VZCZCXRO5514
PP RUEHBI
DE RUEHLM #0744 2201142
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 071142Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8509
INFO RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 1034
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 8028
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 6202
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 4500
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RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 3569
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 8633
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 6067
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 2889

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000744 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS; TOKYO FOR A/S BOUCHER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL MV
SUBJECT: MALDIVES: PRESIDENT GAYOOM RATIFIES NEW 
CONSTITUTION 
 
REF: A. COLOMBO 686 
     ¶B. COLOMBO 656 
 
¶1.  (U) As expected, President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom ratified 
Maldives' new constitution on August 7, providing a legal 
foundation for the first multi-party presidential elections 
in Maldives' history.  The new constitution sets up a 
framework for several politically independent bodies, most 
significantly an Election Commission and Supreme Court that 
will oversee the upcoming vote and adjudicate any disputes 
that arise from the results.  Appointing the members of both 
institutions will be the next major step in a series of 
actions the government and opposition must work together to 
accomplish before an October 10th deadline for the selection 
of the next President. 
 
¶2. (U) An opposition Maldives Democratic Party representative 
described the ratification as a "big achievement" and said 
the party planned a celebration in an open park on the 
capital island of Male tonight.  During an August 6 meeting 
with the South and Central Asian Affairs A/S Boucher the 
Police Superintendent had predicted public celebrations after 
the announcement.  NGO representatives working on monitoring 
the upcoming election reported no public celebrations as of 
¶1500.  However, the public was reportedly happy with having 
the day off, since the President had declared a national 
holiday. 
 
¶3. (U) In a telephone interview on August 7 with TV Maldives, 
Ambassador welcomed the ratification of the new constitution 
as an historic step.  Echoing Assistant Secretary Boucher's 
public and private comments during his August 6 visit, the 
Ambassador congratulated the Government and opposition 
parties for working together to achieve this milestone.  But 
he also cautioned that much important work remains to be 
done.  He urged that the opposition parties continue to work 
with the Government both to pass the legislation needed to 
implement constitutional reforms and also to appoint the 
members of the Election Commission, independent judiciary and 
other independent institutions that will be crucial to 
ensuring that the upcoming Presidential elections are free 
and fair. 
 
¶4.  (U) A full readout of Boucher's August 6 meetings in Male 
will be reported septel. 
BLAKE