Maldives throws up all the challenges of consolidating recent transition to democracy- Commonwealths

Maldives throws up all the challenges of consolidating recent transition to multi-party democracy, says Deputy Secretary General of Commonwealth Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba.

In her address to 50 delegates at the launch of a three-day Commonwealth regional workshop in Malé, Maldives, on 13 June 2011, the Deputy Secretary General of Commonwealth said that it is particularly appropriate that the workshop was being held in Maldives, against the backdrop of the pristine natural beauty and serenity of these islands, and the warm welcome that foreigners are accustomed to receiving.

“It is even more compelling because here we have an example of a successful recent transition to multi-party democracy, one with which the Commonwealth was closely associated and which throws up all the challenges of consolidating such transitions,” she said.

Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba said that the aim of this workshop is to contribute to the creation of a constructive ‘partnership’ between government and opposition parties in each country.

“While they may be political adversaries, they share a common national responsibility and obligation of nation-building and advancing the prospects of real development – human, political, social and economic -- of the people of their respective countries,” she said.

The Deputy Secretary General said that this can only be achieved if the political system works constructively for the welfare of all, not if it creates or exacerbates ruptures in society.

“Government and opposition have to see themselves as partners. Government must acknowledge that there needs to be democratic space for the opposition to function and to enable other viewpoints to exist. Indeed it is often said that government can only be as good as its opposition – thus the role of opposition is a very real one in holding governments accountable and ensuring they deliver,” she said.

Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba said that oppositions, on the other hand, also need to be constructive, using the democratic space provided responsibly to raise legitimate dissent where this is required, without becoming needlessly disruptive.

She said that in Asia, as elsewhere, the challenge to strengthen the capacity and integrity of key democratic institutions remains a vital one, as does the need to build a democratic culture, so that differences can be resolved not through conflict but through peaceful democratic, political activity and respecting the rule of law.