Wayzata World Factbook 1994/World Factbook - 1994 Edition - Wayzata Technology (1994).iso/pc/text/txtfiles/maldives.bkg

Text File | 1994-04-07 | 16KB | 292 lines

#CARD:Maldives:Background Notes
US DEPARTMENT OF STATE BACKGROUND NOTES:  MALDIVES

February 1990
OFFICIAL NAME:   Republic of Maldives

PROFILE
Geography
Area: 298 sq. km. (115 sq. mi.) spread over 1,200 islands; twice the
size of Washington, D.C.  Cities: Capital-Male (pop. 52,000). Terrain:
Flat islands. Climate: Hot and humid.

People
Nationality: Noun and adjective-Maldivian(s). Population (1988):
200,000. Annual growth rate (1977-85): 3.2%. Density: About 664 per sq.
km. (1,721 per sq. mi.). Ethnic groups: South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs.
Religion: Sunni Islam. Languages: Dhivehi; many government officials
speak English. Education: Years compulsory-none. Attendance-primary,
61%; secondary, 19%. Literacy-93%. Health: Infant mortality
rate-108/1,000. Life expectancy-53 yrs. Work force (60,000):
Agriculture, fishing, manufacturing-60%. Services and government-40%.

Government
Type: Republic. Constitution: June 4, 1964. Independence: July 26, 1965.
Branches: Executive-president, cabinet. Legislative-unicameral Majlis.
Judicial-High Court, 8 lower courts, 19 atoll courts.
Administrative subdivisions: 19 atolls and capital city.
Political parties: None. Suffrage: Universal adult.
Central government budget (1987): 39% of GDP.
Flag: A white crescent centered in a green rectangle on a red field.

Economy
GDP (1987): $95 million. Annual growth rate (1987): 9%. Per capita GDP
(1987): $494. Inflation (1987): 23%.
Domestic economy (1987): Tourism (17% of GDP); fishing (16% of GDP);
agriculture (11% of GDP); industry (6% of GNP).  Trade (1987):
Exports-$35 million: fish products, garments. Major markets-U.S.,
Thailand, Sri Lanka. Imports-$74 million: manufactured goods, machinery
and equipment, food products. Major suppliers-Singapore, Thailand,
India.
Official exchange rate (1988): 8.6 rufiyaas=U.S.$1.
Fiscal year: Calendar year.
Aid received (1987): $13 million. Primary donors-World Bank, UN
Development Program, Saudi  und, Kuwaiti Fund, Japan, Norway. U.S. aid
(1987)-$500,000.

Membership in International Organizations
 UN and some of its specialized and related agencies, South Asian
Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), Colombo Plan,
Commonwealth, Group of 77, Nonaligned Movement, Islamic League, Asian
Development Bank, Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC).

GEOGRAPHY
  The Republic of Maldives is located in the northern Indian Ocean. Its
capital, Male, is an island about 2.6 square kilometers (1 sq. mi.), 670
kilometers (415 mi.) southwest of Sri Lanka. The Maldives are a chain of
19 atolls extending 764 kilometers (502 mi.) from north to south. The
archipelago is 120 kilometers (74 mi.) wide at its widest point. Its
southern tip is 644 kilometers (400 mi.) from Diego Garcia.
 The atolls comprise 1,200 coral islands, which seldom exceed an
elevation of 2 meters (6 ft.) above sea level. No island is larger than
13 square kilometers (5 sq. mi.). Tropical vegetation varies from grass
and scrub to dense groves of fruit trees and coconut palms.
 The climate is equatorial, hot and humid, with little daily variation.
The average temperature is 27 C (80 F), with a relative humidity of 80%.
Most of the area is subject to the "wet" southwest monsoon (May-October)
and the "dry" northwest monsoon (December-March). Annual rainfall
averages 254 centimeters (100 in.) in the north and 281 centimeters (150
in.) in the south.

PEOPLE
 Of the 1,200 islands, 202 are inhabited.  The population is scattered
throughout the country, with the greatest concentration on the capital
island, Male.  Only four islands have a population of more than 3,000.
Although most islands are uninhabited, absence of potable water and
arable land limits population expansion.
 The earliest settlers were probably from southern India, speaking
languages of the Dravidian family.  They were followed by Indo-European
speakers from Sri Lanka in the fourth and fifth centuries B.C.  In the
12th century, sailors from Arab countries and East Africa came to the
islands.  Today, Maldivian ethnic consciousness is a strong blend of
these cultures, reinforced by religion and language.
 Originally Buddhists, Maldivians were converted to Sunni Islam in the
mid-12th century. Islam is the official religion and that of the entire
population. Strict adherence to Islamic precepts and close community
relationships have kept crime under control.
 The official language is Dhivehi, an Indo-European language related to
Sinhala, the language of Sri Lanka. The writing system, like Arabic, is
from right to left, although the alphabets are different. Vocabulary is
overwhelmingly Maldivian.
 Some social stratification exists on the islands.  It is not rigid,
since rank is based on varied factors, including occupation, wealth,
Islamic virtue, and family ties. Members of the social elite are
concentrated in Male.

