Maldives
Maldives was long a sultanate, first under Dutch and then under British protection. It became a republic in 1968, three years after independence. President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM dominated the islands' political scene for 30 years, elected to six successive terms by single-party referendums. Following riots in the capital Male in August 2004, the president and his government pledged to embark upon democratic reforms including a more representative political system and expanded political freedoms. Progress was sluggish, however, and many promised reforms were slow to be realized. Nonetheless, political parties were legalized in 2005. In June 2008, a constituent assembly - termed the "Special Majlis" - finalized a new constitution, which was ratified by the president in August. The first-ever presidential elections under a multi-candidate, multi-party system were held in October 2008. GAYOOM was defeated in a runoff poll by Mohamed NASHEED, a political activist who had been jailed several years earlier by the former regime. Challenges facing President NASHEED include strengthening democracy and combating poverty and drug abuse. Maldives officials have played a prominent role in the international climate change discussion (due to the islands' low elevation and the threat from sea-level rise) and on the United Nations Human Rights Council.
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| Welcome | Maldives - The Sunny Side of Life Official website for the Maldives Tourism Board. Your official source of information on Maldives resorts, hotels, safari live-aboard and guest houses ... - Read more http://www.visitmaldives.com |
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| Maldives Resorts and Hotels | Welcome to Maldives Maldives - destination guide to the Maldives covering maldives travel information, maldives businesses and social information. - Read more http://www.maldives.com |
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| Maldives Islands Holidays - Welcome to Maldives : The Maldives Maldives islands resorts, hotels, travel information to plan your honeymoon holidays and family vacations in Maldives. - Read more http://www.themaldives.com |
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| Maldives Holidays, Resorts and Islands - Maldives Tourism Maldives holidays - Maldives tourism features the Maldives resorts, hotels, holiday information and facts about the Maldives islands. - Read more http://www.maldivestourism.net |
