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Maldives goes in for multi-party polls

— Photo: AFP

Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.

COLOMBO: Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom signed and adopted a Constitution on Thursday that allows multi-party elections and other democratic reforms after decades of authoritarian rule.

The Constitution also creates for the first time independent bodies for human rights, the judiciary, police, defence, elections and investigation of corruption, said government spokesman Mohammed Shareef.

The first multi-party presidential election is to be held before October 10, with a specific date to be announced after an Election Commissioner is appointed within 30 days, he added. “This is an important milestone for us. Many, many things will change from this point onward,” said Mr. Shareef.

Mr. Gayoom has ruled the Islamic nation with tight control for the past 30 years. He promised in 2004 to enact a new Constitution amid protests demanding reforms. During his rule, the nation of 3,00,000 people living on 1,190 mostly uninhabited coral islands became one of the most attractive tourist destinations in South Asia.

A special 114-member council representing political parties and elected representatives prepared the draft Constitution before it was endorsed by the President. The opposition praised the charter’s adoption.

“For the first time the people are getting to choose a President and we have ended the autocratic powers of the President,” said Ahmed Shaeed, a former Foreign Minister and currently a member of the opposition New Maldives Party.

Thursday was declared a national holiday to allow citizens to witness the televised signing ceremony. — AP

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