Voters were technically choosing a new form of government, but many saw the referendum as an informal vote of confidence on the 29-year-reign of Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Asia's longest-serving ruler.

The vote is the culmination of a reform drive Gayoom began in 2004 amid a wave of growing street protests.

But his other reform efforts over the past three years - legalising opposition parties and allowing them to print newspapers - have been followed by police crackdowns on public rallies and arrests of political dissidents.

In the run up to the referendum, concerns remained, especially after Gayoom's internationally respected attorney general and his minister of justice resigned earlier this month saying the president was not serious enough about his reform efforts.

The Maldives is by far the wealthiest - and most orderly - country in South Asia, with tourism accounting for a third of the economy and fishing making up a big chunk of the rest.

Courtesy:  Belfast Telegraph

Published in : The News, National News

Keywords : News, The Maldives hold landmark referendum to decide government type, Gayyoom, Maumoon, Nasheed

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