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We have prepared a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) that we hope
will provide further details for anyone interested in the Selective
Boycott. The FAQ will be updated frequently, so be sure to check it often.


The Maldives Selected Businesses Boycott (SBB) FAQ


1. What do you mean by a "Selected Resorts Boycott"?

Tourism is the main income earner for the Maldives. A large share of the
income from tourism goes into government coffers, and a large proportion
of the government's income is used in turn by the regime to fund gross
human rights violations and political
repression. A significant proportion is also lost to corruption and the
funding of wasteful projects.

We would oppose a total boycott of tourism because this would deprive the
innocent majority of people of their livelihoods. However, it is clear
that there are a number of resorts that are linked to leading figures in
the regime. These people are actively involved in encouraging further
human rights abuses while working towards concealing these abuses from the
international community.
The incomes these people receive from the linked resorts is are used to
further the illegal activities of the regime.  The first stage of this
selective boycott aims to target these resorts only.

2. What does the Selected Resorts Boycott aim to do?

We aim to encourage the informed and responsible tourist to make an
informed, responsible and ethical choice: Choose a resort that is not
associated with the regime, a resort free from association with
repression, human rights abuse and torture, and enjoy your holiday knowing
that you have made a difference, a personal statement in defence of the
most basic of rights.

We aim to encourage tour operators, investors, banks and other businesses
to avoid the stigma and risk of associating themselves with businesses
linked to people who are actively involved in human rights abuse and
torture.

We aim to foster greater support and solidarity for Maldivians in
conditions of hardship or distress who require the assistance of the
international community.

3. Some people say the Selected Resorts Boycott will end up hurting all
tourism to the Maldives. What do you say to that?

We have made several studies and have sought opinions from leading figures
in the industry and the international community. We are satisfied that
tourism to the Maldives will NOT be adversely affected by a selective
boycott. Here are some of the reasons:

This is a selective boycott. Only a small number of the total of over 95
resorts is on the List.
There will be alternatives available amongst resorts not on the List.

There is currently an oversupply of beds because of the lingering effects
of the tsunami. Therefore, any cancellations or refusals at the resorts on
the List can be taken up by the remaining resorts. It is unlikely that
redundancies will be forced on employees in any of the resorts on the List
as the result of the Boycott but if this happens, the remaining resorts
and the many new resorts coming up will easily be able to provide
employment.

So the Selected Resorts Boycott will be beneficial to Maldives as a whole
while affecting mainly the people linked to the  resorts on the List. We
have no problem with that.

4. How do you select which resorts will be on the List?

Selection criteria for membership of the List will vary from time to time
according to the human rights situation in the Maldives. We have decided
to limit the current List strictly to those resorts that have links to
leading figures who are actively involved in the
regime.

5. Is it possible for a resort / business to be removed from the List?

It is possible to be considered for removal from the List if the applicant
writes to us giving clear reasons why the resort / business should be
removed. We would then review the information, check it for accuracy and
make a decision.

6. Is it possible to add a resort / business to the List?

It is possible to be considered for addition to the list if the applicant
writes to us giving clear reasons why the resort / business should be
added. We would then review the information, check it for accuracy and
make a decision.

7. Mr X has interests in resorts Y and Z, but only resort Y has been
listed. Why not Z?

There are many reasons why all the resorts linked to X are not listed.
Some of them might be:

X has interests in many resorts and adding them all would have an adverse
effect on the overall sector.  X is being encouraged to change his/her
ways, and time is being allowed before other resorts are added to the
List. X has requested us for time to change his/her ways, and time is
being allowed before other resorts are added to the List. X has partners
who are not associated with the regime, so it would be fair to leave some
of the resorts linked to X out of the List.

8. Mr X is not linked to the regime but his resort is on the List. How come?

Some reasons could be:
X has partners who are associated with the regime, so it would be unfair
to leave the resort out of the List.
X has important but hidden links to the regime that we have discovered.

9. It's fine to appeal to tourists to boycott these resorts but human
rights are not a subject I take too seriously, so this is not going to
work for me. Why should I follow this boycott?

You should consider taking human rights seriously, especially the very
basic of rights we're talking about in the Maldives. Most of the great
democracies in the world came about because enough people cared about
these basic freedoms and many millions more have died for them in
countless wars. In the case of the Maldives Selected Resorts Boycott, this
has been designed to make the choice very easy for you.

We strongly encourage you to visit the alternative islands that are not on
the List. You will have done a valuable good deed for the people of the
Maldives and for the defence of the most basic of rights while enjoying
your holiday.

The opposition parties have called for peaceful civil disobedience if
reforms are not made soon. We have already received emails from workers on
the islands on the List calling for civil disobedience activities. We
strongly discourage workers on resorts to take any actions that would
inconvenience tourists. However, these are volatile times and feelings are
running high, so there is the possibility that the resorts on the List
will be affected.

10. I work on XXX Resort which is on the List and I wish to support your
Boycott. What can I do?

Thank you! We strongly urge workers on the resorts on the List (as well as
those NOT on the list of course) to continue to do their work in keeping
their guests happy. They could, of course, discreetly inform and educate
guests on the Boycott and on the human rights situation in the Maldives.

12. I work for XXX, a Tour operator in YYY, and they continue to send
people to ZZZ which is on the List. What can I do to help?

Thank you! You could make sure that you or your colleagues never recommend
a resort on the List, and offer alternatives. You could make clients aware
of the Selected Resorts Boycott. Please give a copy of this FAQ to the
decision makers in your company and we urge
them to get in touch with us if they have any questions.  It will be in
the best interests of Tour operators to distance themselves from support
of human rights abuse and torture.

13. Why does the List keep changing and is there a way for me to know
when the list changes?

Our aim is to try and keep the number of resorts on the List as small as
possible, and to add and remove resorts according to changing
circumstances. Anyone wishing to be kept informed of changes to the List
are asked to check the FOM website at regular intervals. 

14. What is the current status, and what is the next stage, of the
Selected Resorts Boycott?

We have been in contacted by some of the persons who are linked to resorts
in the List. We will respect their wishes to keep details of these
discussions confidential for now. We have made some changes to the List as
a result of these discussions.

We continue to receive many messages, the vast majority of them very
supportive.

 Anyone wishing to be kept informed of new developments can let us know at
the following email address: enquiries@friendsofmaldives.org


15. I'd like to know more about Friends of Maldives and the Selected
Resorts Boycott. I'd also like to know more about ethical issues relating
to tourism.

 You can find information and relevant links on our website:

www.friendsofmaldives.org

16. Can You give assurance that Friends of Maldives Selected Resort Boycott Campaign is not linked to some or other political party in the Maldives?

Friends of Maldives are not linked to any political party in the Maldives.  Their very existence is to protect the rights of people across the political spectrum.  No matter whom or which political party comes to govern its imperative that FOM remains impartial to protect the rights of all victims of human rights abuse in the Maldives.