President Waheed visits to China; Indian government urges Maldivian government to consider ways to resolve the problems faced by GMR Group; Australia calls on all party leaders to take part in discussions which pave the way to free and fair elections in t
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    • According to reports, President Dr Mohamed Waheed and First Lady Madam Ilham Hussain recently visited China and arrived back in Male’ on September 7, 2012. According to the President, the visit had enabled further strengthening of bilateral cooperation between the Maldives and China, and highlighted the agreements that were signed between the two countries. An agreement of 100 Million Yuan, as part of the bilateral assistance from China was signed between the two countries, as well as a framework agreement of 150 million dollars on housing and infrastructure assistance was signed between the Maldives and the EXIM Bank of China. Further, President Waheed said that Premier Wen Jiabao of China had assured of China’s full cooperation in areas like transport, road construction and shipping in the Maldives. The President also met with the local business community of China, noting that efforts were made to secure investments from China in the Maldives. 1

    In another development, the Indian government has asked the Maldivian government, to consider ways to resolve the problems faced by GMR Group, which has been given the contract to develop Ibrahim Nasir Male’ International Airport. Since the change of government, GMR has faced pressure from the current government, which was on the opposition previously. According to GMR, their efforts to develop the airport are being denied regardless of the fact that the agreement between the Maldivian government and GMR remains intact; which results in serious losses for the company. 2

    Reports noted that Australia has called on all party leaders to take part in discussions which pave the way to free and fair elections in the Maldives. Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Bob Carr said this in a short statement issued on September 4, 2012, to note the release of the report of the Commission of National Inquiry (CNI), established by the Government of Maldives to inquire into the transfer of power on 7 February 2012. 3

    In other developments, reports noted that Commonwealth Secretary General’s Special Envoy to the Maldives Sir Donald McKinnon visited the Maldives on September 8, 2012. 4 Meanwhile, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dhunya Maumoon has urged all countries in the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) to remove Maldives from the agenda of CMAG. 5

    According to reports, Amnesty International has demanded a prompt and independent probe into alleged rights violations in the Maldives, accusing security forces of abusing their power since the transfer of presidential power in the Indian Ocean archipelago. The report, released on September 4, documents targeted attacks on opposition supporters as well as bystanders at demonstrations. 6

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