:: Dhivehi Observer :: Peoples Press ::

Will Kuoni pullout of Maldives?

OPINION

Not only Kuoni but many tour operators will. Not those in UK, but those from Italy, Germany and even Japan. Time is running out. Gayyoom must comply with the demands of the international community due to the representations made by the Maldivian pro-reform and human rights activists.

Unless the government of the Maldives brings an immediate end to human rights abuses, release all prisoners of conscience, start respecting the rule of law, freedom of expression and freedom of association, a campaign calling to stay away from Maldives will be launched very soon. This will have a significant impact on the economy of the Maldives, something that this government cannot withstand.

However, before proceeding with such a course of action, we would like to give the government of Maldives the opportunity to face facts, which is that, in an increasingly integrated world, open and connected world, there is no longer any room for a secret dictatorship.

Friends of Maldives, a pressure group working to bring an end to the tyranny of Gayyoom, the suffering of the people of Maldives, is currently looking to start a mass scale campaign across Europe, not just UK. Friends of Maldives is a group formed by classmates and friends of Maldivians who studied in the UK.

"If Kuoni pulls out of Burma, they will pull out of Maldives too! The question is, is it the right course of action considering the vulnerability of the Maldivian economy? On the other hand, how long can we go on hearing about our friends being jailed, tortured and killed" says Mr. Moulds, who's best friend is a Maldivian.

With over 500,000 people visiting the Maldives from around the globe, making him and his allies wealthy whilst the majority of the country has no idea how much of their wealth is actually redistributed and passed onto them directly, to improve public services.

The injustices on a few cannot be tolerated nor matter how prosperous the economy is made to look. The truth is, this money from tourism is being used to increase their grip on power, this money is used to torture and kill innocent Maldivians, this money is used to finance the schemes of vote rigging in general elections and referendums, this money is used to sustain the dictatorship of Gayyoom, not on sustainable development of the country as a whole.

President Gayyoom has a thing or two to think about rather than spend his evenings enjoying the Shaam E' Rangeen show at Majeedhiyaa Carnival in Male'.

Please visit www.friendsofmaldives.com or discussion group http://groups.msn.com/friendsofmaldives

The article below is a clear result of a campaign that is now being stupulated by Friends of Maldives.

Kuoni to pull out of Burma on 30 April 2003

Kuoni - Europe's sixth largest travel company - has announced it will stop operating in Burma at the end of this year. The company has been on a 'dirty list' of companies in Burma published by the Burma Campaign UK.

Sue Biggs, Managing Director of Kuoni, told the Burma Campaign UK: "As a result of the recent events in Asia and low public demand, we will not be offering holidays to Burma in 2004. However, we very much look forward to returning to Burma once the British public demands it back, which we expect to happen as soon as democracy is restored in the beautiful country of Burma."

Yvette Mahon, Director of the Burma Campaign UK welcomed the move. "We are absolutely delighted that Kuoni are pulling out of Burma", she said. "Tourism is a vital source of income for the dictatorship in Burma. This means less money for the generals, and sends a strong message to other tour operators that they should get out too. We hope they follow Kuoni's lead."

Burma, ruled by one of the most brutal military dictatorships in the world, is the subject of a tourist boycott following calls by Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of Burma's democracy movement, for tourists to stay away. Tourism provides the generals with an important source of foreign currency, and slave labour has been widely used to build tourist infrastructure.

"Travel companies operating in Burma are helping to prop up the regime", says Yvette Mahon. "We will now be turning our attention to Orient Express, one of the last significant tour operators left in Burma."

For more information contact Yvette Mahon, Director of the Burma Campaign UK, on 020 7281 7377, mobile 07957 301 346, or Mark Farmaner, Media Officer, on 020 7281 7377, mobile 07941 239 640.