highcommissioner
British High Commissioner stirs controversy
Aishath Zeena, Seenu Atoll Correspondent
Aishath Zeena, Seenu Atoll Correspondent
Seenu Atoll, Maldives, 29th January 2006 (olhuala.com) – The British High Commissioner to the Maldives, Mr. Stephen Evans risks facing accusations of meddling in the internal politics of the Maldives due to the nature of his itinerary on his current visit to the Maldives. He met government officials at the start of his visit, but has since then shunned all contact with the government or the DRP.
Mr. Evans, on a five-day visit, returned after a two-day trek to Addu atoll in the exclusive company of MDP officials. Although he did not attend the MDP's rally in S. Feydhoo on Friday, he was reported to be present at the venue with MDP leaders only a few minutes before the rally commenced.
Observers have stressed that Mr. Evans' behaviour is not endorsed by Her Majesty's Government who has continued to back the Maldives government and its reform agenda. Maldivians have historically been wary of British and other foreign involvement in local affairs. Most Maldivians also believe that the image of the Maldives presented to foreign observers by the MDP is a grossly distorted one, and therefore the British government maybe unaware of the actual political situation in the Maldives.
The MDP has frequently used different propaganda tactics for foreign and local consumption: the local version, presented in Dhivehi, calls for violent overthrow of the government while the foreign version pleads their case as 'the oppressed voice of the people.'
Appointed in 2002, Mr. Evans is already set to be relieved from his post within three months. His activities have been seen locally as an attempt by the MDP to try and regain some respectability. The MDP's popularity is at an all-time low according to observers; they are once again resorting to the tactic of getting foreign endorsement to gain legitimacy in local eyes.
Mr. Evans is in Maldives to mark the end of a Media Training Course sponsored by the British High Commission and run by the Ministry of Information, Arts and Culture with the assistance of the BBC World Service Trust. He was accompanied by only a 'Desk Officer (Trainee)' from the Foreign Ministry on his Addu visit.
Mr. Evans was dangerously close to breaking diplomatic protocol when he held meetings at the MDP offices in Hithadhoo and refused to consult DRP members. Although the British High Commission had reported that a meeting with Addu Atoll Chief was on his schedule, Mr. Evans reportedly cancelled this meeting at short notice.
He also visited Hulhudhoo-Meedhoo on Saturday where a group of DRP officials requested an appointment but were refused.
Among the MDP officials who accompanied Mr. Evans are vice President Ibrahim Zaki, Addu MP Mohamed Aslam, Special Majlis Member Husnu Suood and National Council Member Ali Shiyam. He had met with the Attorney General Dr. Hassan Saeed, Information Minister Mohamed Nasheed and Foreign Minister Dr. Ahmed Shaheed at the start of his visit to Maldives.
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