President Mohamed Nasheed has said the Maldivian nationhood must be based on the universal values taught by Islam and the age-old Maldivian ways and traditions.
Speaking at a function to mark the country’s 69th National Day on Tuesday, the President emphasized the values of “conviction, beauty, humility, kindness, equality, justice, and caring” as the main bases of Maldivian nationhood.
Acknowledging the traditional foundations of national identity, the President called on to build a fresh, expanded nationhood along with the universal values of Islam and the age-old Maldivian traditions.
The new nationhood, he said, must fully incorporate the norms of democracy and human rights.
The President said the new nationhood must provide for “a just judiciary, freedom of expression, and other human rights; and an economic system that provides for a prosperous, clean livelihood for all citizens”.
“For the sake of development and prosperity of all citizens…the Maldives has already seen tremendous changes to the system of governance,” said the President.
Along with separation of powers, as a major priority for the new nationhood, the President said, “there must be a judiciary free from all undue influence.”
The President touched on areas of main concerns about the judiciary and reaffirmed government’s commitment to establish a just judiciary.
The President extended greetings to all citizens on the occasion of the National Day. The National Day is marked to celebrate the heroic efforts of the 16th century Maldivian leader Mohammed Thakurufaanu.
