FM Asim condemns rights violations, forgoes Maldives

Foreign Minister Dr. Mohamed Asim has given his speech to the General Debate of 72nd session of the United Nations (UN) condemning human rights violations across the globe, but completely foregoing a response to gross human rights violations at home.

The nearly 30-minute-long speech mostly focused on the Government’s perceived development projects, climate change, sustainable fisheries and protection of marine ecosystems. He also noted the work carried out by the Maldives to seek a spot in the UN Security Council. The speech was delivered to a mostly empty hall.

‘My country, the Maldives, envisions a United Nations that is fair, that is representative of its diverse membership, that takes into account the views and opinions of all, and forms consensus, based on compromise and dialogue. A United Nations that commits and delivers,’ he said.

In his speech Dr. Asim called for an independent, sovereign State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital, established along the 1967 borders as the only solution for the that crisis. He had also reflected on the various human rights abuses being perpetrated in Syria and Myanmar, stating that inhumane treatment has been normalized.

‘The world must become a safer planet for all. No man, no woman, and certainly no child, must suffer due to conflict. Yet we know this is not the case. Far too many people are dying in conflicts across the world. Far too many mothers are living in fear, unsure of the fate of their children. Far too many children are seeing their futures crumbling in front of them,’ Dr. Asim said.

Dr. Asim pledged full support to UN and the body’s Secretary General in combating terrorism globally.

‘Instilling fear of “the other” is easy. Determining “them” as worth less – due to their religion, race, ethnicity, nationality, Islamaphobia, or whatever the reason – is a short step away. When this happens, it is easy to ignore grave violations, easier to even encourage them. It is then, and only then, we see – and we have seen – the worst of humanity. We cannot allow another wave of genocide to repeat. Not on our watch,’ Minister said.

The bulk of the Minister’s speech dwelled on the perceived successes of the development plans engineered by President Abdullah Yameen. Citing that Maldives had taken a proactive and constructive stance, Dr. Asim said that Maldives has been successful in this aspect.

‘The world must become a more hopeful place for all – a place where people enjoy decent and meaningful lives. Adopting a proactive and constructive stand is our approach. Sustained and targeted investment is our policy. Looking to cultivate a culture of respect for human rights, at home and abroad, is our goal. We believe we have been successful,’ he added.

Dr. Asim also highlighted on some of the issues Maldives faced as a middle income developing nation.

‘The Maldives is a middle-income country. But like every country, we want to achieve higher growth, and even greater development. For this to happen, large-scale investment 5 is necessary. Investments are not only a means to support our economic development, but a means to support our social development as well. Large-scale projects will help to provide economies of scale, facilitate expansion of key sectors of the economy, and also generate jobs, and create opportunities for our youth, for their creativity to be unleashed. Yet, it has become increasingly difficult for middle income countries like the Maldives to access concessional financing for development projects, leaving no choice but to go with commercial interest rates, further increasing debt burdens,’ Dr. Asim said.

The Minister also noted that the Maldives will be seeking a term on the body’s Security Council, a first in the nation’s 52-year history.

‘It is because we have never served before – It is the promise of equality of representation, our conviction that every nation – large or small – should have a voice, and can make a difference – our firm conviction that size does not determine destiny or value, that in our fifty-two years of membership of the United Nations, for the first time, we are seeking a seat on the United Nations Security Council for the term 2019-2020,’ the Minister said.

Unlike previous years’ speeches at the UN, the Foreign Minister had not responded back to the allegations of human rights abuses in the Maldives. Moreover, he had skipped on asking for assistance from fellow nations to improve and maintain human rights, political freedoms, civil liberties and freedom of press in the nation.