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PUBLIC PECORD OFFICE
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Reference-
mimmin C.O.882/12
ઢા/?38
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2. In connexion with the twenty-third paragraph of the despatch, I would suggest that it might be desirable as a general policy to encourage the Maldivian leaders to resort to Čeylon for medical and educational facilities and cognate purposes.
C. 83266/31 [No. 17].
No. 7.
I have, &c.,
PASSFIELD
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 2nd November, 1931.)
(Confidential.)
[Answered by No. 8.]
SIR,
Queen's House, Colombo, 12th October, 1931. WITH reference to Sir Bernard Bourdillon's Confidential despatch of the 14th March, 1931,* on the subject of his visit to the Maldive Islands, I have the honour to transmit for your information a copy of a translation of a draft constitutional docu- ment making provision for a new Constitution for the Maldive Islands. This draft was forwarded to me at the request of His Highness the Sultan who desired to receive my observations upon it before proclaiming the new Constitution. A copy of my reply to His Highness is also enclosed.
SIR,
I have, &c.,
GRAEME THOMSON,
Governor.
Enclosure 1 in No. 7.
Colombo, 29th July, 1931.
I HAVE the honour to enclose herewith a true copy of the translation of the new Constitution of the Maldives, drawn up at the written command of H.H. the Sultan, by a special Committee of twelve members.
The Honourable the Chief Secretary, Colombo.
I am, &c.,
E. A. HAMID Didi,
Maldivian Government Representative.
TRANSLATION OF THE MALDIVIAN COPY OF THE Constitution.
In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate, We Praise and Pray for His generous Prophet and for His Family and Companions with
obedience.
The Constitutional Law of the Maldives.
RELYING on the help of God, we, Sultan Muhammad Shamsuddin Iskandar Bin
Sultan Ibrahim Noordeen Iskandar, Sultan of the Maldive Islands, decree :-
That for the purpose of promoting justice, unity, and equality amongst all my subjects and successive rulers of this Kingdom and governing the Islands in co-opera- tion with the people with humanity and security the following Constitutional Rules should be observed for the Government of these Islands:-
Article 1.
The Status of the Maldives.
(a) The Maldives is a completely independent State with regard to her internal
affairs and is governed accordingly.
This Sultanate is a hereditary as well as a constitutional kingdom..
(c) It is a government which will have no relations with any foreign state
except with that of the august British Government.
(d) This kingdom is a Protectorate of the British Government, and sends an annual tribute to the Representative of His Majesty the King in Ceylon, in accordance with the terms of the treaty sent on behalf of Her Gracious
* No. 5
17
A
Majesty Queen Victoria, by Sir Arthur Hamilton Gordon, G.C.M.G., Governor of Ceylon on the 2nd January, 1889, under which the British Government agreed to protect the Maldives against the machinations and enemies of this Government.
Article 2.
(a) The State religion of Maldives shall be Islam.
(b) The official language shall be Maldivian.
(c) The capital of the kingdom shall be Malé.
The Maldivian Subjects.
Article 3. The qualifications of Maldivian subjects are:-
(1) That he is born in the Maldives of Maldivian parents.
(2) That he is born in a foreign state of a Maldivian father.
(3) Any foreigner domiciled in the Maldives for seven years and who of his
own free will, legally naturalised as a Maldivian.
(4) Any child born of Maldivian woman whose husband is legally a naturalized
Maldivian subject.
Article 4. The rights and privileges of Maldivian subjects are:-
(a) That they are equal before the law.
(b) That they shall have equal political and civil rights.
(c) That they shall have equal status and legal obligations and common rights. (d) That they will have preference in the state employment save in exceptional
cases.
Article 5. No person shall constrain, do violence, or imprison another person unless expressly provided for by law.
Article 6.
(a) No punishment should be inflicted on any person without trial and found
guilty by law.
(b) No person should be inhumanly treated.
Article 7.
(a) No Maldivian citizen shall be deported to foreign places.
(b) No person shall be exiled to any island without his being found guilty
by law.
(c) No person shall be compelled to be in a certain island or restrain him in
any way unless provided for by law.
Article 8. The Gates are sacred things (holdings). No one shall enter them, without proper legal authority (or without permission of its owner).
Article 9. Protection of people's properties are guaranteed and shall not be appropriated even for public purposes, without proper and adequate compensation having been paid to the owner.
Article 10. For no kind of offence whole property of an offender shall be attached.
Article 11. Government servants are prohibited from divulging contents of letters, telegrams, telephones messages, &c., passing between private individuals, unless as provided for by law.
Article 12. The liberty of speech and free expression of opinion vocally or in writing is granted to all the citizens provided they are not contrary to law.
Article 13. Liberty is granted to import books, newspapers, and printing of same, provided such acts are in accordance with law.
Article 14. All the Maldivian citizens are obliged to learn Koran and to read and write Arabic and Maldivian letters.
Article 15. Freedom of acquiring knowledge and imparting of same are granted,
if they do not come into conflict with law.
Article 16. If they are not contrary to law, all the citizens are at liberty to carry on their respective avocations in peace and security.
Article 17. Unless they are against law, all are at liberty to form into associa- tions or unions, for the welfare of the public.
Article 18. The Maldivian Government shall not force any of its subjects to bear a financial and physical burden beyond his means and capacity.
Article 19. No Maldivian subject should be prevented from going abroad for purpose of Haji, education, medical treatment, and trade, unless he is incapable financially or is detained on political grounds.
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