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The Island - Friday 7 August 1998

Responding to media reports about the purported torture of prisoners in Maldives the Maldivian High Commission in Colombo said that this has surprised the Maldivians, as the reports of torture and persecution of Christians are totally baseless. Independent observers have attested to the good prison conditions and humane treatment of prisoners. Nobody has been arrested for professing any faith in the Maldives.

The Maldives is a country with high regard for law and order, providing a stable environment for the full realization of the civil, political, social and cultural rights of the people. However, those who seek to subvert social harmony and denigrate national values to arouse public disorders are subjected to applicable laws under due process, and their personal beliefs have no bearing on the question, the High Commission said in a statement.

There is no religious persecution or discrimination in the Maldives. As is well known, the Maldives has been a host, for a long time, to a large number of expatriates employed in different socio-economic sectors. They come from diverse backgrounds in terms of nationality, religion, race and culture. Most of them live in the country for many years, often making repeated visits for re-employment. None of them has ever been discriminated against on grounds of their personal beliefs. In fact their beliefs have always been given due respect.

Over six thousand Sri Lankans live and work in the Maldives, many of them serving as domestic employees. It is regretted that reports containing malicious lies are being circulated by some sources in Sri Lanka, a country whose people known the Maldives well enough and maintain close contact with the people of Maldives, not to be misled by such false allegations, it added.

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