Malidives govt holds political dialogue, MDP not part of talks

The Maldivian government has started a dialogue with the Jumhooree Party while the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party which had set pre-conditions for talks was not part of the negotiations to resolve the impasse over the imprisonment of ex-president Mohammed Nasheed.
The opposition Jumhooree Party (JP) proposed conducting all-party talks to resolve the ongoing political crisis at the first meeting between the opposition party and President Abdulla Yameen's representatives on Tuesday.
JP was the only party that did not set pre-conditions for participating in the political dialogue.
The Maldivians Against Tyranny coalition -- which consists of the MDP, the Adhaalath Party, members of the JP and family members of jailed politicians -- is protesting over the imprisonment of MDP leader Nasheed and ex-defence minister Mohamed Nazim, and the targeting of opposition businesses.

Nasheed's MDP and the Adhaalath Party (AP) had set pre-conditions for participating at the talks.
President Yameen has ruled out negotiations on Nasheed and Nazim's release.

At the meeting, both parties agreed on the framework under which discussions will take place in the future.
The JP put forward four points for deliberations -- creating a common platform for dialogue that includes all political parties and to grant maximum leeway within the law to those political figures serving sentences and for those whose cases are in the courts.
The party also stated that the support of all political parties be sought to the proposed amendments to the Constitution so as to make them collective proposals and to shape government policies in a way that would give protection to the investors.

The government on its part sought a solution to political tensions and political differences within the parameters of the law and to commit to work together in this regard.
It called for working together to strengthen the Constitutional and judicial systems with a view to consolidating democracy and demanded that all political parties, regardless of their political persuasions, to collaborate on political, social and economic matters in the national development.
A Maldivian court in March had found Nasheed guilty of charges pressed against him under anti-terrorism laws and had handed down a 13-year jail term, sparking protests from his MDP.