§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of respect for human rights in the Maldives. [160668]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienIn December 2003, the Maldives established a Human Rights Commission to protect, promote and preserve human rights in the Maldives. Officials from our high commission in Colombo called on the chair of the commission in January, and expressed to him our concern about reports of human rights abuses in the Maldives. We will continue to monitor the situation closely, and are considering with our European partners what further action we might take.
§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations between the EU and the Maldives. [160670]
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§ Mr. Mike O'BrienEU Heads of Mission in Colombo maintain a close interest in the Maldives and many visit regularly. Interest has been heightened in the light of recent events and the reports of human rights abuses.
§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the current(a) bilateral treaties, (b) agreements and (c) protocols between the British Government and the government of the Maldives. [160671]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe UK has three such agreements with the Maldives: a 1953 Agreement on the Protection of the Islands; a 1976 Exchange of Notes terminating a 1965 agreement relating to military access; and a 1996 Agreement concerning air services.
§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the current Government advice is to British citizens in respect of(a) bilateral trade with and (b) tourism in the Maldives. [160672]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienAdvice on trade issues is usually tailored to meet particular needs of individual British companies considering business in the Maldives. Travel advice for the Maldives, produced by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), is available on the FCO website: www.fco.gov.uk. Tourists are advised that while most visits are trouble free, they should take care of their valuables and other personnel possessions. We also draw attention to the fact that possession of drugs carries severe penalties and that public observance of a religion other than Islam is prohibited.
§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens visited the Maldives in 2003(a) on official business, (b) on commercial missions and (c) on holiday. [160673]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe total number of foreign visitors to the Maldives in 2003 was 563,593, according to Maldivian Government Statistics. We do not have figures either for British visitors, or for the purposes of visit.
§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on behalf of prisoners at Maafushi Island Prison in the Maldives. [160675]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienSince their formation in exile in November 2003, the Maldivian Democratic Party has raised, with Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials, human rights issues, including the condition and treatment of prisoners in Maafushi Island Prison.