Commonwealth Democracy Experts to observe Maldives parliamentary elections

The decision to send the Commonwealth expert team follows an invitation from the Government of Maldives.

A team of democracy experts, which has been sent by Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon for the Maldives parliamentary elections, begins work on 23 December 2004. The elections take place on 31 December.  

The experts are: Cassam Uteem, former President of Mauritius; Andy Becker, Electoral Commissioner, Australia; Mahi Choudhury, Member of Parliament, Bangladesh; Jim Fitzpatrick, Member of Parliament, United Kingdom; and Dr Jayaprakash Narayan, Campaign Co-ordinator, Lok Satta (Foundation for Democratic Reforms), India.  

Mr Uteem will lead the team. The experts will be briefed in the capital, Malé, by the Commissioner of Elections, election candidates, representatives of civil society, Commonwealth diplomats and other election observers. The team has been asked by the Secretary-General to observe preparations for the parliamentary elections, the polling, counting and results process and the overall electoral environment.

The decision to send the Commonwealth expert team follows an invitation from the Government of Maldives.  

The members of the expert team will remain in Maldives till 6 January 2005. They have been invited in their individual capacities and the views they express regarding the elections will be their own and not those either of their respective governments or of the Commonwealth Secretariat.

CNIS - the Commonwealth News and Information Service, Issue 215, 22 December 2004

Key Links:

• Democracy
• Maldives