UK in discussions to send a mission to Maldives
Swire called to send a mission to Maldives, or encourage UN to do so
Former Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Hugo Swire
Former Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Hugo Swire has called on UK to send a mission to the Maldives.
In a question posed to Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific Mark Field, Swire noted that the “extension of state of emergency, the arrests of former President Gayoom and two Supreme Court judges has seen the tightening of grip by President Abdulla Yameen in the Maldives and the further extinguishing of the democratic institutions there”.
“Given the fact that that at any one time there are literally thousands of British tourist makers on these islands and that they were until recently a welcome member of the Commonwealth family, will the secretary of state agree to head up a mission there, or encourage the UN to do so, because it also has the potential to bring China and India into an unwelcome regional conflict?’ said Swire.
Responding to him, MP Field said that he is “deeply troubled by the declaration of a state of emergency in the Maldives in the 5th of February, and the accompanying suspension of fundamental rights”.
Noting that he met with self-exiled former President Mohamed Nasheed last November, he added that Nasheed’s “time in office was turbulent”.
He further stated that Swire’s suggestions on the matter will be taken “on board”.
Sharing a short video clip, Swire said that he is glad that his considerations will be taken into consideration.
MP Mark Field also tweeted on the matter, saying that the UK “will continue to call on President Yameen to peacefully end the state of emergency,” adding that Ambassador James Dauris has delivered this message to the Maldivian government.
