馬爾代夫發表聲明宣佈脫離英聯邦

The government of the Maldives has decided to leave the Commonwealth, the Maldives Foreign Ministry announced last Thursday.

馬爾代夫外交部上週四對外聲稱，馬爾代夫政府已經決定脫離英聯邦。

The statement by the Foreign Ministry came weeks after the Commonwealth threatened the country with suspension if it failed to show progress in key democratic governance issues by next March.

英聯邦幾周前曾警告馬爾代夫，如果明年三月前未能在法治和民主建設方面取得實質性的進展，將暫停該國英聯邦成員資格。

The Commonwealth seems to be convinced "that the Maldives would be an easy object that can be used, especially in the name of democracy promotion, to increase the organization's own relevance and leverage in international politics," the statement said.

一份聲明指出，英聯邦似乎認爲馬爾代夫是個很容易利用的國家，尤其是以民主的名義，英聯邦可以以馬爾代夫爲墊腳石，來提高自身在國際政局的影響力。

Government spokesman Ibrahim Hussain Shihab said the Maldives' withdrawal from the 53-state grouping would take effect immediately.

政府發言人易卜拉欣·侯賽因·謝哈布表示，馬爾代夫的脫離這一擁有53個國家及地區的聯邦所帶來的影響將會很快顯現出來。

Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland expressed sadness and disappointment at the decision, and said she hoped it would be a temporary separation.

英聯邦祕書長帕特里夏·斯科特蘭對馬爾代夫這個決定表示悲痛和失望，並聲稱她希望這將只是暫時的分開。

Maldives, known for its luxury tourist resorts, became a multiparty democracy in 2008 after decades of autocratic rule.

馬爾代夫是一個世界聞名的豪華旅遊勝地。經過幾十年的獨裁統治，馬爾代夫於2008年成爲多黨民主制國家。

President Yameen Abdul Gayoom has been accused of erasing much of the democratic gains since being elected in 2013.

而總統阿卜杜拉·亞明被指在2013年當選後一直在破壞民主建設。