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On World Human Rights Day, 10th of December 2005, Friends of Maldives (FOM) launched a campaign to boycott specific named resorts in the Maldives which are linked to leading members of the Gayoom regime. 

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.

The last three years have witnessed increased opposition to the Gayoom regime’s domination of politics. The emergence of rival political parties earlier in 2005 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 director of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, Ms Maja Daruwala stated: “While it is positive to note that international players, including the Commonwealth Secretariat, are providing assistance behind the scenes, there is a disappointing lack of public statements condemning negative events in the Maldives. Continued silence implies acceptance of violation of human rights and risks damaging the Commonwealth’s reputation whose membership is dependent on adherence to the principles of democracy and human rights articulated in the Harare Declaration.”

The concept of a boycott of specific resorts in the Maldives has been developed by Maldivians who feel that tourism to these specific resorts have enabled President Gayoom to maintain his power base and stranglehold over the Maldivian people.

FOM recognises the unique nature of the tourism industry in the Maldives; it is the most important source of income to the economy.  The current negative publicity regarding human rights violations in the Maldives has deterred people from visiting the Maldives.  FOM do not wish to affect the economy of the Maldives nor the fragile economic state of individual Maldivians.

FOM are not calling for a travel boycott to the Maldives, rather FOM aims to encourage the informed tourist to choose a resort that is not associated with the regime and free from association with repression, human rights abuse and torture.

The objectives of the selective boycott are as follows:

• Restrict the flow of funds to key members of the regime forcing them to take notice of international concerns regarding human rights abuses and political repression
• Create awareness in the international community for travellers to avoid resorts associated with a regime based on fear, repression and torture rather encouraging them to choose a resort based on ethical awareness
• Improve awareness for tour operators, investors and funding institutions of the dangers and stigma attached to developing links with resorts and businesses closely associated with the regime.
• Foster greater support and solidarity for Maldivians in conditions of hardship or distress who require the assistance of the international community
• Improve awareness of the nature of President Gayoom’s brutal, corrupt and repressive regime and that all is not paradise in these troubled islands

For more Information on Tourism in the Maldives see Tourism Concern campaign: Lost in Paradise