UK, too, expresses concern over Majlis vote

Government of United Kingdom follows United States in expressing concern over the no-confidence vote taken on Speaker of People’s Majlis of Maldives on March 27, which both governments described as being surrounded by “irregularities”.

The UK high commission in Colombo, Sri Lanka issued a statement this Wednesday expressing the government’s concern over the vote.

“The United Kingdom believes that a clear and transparent parliamentary process that is open to public scrutiny is fundamental in a healthy democracy,” read the statement.

The statement also said that the UK government was concerned over continued intimidation and harassment of media, political opponents and civil society.

“We urge the Government to respect parliamentary processes and to restore freedoms of expression and assembly,” said the UK government.

The public was barred from entering People’s Majlis on March 27 when the no-confidence vote against Speaker Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed took place; but the roll-call vote was telecasted live.

US government issued a similar statement last Tuesday, calling for the Maldivian government to

“restore faith in democratic processes by ensuring free and impartial proceedings in Parliament, free and fair local elections, and basic freedoms of press, assembly, and speech.”

Maldivian government responded to the US statement by declaring the vote as “independent, fair, and transparent”.