HISTORY
  The early history of the Maldives is obscure. According to Maldivian
legend, a Sinhalese prince named Koimale was stranded with his bride,
daughter of the king of Sri Lanka, in a Maldivian lagoon and stayed on
to rule as the first sultan. The islands were governed as a sultanate
from 1153 to 1968 with only two exceptions-15 years of Portuguese rule
in the 16th century and a short-lived republican government in 1953.
 Over the centuries, the islands were visited and influenced by sailors
from countries on the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean littorals. Mopla
pirates from the Malabar Coast (present-day Kerala State in India)
harassed the islands. In the 16th century, the islands were plagued by
Portuguese raiders, who eventually were driven away by the
warrior-patriot Muhammad Thakurufar Al-Azan. Although independent for
most of its history, Maldives was ruled by Portugal from 1558 to 1573
and were a British protectorate from 1887 until July 26, 1965.
 On November 11, 1968, the sultanate was abolished, and the country
assumed its present name. Ibrahim Nassir, prime minister under the
sultanate, was president from 1968 to 1978. He was succeeded by Maumoon
Abdul Gayoom, who was elected president in 1978, 1983, and 1988.
 A 1956 bilateral agreement gave the United Kingdom the use, for 20
years, of Gan (in Addu Atoll) in the far south as an air facility in
return for British aid. The agreement ended in 1976, shortly after the
British closed the Gan air station.
 In April 1987, high tides that swept over Maldives, destroying much of
Male and nearby islands, prompted high-level Maldivian interest in
global climactic changes, including the "greenhouse effect."
 On November 3, 1988, Maldives was rocked when Sri Lankan Tamil
mercenaries attempted to overthrow the government.  At President
Gayoom's request, the Indian military suppressed the coup attempt within
24 hours.  In early 1989, 68 mercenaries and 6 Maldivians implicated in
the attempt were tried.

GOVERNMENT AND  POLITICAL CONDITIONS
 A 1968 referendum approved the work of a special parliament, and
Maldives became a republic with executive, legislative, and judicial
branches of government. The constitution was amended in 1970, 1972, and
1975, and has been under revision since 1981.
 The president presides over the executive branch and appoints the
cabinet. Nominated to a 5-year term by a secret ballot of the Majlis
(parliament), the president must be confirmed by a national referendum.
 The unicameral Majlis is composed of 48 members serving 5-year terms.
Two members from each atoll and Male are elected directly by universal
suffrage. Eight are appointed by the president.  A Majlis member can be
elected in the middle of a session and complete the 5-year term in the
following session.
 The Maldivian legal system, derived mainly from traditional Islamic
law, is administered by secular officials, a chief justice, and lesser
judges on each of the 19 atolls, who are appointed by the president and
function under the Ministry of Justice. There also is an attorney
general.
 Each inhabited island within an atoll has a chief who is responsible
for law and order. Every atoll is administered by an atoll chief,
appointed by the president, who functions as a district officer in the
British South Asian tradition.
 Maldives has no organized political parties. Candidates for elective
office run as independents on the basis of personal qualifications.

Principal Government Officials
President; Minister of Defense and National Security;
Minister of Finance-Maumoon Abdul Gayoom
Ministers Atolls Administration-Abdulla Hameed
Education-Muhammad Zahir Hussain
Fisheries and Agriculture-Abdulla Jameel
Foreign Affairs-Fathulla Jameel
Health and Welfare-Abdul Sattar Moosa Didi
Home Affairs and Sports-Umar Zahir Justice-Muhammad Rasheed Ibrahim
Planning and Environment-vacant
Public Works and Labor-Abdulla Kamaludeen
Tourism-Ahmed Mujathaba
Trade and Industries-Ilyas Ibrahim
Transport and Shipping-Abbas Ibrahim
Attorney General-Ahmed Zaki

