The Government of Maldives once again extended the invitation to restart the stalled All Party Talks.

President’s Office had sent letters to the opposition parties and former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, requesting to send in their concerns and areas for reform.

The letter to the parties stated that the Government had repeatedly extended invitation to address the growing divisions in the nation, expedite national development and unify the nation and citizens. However, it noted that previous attempts had stalled as the opposition had several preconditions.

In the press conference held in President’s Office on Wednesday, Fisheries Minister Dr. Mohamed Shainee said the focus of the talks should be on addressing larger issues of concern rather than the issues of one or few individuals. He added that the Government was sincere in this aspect. He defined the opposition as individuals who ‘misbehave’.

Speaking in the press conference held in President’s Office on Wednesday, Fisheries Minister Dr. Mohamed Shainee, the lead negotiator from the Government, said that the opposition had always spoken of things that are to be addressed. As such, he said the Government wished to understand what these concerns were.

The invitations to the talks came days after opposition Jumhooree Party Leader Qasim Ibrahim was sentenced on bribery charges. With this all the opposition leaders have been sentenced.

Dr. Shainee said after a seven-day period for sending in concerns and after that discussions can begin with no stipulations.

‘This time we did not send letters to people in jail, just to party leaders. But if they are under trial or serving a jail term or had evaded authorities, that’s a different level. Everyone is equal under law, we all know that everyone will be subject to the same law, trial and sentencing. Any action on an individual is separate from the Party. that’s why we sent the invitation to Party leaders,’ Shainee said.

Dr. Shainee said the Government had always worked within the law and never ‘outside of charts’. Therefore, he said any issues that were there must be clarified by the opposition.

Journalists had questioned on why the Government had turned a blind eye to the issues raised by former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Adhaalath Party leader Imran Abdullah, when they were allied with this administration. Journalist also questioned whether the Government had accepted if there was anything that needed to be addressed.

Journalists had also questioned why the letters were addressed to Party leaders. Jail and Parole Act had revised their rules, so that any Party leader is stripped from the position and the previleges that come with that position for the duration he or she is in jail.

While President Abdullah Yameen was elected on a coalition ticket, the coalition that elected him into place had disintegrated soon afterward. Jumhooree Party and MP Qasim Ibrahim had left the coalition early on, followed by Adhaalath Party. Former President and half-brother Maumoon Abdul Gayoom had also withdrew his support following denial of repeated requests to resolve major issues facing the country.

The All-Party Talks were held first in 2015 and 2016. However, the talks had stalled on both times over disagreements on the issue of including jailed political leaders in the talks.