:: Dhivehi Observer :: Peoples Press ::

MDP meets Mr. Robert Key, MP

MDP Councillor Mr. Moosa (Sappe') greeted by Mr. Robert Key outside his office

Mr. Robert Key and MDP Councillor Mr. Moosa (Sappe') after the meeting to brief on the Maldives Issues

Salisbury, UK - 15th October 2004

Member of the General Council of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and Editor-in-Chief of Dhivehi Observer (DO) website, Ahmed Moosa (Sappe') met with British Member of Parliament Robert Key, in his office in Salisbury today. Mr. Key has been instrumental in bringing the case of Maldives to the attention of the British government. Today he was briefed by Councillor Moosa about the progress of the campaign and the current situation in Maldives.

Mr. Key has been closely following the case ever since MDP made representations to him in February about the human rights abuses and oppressive nature of the dictatorship of Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom, needing the introduction of pluralistic democracy to the Maldives. Mr. Key tabled several important questions at the British Parliament in March. Mr. Key is also a member of the British Inter-party Parliamentary Group on Maldives.

At today's meeting, Councillor Moosa thanked Mr. Key for his cooperation and support for the works of MDP and the reform movement as a whole. Mr. Key asserted that he is committed to promoting greater democracy in all parts of the world and he is glad to be able to contribute to this peaceful and non-violent fight to establish a pluralistic democracy in the Maldives. As part of his commitment to the Maldives issue, he spoke with Rt. Hon. Jack Straw last Tuesday 12th October, specifically regarding the Maldives situation. The Foreign Secretary assured him that he is fully aware of the problems in the Maldives and that he is concerned about the situation. Furthermore, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs mentioned that they are closely monitoring the developments in the Maldives.

Mr. Moosa discussed the communications the party has had with the British Prime Minister and the foreign office especially since Black Friday. Furthermore, Mr. Moosa also described in detail the situation of the detainees of Black Friday and the continued abuse of human rights by Gayyoom's government. Details of recent meetings of the Special Majlis was also discussed including the complete disregard for the constitution of the Maldives shown by Gayyoom by electing his brother-in-law to the post of Speaker of the Majlis whilst unlawfully detaining the leadership of the opposition.

Mr. Key thanked Councillor Moosa for meeting him and for the updates on the Maldives situation. Furthermore, he expressed his wish to visit MDP Secretariat Office in UK and promised his full cooperating in our attempt to establish greater democracy in the Maldives.

Fore more information about Mr. Robert Key, please visit www.robertkey.com