ECONOMY
 `The Maldivian economy is based on tourism and fishing. Poor soil and
unavailable arable land limit agriculture to a few subsistence crops.
Traditional industry consists of boatbuilding and handicrafts, while
modern industry is restricted to a cannery and a few garment factories
and consumer products.
 Fishing employs about one-third of the labor force. Production was more
than 60,000 metric tons in 1988, most of which was skipjack and
yellowfin tuna. More than one-half of the annual harvest is frozen,
canned, or dried and exported to Thailand, Sri Lanka, and other
countries.
 In recent years, Maldives successfully has marketed its natural assets
for tourism - beautiful beaches on small coral islands, blue waters
abundant with tropical fish, and glorious sunsets. Since the first
resort was established in 1972, 58 resort hotels have been
developed-each on its own island-with a capacity of about 7,300 beds.
The number of tourists-mainly from Europe and Japan-visiting the
Maldives increased from 1,100 in 1972 to 155,758 in 1988. To facilitate
tourism, Male International Airport has been expanded to accommodate
wide-bodied aircraft. In early 1989, six international airlines-as well
as charter companies-serviced Male.
 Maldivians traditionally have been good sailors. The national carrier,
Maldives National Ship Management Ltd., operates a fleet of about 13
vessels-down from nearly 40 in the early 1980s-serving many worldwide
destinations.
 In 1987, Maldives had a balance-of-trade deficit of $39 million.
Because of large earnings from tourism, however, the current account was
in balanced.  Import duties, taxes on tourism, and foreign grants are
Maldives' largest sources of revenue.
 Inflation was high, at 23%, chiefly because a major currency
devaluation in 1987 led to increased import prices.   Preliminary data
for 1988 show the cost of living declining.
 Four factories-three on the site of the former Royal Air  Force Base on
Gan Island-export apparel to the United States. A fish canning factory
also has become a source of foreign exchange.
 Over the years, Maldives has received economic assistance from
multinational development organizations, including the UN Development
Program (UNDP) and the World Bank. Individual donors, including Japan
and European and Arab countries, also have contributed. The United
States has furnished assistance through the PL 480 program, most
recently in 1987.

FOREIGN RELATIONS
  Maldives follows a nonaligned policy and is committed to maintaining
friendly relations with all countries. Maldives has a UN mission in New
York and an embassy in Sri Lanka.  India, Sri Lanka, the Palestine
Liberation Organization, and Pakistan currently maintain resident
embassies in Male. The United States, West Germany, Bangladesh, and
France have consular agencies in Male under the supervision of their
embassies in Colombo. The UNDP has a representative resident in Male.
Many countries have nonresident ambassadors accredited to the Maldives,
most of them based in Sri Lanka or India.

U.S.-MALDIVIAN RELATIONS
  The United States has friendly relations with the Republic of
Maldives. The U.S. Ambassador and most embassy staff in Sri Lanka are
accredited to Maldives and make periodic visits. The U.S. consular agent
in Male provides limited consular assistance to U.S. visitors. The
United States supports Maldivian independence and territorial integrity
and publicly endorsed India's timely intervention on behalf of the
Maldivian Government during the November 1988 coup attempt. U.S. naval
vessels have regularly called at Male in recent years.
 U.S. contributions to economic development in Maldives have been made
principally through international organization programs. Although no aid
agreement exists between the two countries, the United States has
indirectly funded training for Maldivian civilians abroad. The United
States also trains a small number of Maldivian military personnel
annually. The United States provided $2.75 million in wheat through the
PL 480 Program from 1985 to 1987 and donated $25,000 in disaster relief
during April 1987 high tides.

 The U.S. Consular Agency in Male is located at Mahdu Edurage, 20-05
Violet Magu, Henveru, Male (tel. 322581, telex 66028).

TRAVEL NOTES
 Customs:  Visas are not required of foreigners who stay up to 30 days.
Unlimited amounts of foreign currency may be taken into or out of the
country. Visitors wishing to convert rufiyaas into dollars upon
departure must have proof that the rufiyaas were obtained for dollars.
The import of pork and alcohol is prohibited.
  Health:  Medical facilities are adequate by Third World standards.
Male has a modern 48-bed hospital, and there are medical rescue services
in the atolls. Valid immunizations against yellow fever may be required;
check latest information. All islands except Male pose a malaria risk.
 Telecommunications:  International telephone, telegraph, and telex
services generally are reliable. Telephone service within Male is
adequate, but the service connecting Male to the resort islands is
sometimes erratic. Male is 10 hours ahead of eastern standard time.
 Transportation:  Six airlines service the Maldives. Boats are the
primary means of transport between the islands. Limited taxi service is
available in Male.
  Tourist attractions:  Maldives have some of the world's most beautiful
beaches, excellent snorkling, scuba diving, wind surfing, and fishing.

Further Information
 These titles are provided as a general indication of material published
on this country. The Department of State does not endorse unofficial
publications.
 Hockly, Thomas William. The Two Thousand Isles-A Short  Account of the
People, History, and Customs of the Maldive Archipelago. London: 1935.
 Maldives Ministry of External Affairs. The Maldive Islands. Colombo:
Gunasena, 1952.
 Maloney, Clarence. People of the Maldives Islands. Bombay: Longman
Orient, 1980.  Maldives Ministry of Planning and Development.
 Statistical Year Book of Maldives (annual).
 Male: Government of the Maldives.
 Heyerdhal, Thor. The Maldives Mystery. Bethesda, Md.: Adler & Adler,
1986. Available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government

Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. American University. Indian
Ocean: Five Island Countries. Area Handbook Series, 1983.

 Published by the United States Department of State --  Bureau of Public
Affairs  -- Office of  Public Communication -- Washington, D.C.--
February 1990 Editor:  Juanita Adams
 Department of State Publication 8026-- Background Notes Series  -- This
material is in the public domain and may  be reprinted without
permission; citation of this source is appreciated.  For sale by the
Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office,
Washington, D.C.  20402 (###)


#ENDCARD