Friends of Maldives (UK) Not Welcomed by Gayyoom Maldives - Dhivehi Observer

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Friends of Maldives Founder David Hardingham denied entry to Maldives

30 April 2005

In an extraordinary show of ingratitude the government of Maldives yesterday refused entry into the country of the founder and chairman of Friends of Maldives (FOM) one of the largest Aid providers to the Maldives.

David Hardingham on entering Sri Lanka was told that he was not able to take the second leg of his journey to the Maldives as he was apparently blacklisted by the Maldivian government and not welcome in the Maldives. According to David Hardingham he was going to the Maldives to speak to the organisers of the government Tsunami aid operation following an announcement that all Aid was to be in the hands of the government as NGOs like FOM were no longer allowed to distribute their aid.

This is a slap in the face to the islanders who have suffered so much after the tsunami. Many still living in shanty tent towns and not receiving the aid promised months ago by the Maldivian government.

In an interview with DO, David Hardingham said they (FOM) wanted to be involved fully in the FOM Aid distribution and they will not tolerate the hijacking of Friends of Maldives Aid by government officials. He went further saying "the days when they could get away with this sort of nonsense are over.

This kind of foolish and inept behaviour by the government of Maldives will be frowned upon by the international community and particularly by the thousands of British donors and FOM Aid volunteers who have worked so hard to get over 100 tons of emergency aid to the Maldives.

The nearly $200,000 dollars earmarked for the Maldives long term education and desalination projects are now in jeopardy. Why should the Maldivian people suffer because of the decisions of one man?

According to David Hardingham it seems that the government are upset at recent concern shown by the Friends of Maldives regarding the death of Muaviath Mahmood and the recent torture of other Maldivians in custody.

He added in a message for Gayoom "FOM may be down – but we are far from being out!"

What on earth is the Government of Maldives doing when it needs the international community to support the Maldives with Aid after the Tsunami and needs to get tourists back to the Maldives. The last thing we need in the Maldives is bad publicity!

For more information about Friends of Maldives, please visit www.friendsofmaldives.org