The Maldives National Chamber Of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI) has on Sunday said that local fishermen are going to protest against the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) in Male due to the union lifting all assistance and levied duty on all Maldivian fish exports.
When Maldives had applied to extend the import duty free period on January 2014, the EU had levied import duty on the Maldivian fish products based on the charge for denying religious freedom under the Human Rights in the Maldives.
The Vice President of MNCCI, Ismail Asif said on Sunday that the EU is trying to take advantage of the fragility of the Maldivian economy to force their demands on her. He alleged that the EU is trying to set up things that are not favoured by the Maldivians in the country under the guise of Human rights.
He relayed that he had attempted to hold discussions with the EU regarding lifting the import duty levied on Maldivian fish, but that the EU had not even wished to discuss the topic. He raised the question as to what rights the EU has to have come to Maldives to be active on any mission.
“We discussed with the EU member who is stationed in Sri Lanka, who is also now in the Maldives. He replied that there was no room for discussion on the subject. That we had no option but to take the reservations, he said. I don’t believe we have to consent to such people; people who will take unfair advantage of our delicate economy. The fishermen will not stand by and watch them in action in Male’. Fishermen will protest against them … We shall question the government what right they have to be here, why have they been given this opportunity, they might go back to their country after spending time here, then write up another report and impose more restrictions on us again”, Asif said.
Asif believes that democratic problems in the Maldives will be solved by strengthening the economy. He said that after attempting to restrict the economy, EU coming to the Maldives to observe democracy is alarming for Maldivian businessmen. He said that strengthening democracy is not about observing an election process and criticizing about it. He accused EU to be doing as they wished with the Maldives because Maldives is a small and poor country.
“EU has suddenly imposed restrictions on our trade instead of assisting us. Then they keep coming to the Maldives at the time of every election, and tell us that they are here to fortify democracy. How are we going to trust such people?” -Asif exclaimed.
He proclaimed that if the EU indeed wished good for Maldives, then they would assist in strengthening the economy. He also stated that EU intended to come to the Maldives under pretences so that they could provide financial assistance to certain non-governmental organizations (NGO), to promote their own propagandas. He continued to say that Maldives must be vigilant in observing what the EU is doing when they are in our country.
A duty ranging from 14-20 percent of the fish products exported to EU has been imposed on the Maldives since January, 2014; creating an average $1.66 loss per kilo on fish products exported.
EU does not wish to maintain their assistance to the Maldives because Maldives had kept reservations on the clauses which specified religious freedom under the Convention on Discrimination Against Women and Convention on Civil and Political Participation.