The Maldives has left the Commonwealth, claiming it was "unfairly and unjustly" treated by the global body that was due to consider sanctions - including suspension - against the nation after its "lack of progress" on a raft of democratic reforms.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Baroness Scotland said she and the family of nations were saddened and disappointed by the decision, but hoped the move would be only a "temporary separation".

The islands have been in political turmoil since its first democratically-elected leader Mohamed Nasheed resigned in 2012 - the outsted leader claims he was deposed at gunpoint.

In the years that followed, the authorities in the Maldives have been accused of a string of political and democratic violations.</s>COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — The Maldives government said Thursday it has decided to leave the Commonwealth because the grouping of former British colonies has treated it "unjustly and unfairly" and sought to interfere in its politics.

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.

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.

It said the grouping had "treated the Maldives unjustly and unfairly. The Commonwealth has sought to become an active participant in the domestic political discourse in the Maldives, which is contrary to the principles of the charters of the U.N. and the Commonwealth."

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

The Commonwealth had warned the Maldives last month of suspension if it failed to show progress in six areas, including freedom for detained political leaders, freedom of speech and assembly, strengthened separation of powers, and independence of the judiciary.

Maldives, known for its luxury tourist resorts, became a multiparty democracy in 2008 after decades of autocratic rule. President Yameen Abdul Gayoom has been accused of erasing much of the democratic gains since being elected in 2013.

A number of political leaders, including former President Mohamed Nasheed, two of Gayoom's former allies — a vice-president and a minister — and a political party leader have been given lengthy prison sentences after trials on terrorism charges criticized for lack of due process.

The state also tightly controls public gatherings and recently enacted a defamation law with hefty fines and jail terms for journalists and social media users.</s>Says the grouping has sought to take punitive actions against the island nation since 2012 after the then President resigned.

The Maldives on Thursday pulled out of the Commonwealth calling as “unjust” the grouping’s decision to penalise the island nation over the circumstances that led to then President Mohamed Nasheed’s ouster in 2012 and the lack of subsequent progress in resolving the political unrest.

The Maldives Foreign Ministry termed “difficult” but “inevitable” the decision to leave the Commonwealth, a grouping of 53 nations that were mostly territories of the former British Empire.

Last month, the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), had warned Maldives of suspension from the bloc expressing its “deep disappointment” over the country’s lack of progress in resolving the political crisis.

Comes down on C’wealth

Severely critical of Commonwealth, the Maldives said in the name of promotion of democracy, the grouping used the country to increase the organisation’s own relevance and leverage in international politics.

“The Commonwealth has sought to take punitive actions against the Maldives since 2012 after the then President of Maldives [Nasheed] resigned, and transfer of power took place as per the procedures set out in the Constitution,” the Maldives Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“The Commonwealth’s decision to penalise the Maldives was unjustified especially given that the Commission of National Inquiry (CoNI), established with the help of the Commonwealth, found that the transfer of power in the Maldives was consistent with the constitutional provisions,” it said.

The Maldives said, since then the CMAG and the Commonwealth Secretariat have treated the Maldives “unjustly and unfairly.”

“The Commonwealth has sought to become an active participant in the domestic political discourse in the Maldives, which is contrary to the principles of the Charters of the U.N. and the Commonwealth.

“The CMAG and the Commonwealth Secretariat seem to be convinced that the Maldives, because of the high and favourable reputation that the country enjoys internationally, and also perhaps because it is a small state that lacks material power, would be an easy object that can be used, especially in the name of democracy promotion, to increase the organisation’s own relevance and leverage in international politics,” the statement said.

“The Maldives reassures that its international engagement will continue both bilaterally and multilaterally,” it said.

We joined it with high hopes

Maldives said it had joined the Commonwealth in 1982 with high hopes and expectations, holding that it will be a platform for coordinating critical issues that the member states, in particular, the smallest members of the organisation face.

The CMAG had criticised the inquiry commission set up to investigate the removal of then President Nasheed from power in 2012.</s>Best known as a paradise for wealthy tourists, the Indian Ocean archipelago has been mired in political unrest since Mohamed Nasheed, its first democratically elected leader, was ousted in disputed circumstances in 2012.

The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group last month warned the Maldives that in the absence of substantive progress in rule of law and democracy, it would consider its options, including suspension.

The Commonwealth comprises 53 states that were mostly former British colonies.

"The decision to leave the Commonwealth was difficult, but inevitable," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"Regrettably, the Commonwealth has not recognized that progress and achievements that the Maldives accomplished in cultivating a culture of democracy in the country and in building and strengthening democratic institutions."

Nasheed's Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) said the move by President Abdulla Yameen's government was taken without consulting parliament and will bring "irredeemable damage" to the country's standing in the international community.

"This is an absolute despotic move, which says much about the Yameen regime and its political posturing and disregard for international or public opinion," it said in a statement.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland expressed sadness and disappointment over the decision and said she hoped the move will be a temporary separation.

Amnesty International said the Maldives authorities should address their own human rights situation rather than lashing out at legitimate criticism.

"Human rights have been in a complete freefall in the country over the past few years. The government has locked up opponents through politically motivated trials and led an unprecedented crackdown on independent media," Amnesty's South Asia Director Champa Patel said.

Yameen's administration reintroduced the death penalty in July, rejecting repeated requests by rights groups and the West.

Nasheed, in exile in Britain after being allowed out of jail to travel for medical treatment, formed the Maldives United Opposition in June with the aim of toppling Yameen.

Yameen's administration has arrested most of his opponents. The opposition says the administration is trying to cover up corruption including money laundering, accusations the government has denied.
The Maldives leaves the Commonwealth of Nations after 34 years, claiming that it has been "unfairly and unjustly" treated by the intergovernmental organization.