Commonwealth expert team for Maldives referendum

Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon has welcomed an invitation from the Maldives Commissioner of Elections for the Commonwealth to be present at the referendum on 18 August 2007.

“The referendum provides an important opportunity for Maldivians to contribute to the democratic reform process,” said Mr McKinnon. “By choosing the form of government, citizens can help to shape the future of their country.”

A Commonwealth Expert Team arrived in Maldives on 13 August 2007 as part of the Commonwealth’s ongoing engagement with the government. The team’s objective is to assess the political environment for the conduct of the referendum, as well as the process itself.

The team comprises Hendrick Gappy, the Commissioner of Elections in Seychelles, and John Turner, an independent consultant on electoral and related legislation, supported by two Commonwealth Secretariat staff.

The Expert Team will hold a series of meetings, including with the Commissioner of Elections, the Speaker of the Special Majlis, members of the Special Majlis Referendum and Drafting Committees, representatives of registered political parties, the Human Rights Commission, the media, civil society, Commonwealth high commissioners based in Malé, and international agencies working in Maldives.

It will provide a report on its assessment of the referendum process to the Commonwealth Secretary-General, who will discuss the team’s recommendations with the Government of Maldives and political parties.

The Secretariat has been engaged with Maldives to support the country’s democratic development since 2004. In 2005, Tun Musa Hitam, former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, was appointed by the Secretary-General as his Special Envoy to Maldives. The Secretariat has worked closely with other international partners to support democratic reform in the Indian Ocean state through technical assistance and by fostering political dialogue.

Secretariat Links:

• Democracy
• Country Profile: Maldives