Sustainable Travel

Human rights pressure group Friends of Maldives added more resorts to their ethical tourism boycott list on Friday, accusing two of the Maldives’ top businessmen of hampering the democratic reform process.

Baros resort and Kurumba village resort, owned by Koli Maniku and MU Maniku of Universal Resorts, were added to the list of 24 holiday islands that FOM is urging foreign holidaymakers not to visit. FOM accused the two businessmen, who are both economic advisors to President Gayoom, of ‘collusion’ with an authoritarian regime accused of human rights abuses.

“The economic advisors to the President play an important role in the regime and therefore have a direct influence on the democratic process,” FOM said in a press release. “In addition MU Maniku is the Chairman of Island Aviation Services based in Male’. The use of Island Aviation Services by Gayooms security services was instrumental in preventing the demonstration planned by the opposition on the 10th of November 2006,” they added.

FOM, which is based in Salisbury, England, says they are not urging a total travel boycott of the Maldives. Rather, the group hopes to persuade tourists to choose a resort that is not associated with the regime. In an email sent to Minivan News on Friday, FOM coordinator Sara Mahir said the boycott campaign was gathering strength.

“FOM has been contacted by members of the British public with enquiries about the Campaign and almost all are supportive of the FOM Selected Resort Boycott Campaign and horrified to hear about the human rights abuses in what they had perceived as the Paradise Islands,” Mahir said. “It is also heartening to see support for ethical tourism from organisations like Tourism Concern, Ethical Consumer and also major newspapers like The Times and the world famous travel guides Lonely Planet. Other media who have noted the campaign include the Economist and the Guardian. We have also had contact with several Tour Operators voicing support for the campaign.”

The campaign, which was launched on 10 December 2005, has been a source of irritation to the government and the country’s business elite. Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI), an industry lobby chaired by MU Maniku, have denounced the boycott, accusing FOM of “actively encouraging the destruction of the country’s economy.” “MATI fails to comprehend how those who call themselves friends of Maldives engage in disrupting the livelihood of thousands of Maldivians who work on the country’s tourist resorts,” the lobby group said. But FOM have vowed to continue their campaign, which has garnered significant press coverage in Britain, where the Maldives is a top tourist destination.

“One of Gayoom’s principal pillars of support are his supporting businessmen who have fully prospered and benefited from a system of patronage and favouritism over the last 28 years. Although the FOM campaign is growing and there is increasing awareness worldwide of Gayoom’s 28 years as president the support by these business elements remains. They should really be aware that the longer Gayoom perpetrates human rights abuses against his own people the more likely their businesses are to be affected. It’s really very short sighted,” said Mahir.

Source: Maldivan News