Recent elections were seen as a key test for the president

BBC Radio 4's Crossing Continents was broadcast on Thursday, 10 February, 2005, at 1100 GMT.

The programme was repeated on Monday, 14 February, 2005, at 2030 GMT.

Listen to the programme

In the first programme of the new series Julian Pettifer visited the Maldives after the devastation caused by the Asian tsunami.

The islands have been working hard to restore their image of a pristine paradise, but behind that image is a very different reality for the local people.

There have been reports of intimidation, political repression and abuse handed out to those who dared challenge the government.

Against the backdrop of the country's parliamentary elections, Julian Pettifer travelled to the Maldives to speak to the dissidents and the government, both vying for the political future of this troubled paradise.

Presenter: Julian Pettifer
Producer: Simon Hardy
Editor: Maria Balinska