Former FCO Minister Urges Freedom for Maldives Opposition Leaders, Queries BBC Support for Regime

Denis MacShane MP, the former FCO minister, has urged the Maldives government to free the democratic opposition leaders, Mohammed Nasheed and Jennifer Latheef.

MacShane was replying to a letter from the High Commissioner of the Maldives in London who claimed the government was improving media and other freedoms. “The High Commissioner’s letter is a great disappointment as it confirms the government’s refusal to free Mohammed and Jennifer and no-one can take seriously the view that the Maldives accepts the rules of democracy as long as they remain in prison,” said MacShane.

The MP, who is a former president of the National Union of Journalists, is also writing to the BBC to ask about reports that the BBC is to collaborate with the Maldives government on training courses for journalists. “While two people are rotting in prison for wanting to write and publish freely about their country, it leave a rather sick taste to see the BBC collaborating with the government that imprisons democratic activists in violation of international norms on freedom of expression,” said MacShane.