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A high-level delegation of Law Association of Asia and the Pacific (LAWASIA) were refused to entry into the Maldives on 25 February 2018, and detained when they arrived at the Velana International Airport in Maldives. After detaining them for 12 hours, the fact-finding team was put on a flight to Colombo.
The fact-finding team was headed by the President of LAWASIA and President of Malaysian Bar Christopher Leong, the current President-Elect of Bar Association of India Prashant Kumar, and two other members.
In its press statement, LAWASIA stated:
The fact-finding mission visit was scheduled following the suspension of 54 Maldivian lawyers on 10 September 2017.
The lawyers were suspended for signing a petition raising concerns regarding Maldives’ judiciary and problems faced in practicing and enforcing the law in the country.
Before their arrival on 25 February, the fact-finding team of LAWASIA wrote to various parties and stakeholders in the Maldives, including lawyers and present and former members of Parliament both from opposition and government, civil society, members of judiciary, etc.
According to LAWASIA, meetings with the stakeholders were scheduled to take place between 24-28 February.
They duly informed Maldives Immigration Department about their arrival to Male, on 11 February 2018, and again on 23 February 2018, according to their press release:
Maldives Immigration issued a statement on Monday and said they “will communicate decisions regarding visa applications” and that not getting a response “should not be interpreted as visa being granted”.
According to LAWASIA, each member had declared the purpose of their visit to the authorities. Rather than providing guidance and facilitating the mission with a visa, the Maldivian government made the decision to detain and keep them at a closed detention facility under guard and surveillance, and subsequently deported them.
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