Maldives detains, deports international lawyers’ team
Colombo, Feb. 28: The Maldives detained and deported a group of international lawyers who travelled to the troubled honeymoon islands to study the impact of emergency rule, their organisation said on Wednesday.
Law Asia, a regional lawyers' association, said it had sent four members in response to an open invitation the government issued two days after President Abdulla Yameen imposed a state of emergency.
That followed a Supreme Court order, later rescinded, to release political prisoners and reinstate sacked lawmakers -- a move that would have cost Mr Yameen his majority in parliament.
The four lawyers were detained on Sunday when they arrived at Male international airport, where they were held and subsequently
The government deprived itself of the benefit of an independent and impartial assessment by a factfinding team not sponsored by any individuals, parties or organisations in the Maldives— LAW ASIA, lawyer’s forum
deported, Law Asia said.
“By such action, the government of Maldives deprived itself of the benefit of an independent and impartial assessment by a fact-finding team not sponsored by any individuals, parties or organisations in the Maldives,” it said.
The government had invited international organisations to send representatives to “assess the situation in the Maldives and witness the safety and security of Male” under emergency rule.
Law Asia said they had been trying for more than two weeks to arrange special visas before deciding to send the delegation after informing the immigration authorities.
Mr Yemeen has overseen a major crackdown on dissent in recent years, jailing prominent critics including the opposition leader and sacking MPs who defected from his party. Earlier this month Mr Yameen sacked the chief justice and another senior judge before imposing emergency rule, sparking international condemnation. The crisis has hit the image of the Maldives as a peaceful holiday paradise, although it has had little impact on life away from the capital.