Maldives
The Maldives were long a sultanate, first under Dutch and then under British protection. They became a republic in 1968, three years after independence. Tourism and fishing are being developed on the archipelago.
There are currently no known threats to expatriate visitors to or residents in the Maldives, a small archipelago off the coast of Sri Lanka. Seventy-four islands have been developed for the top end of the tourist market and they are favored by scuba divers because of their abundant marine life. Aside from the island capital Male, outsiders are only permitted onto inhabited islands for brief visits, thereby limiting their impact on traditional Muslim communities.
Gayoom was re-elected for a fifth five-year term in 1998, having first become president in 1978. Described as authoritarian, Gayoom has been accused of heading a small hereditary elite which holds decisive power and which uses intimidation to discourage political activity. A sole presidential candidate is chosen by the Majlis (parliament) and offered to the voters in a yes-no referendum. Human rights groups have criticized the selection process, describing it as unfair and unrepresentative. But the authorities in the Maldives say that although their form of democracy may appear strange to Westerners, it does provide stable government.
Nevertheless, the human rights organization Amnesty International says that three political candidates detained in the Maldives Islands of the Indian Ocean have been tortured while in custody. The three were detained during campaigning ahead of parliamentary elections in 1999. According to Amnesty International, two of the three politicians under arrest also face the prospect of being charged with instigating unrest against the government.
In 1988, Gayoom survived a coup attempt involving Sri Lankan mercenaries, which was foiled with the help of Indian commandos after several days of fighting in Male.
