CMAG can

Vice President Mohamed Waheeddeen has said that the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) should not agree to remove Maldives from its agenda on conditions.

Speaking to reporters after his meeting with Pakistan’s Interior Minister at Bandos Island Resort, Waheeddeen said that CMAG should not be making demands from Maldives.

When asked if the government would accept if CMAG agrees to remove Maldives from its agenda on certain conditions, Waheed said that there is no reason for CMAG to instruct Maldives to do anything.

“We have our own Constitution. It is a clear Constitution, and Maldives is often praised by other countries for its Constitution, because it is a democratic Constitution. We are praised by world leaders for it. So how can they instruct us to do anything?”

He acknowledged that the judicial system and Police Service need reform, and said that efforts in this regard are ongoing.

He said that all countries face challenges, and that we must not believe that democracy can be established overnight.

He noted that the Human Rights Commission of Maldives has undergone revision, and said that it functions well.

“I think we are on the right path,” he said.