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Regional pressure group Friends of the Maldives (based in Britain) is urging travellers and travel companies to boycott resorts in the Indian Ocean ‘paradises’ that are directly connected with the regime in power – a government with an appalling political rights record condemned internationally by organisations like Amnesty International. The resorts in question are owned by present and past government members and in some cases members of their families.
The release from Friends of the Maldives sets out the case that:
“Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has been ruling the Maldives as a
dictatorship for 28 years and is guilty of gross human rights violations and
political repression. The recent arrests of hundreds of pro-democracy activists
and fabricated charges of terrorism and sedition against leading pro-democracy
figures have received fierce condemnation by governments and human rights
organisations.
2005 has witnessed increased opposition to the Gayoom regime’s domination of politics. The emergence of rival political parties earlier this year forced President Gayoom to announce sweeping reforms to the Maldives system of Government and judiciary. Gayoom however has failed to deliver on these reforms. He has employed the services of international PR firm Hill and Knowlton (London) in an attempt to reduce the damage created by negative publicity of human rights violations and political repression in the Maldives.
The recent arrest of Mohamed Nasheed, the chairperson of the
Maldivian Democratic Party, and the jailing for 10 years of leading human
rights activist Jennifer Latheef has drawn the condemnation of international
human rights organisations. ...”
....and certainly researching Gayoom and his government on the obvious web resources does nothing to contradict this account.
The current boycott list includes the following resorts
(the list is expected to change over time when the boycott bites on some companies and ownership and policy changes, or if new information is available)
Bandos Island Resort
Cocoa Island
Tulhagiri Island
Dhonveli Beach Resort
Hakuraa Club
Alidhoo
Paradise Island
Olhuveli Beach Resort
Vilu Reef and Spa Resort
Kandooma Tourist Resort
Sun Island
Fun Island
Holiday Island
Royal Island Resort and Spa
Dhoni Mighili Resort
Vakarufalhi Resort
Biyadhoo Island Resort
Kalhufahalafushi Resort
Funamadua Resort
Coco Palm Resort and Spa
Makunudu Island Resort
...and these are the UK companies who are still selling holidays there:
more information on:
