that the Pakistan government was free to take action against them1.

Reports noted that the Maldivian delegation participating in the climate change talks at Bonn towards furthering commitments for Annex I parties under the Kyoto Protocol, emphasized on the need for stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations below 350 parts per million and limiting temperature increases to below 1.5ºC2.

In other developments, President Nasheed, speaking at a press conference on the formation of an Advisory Council on Climate Change, stated that future Maldivian government’s should allow its citizens to travel study or work any where in the world. He also stated that he will be asking foreign governments to exempt Maldivians who wish to buy land abroad from taxation. The council, to be chaired by Vice-President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik and supported by a group of international climate and energy experts, will “set out detailed plans and a timeline for emissions cuts and other environmental measures to be implemented over the coming decade3.”

• 1. “Pakistani security forces arrest nine Maldivians for weapon possession,” Haveeru Times, April 2, 2009, at http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/details/26394/Pakistani_security_force...
• 2. “Maldives attends Bonn Climate Change talks,” Miadhu News, April 1, 2009, at http://miadhu.com.mv/news.php?id=9731
• 3. “Advisory council to oversee carbon-neutral plan,” Minivan News, April 1, 2009, at http://www.minivannews.com/news_detail.php?id=6269