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European officials threaten to impose sanctions on Maldives

WION Web Team
EuropeUpdated: Aug 22, 2018, 07:55 AM IST
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File photo of Abdulla Yameen. Photograph:(Zee News Network)

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The officials who had visited the Maldives recently warned President Yameen's government of committing "human rights violations"

After warning from the European Union, European officials including Members of European Parliament (MEP) have threatened to impose economic sanctions on the Maldives if the island nation fails to hold free and fair polls due to be held on September 23rd.

The officials who had visited the Maldives recently warned President Yameen's government of committing "human rights violations", declaring that European sanctions were not false threats.

The five European officials include MEPs Tomas Zdechovsky, Maria Gabriela Zoana and Ryzsard Czarnecki, Henri Malosse and  Madi Sharma, a British EESC representative.

Yameen had declared a state of emergency in February after the Maldives' top court ordered that MPs sacked by the president be restored to power. Yameen had subsequently arrested Maldives' chief justice and Supreme Court judges including former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.

Ryzsard Czarnecki said:"Europe needs to do much more, and must coordinate with its international partners. But there should also be a warning to the people surrounding President Yameen who have committed human rights violations in his name."

Czarnecki said "your names will be shared globally, there will be nowhere to hide. Yameen's only loyalty is to power and greed. In the future, he will not come to the defence of those keeping him in power now."

"These are not false threats. The individuals concerned should consider their actions, as European sanctions will have serious economic consequences. A travel ban and frozen assets will impact business owners, thus stifling political support for those responsible for these violations," Czarnecki added.

Last month, the European Union(EU) had warned Yameen's regime that it may impose economic sanctions over the country's deteriorating political situation. 

The EU said it would target people "responsible for undermining the rule of law or obstructing an inclusive political solution in the Maldives as well as persons and entities responsible for serious human rights violations."

Echoing Czarnecki thoughts, MEP Tomas Zdechovsky said: "The international community will not stand by and accept a false election result. They will act together against the perpetrators - Europe is serious, its members states are concerned and together they will work with the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India and Japan to uphold democracy and the democratic process." 

"The sanctions list will be disclosed," he added.

(Inputs: ANI)