It is for Maldives to resolve political crisis: Commonwealth

It is of course, for Maldives to resolve their constitutional and political challenges whilst the Commonwealth remains a “trusted partner,” Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma said midst signs of a deepening political crisis in the country.

“Friends like the Commonwealth, in consultation with other international partners preferred by Maldives, including the UN and the EU, are there to help with the collaboration that may be desired,” Sharma said on Sunday during an official visit to the Maldives.

And just two days after Sharma’s call to resolve issues internally, its political crisis deepened with Parliament deadlocked.

A division over the endorsement of cabinet ministers by Parliament saw sessions plunging into chaos on Tuesday.

Opposition parties maintain that cabinet members should be endorsed individually as opposed to the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party’s stance of endorsing ministers collectively.

The government fears that the opposition dominant Parliament may impeach some ministers if taken for separate endorsement.

The opposition parties argue that each minister’s suitability should be assessed individually than going for a collective endorsement.

The Supreme Court however issued an injunction on the Parliament endorsement of cabinet ministers, until a ruling to that effect is given.

The move saw opposition parties taking to streets in protest.

Sharma’s saner words on Sunday to Maldivian politicians seem to have served hardly any purpose.

“What is vital is that the collective national interest be paramount in democracies. Both Government and Opposition play their due role in nation-building,” he stressed.

“Both Parliament and the Executive need to exercise their appointed functions in governance. And an independent and effective Judiciary must remain the guardian of the rule of law.”

Sharma urged the Maldives to remember that “democracy does not take root or grow overnight.”

“It has often been said that democracy is a journey, not a destination. Even the most mature democracies have their challenges and are still evolving,” he opined.

“Building democracy requires time, patience, and political will and above all wisdom to advance the larger national interest among all stakeholders.”

“It also requires substantial capacity and institution building,” he said.

Constitutional expert Jeffrey Jowell including other commonwealth officials have held “detailed discussions” on how to sort the crisis, according to Sharma.

Despite adopting a new constitution in 2008, “the three branches of government -- the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary -- are still striving to find the balance in their respective responsibilities and the limits of their respective powers in jointly serving the people,” he said.

The Commonwealth Latimer House Principles define the balance between these three branches, to which the Maldives is a signatory.

Sharma said that the Commonwealth “can be a partner by sharing the vast knowledge we have in the Commonwealth from many countries that have experienced similar challenges.”

“We are also prepared to provide experts who can guide the Executive and Legislature in making their respective roles clear and transparent.”

The Secretary General also urged the pressing need in the Maldives for “capacity building in the judicial sector.”

“This could extend to inter alia, collaboration in providing expertise in common law, constitutional law and international human rights standards.”

“We are mindful also of the need for priority cooperation with legislative drafting, including the development of various statutes that would support the implementation of the constitution. We are ready to collaborate in these areas,” he said.

On June 29, the Maldives cabinet staged a mass resignation alleging Parliament of blocking them from performing their duties.

Although the cabinet was reinstated by President Mohamed Nasheed, it is constitutionally required for ministers to be endorsed by Parliament.