Maldives government decision to quit the Commonwealth has invited concern from several quarters within and outside the country. Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland expressed disappointment over the decision and hoped the move will be a temporary one. <br/><br/>British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said UK is disappointed that the Maldives Government has decided to withdraw from the Commonwealth. He said the Commonwealth is dedicated to developing free and democratic societies, and regretted that Maldives has chosen to leave. <br/><br/>Maldives had decided to leave the Commonwealth yesterday saying it was treated unjustly and unfairly by the Commonwealth. <br/><br/>Amnesty International said in a statement that Maldives authorities should address their own human rights situation rather than lash out at legitimate criticism. It said human rights have been in a complete free fall in the country over the past few years and the government has led an unprecedented crackdown on independent media.<br/><br/>The country's main opposition party led by former President Mohammed Nasheed, said the decision was taken unilaterally by the Cabinet and the Executive, without consultation with the Parliament or the people of the Maldives. It said this is a knee-jerk reaction to widespread international condemnation of the Government's continued human rights violations.

Maldives government decision to quit the Commonwealth has invited concern from several quarters within and outside the country. <br/><br/>Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland expressed disappointment over the decision and hoped the move will be a temporary one. <br/><br/>British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said UK is disappointed that the Maldives Government has decided to withdraw from the Commonwealth. He said the Commonwealth is dedicated to developing free and democratic societies, and regretted that Maldives has chosen to leave. <br/><br/>Maldives had decided to leave the Commonwealth yesterday saying it was treated unjustly and unfairly by the Commonwealth. <br/><br/>Amnesty International said in a statement that Maldives authorities should address their own human rights situation rather than lash out at legitimate criticism. It said human rights have been in a complete free fall in the country over the past few years and the government has led an unprecedented crackdown on independent media.<br/><br/>The country's main opposition party led by former President Mohammed Nasheed, said the decision was taken unilaterally by the Cabinet and the Executive, without consultation with the Parliament or the people of the Maldives. It said this is a knee-jerk reaction to widespread international condemnation of the Government's continued human rights violations.