Maldives declares 15day state of emergency amid political standoff Indian officials consult with US, UK counterparts
CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS Move comes after govt suspends parliament, orders army to resist any moves to impeach President Abdulla Yameen
MALÉ: Beleaguered Maldives President Abdulla Yameen on Monday declared a 15-day state of emergency, hours after asking the Supreme Court to revoke its order to free a group of imprisoned opposition leaders, saying it had overstepped its authority by ordering their release.
The move that is expected to plunge the troubled island nation into further political uncertainty came as protests continued and army was deployed near the top court and Parliament.
Legal affairs minister Aishath Azima Shukoor made the announcement of emergency on state television, effectively giving sweeping powers to security forces to arrest and detain suspects.
“During this time though certain rights will be restricted, general movements, services and businesses will not be affected,” the president’s office said in a statement. “The government of Maldives wishes to also assure all Maldivians and the international community that the safety of all Maldivians and foreigners living in and visiting the Maldives, will be ensured.”
India issued a travel advisory, asking citizens to avoid non-essential travel to the Maldives, a popular tourist destination. “The prevailing political developments in Maldives and the resultant law and order situation is a matter of concern for the government. Indian nationals are, therefore, advised to defer all non-essential travels to Male and other atolls until further notice,” the advisory said.
China also issued a similar advisory to its citizens.
The judicial ruling last week – which also cleared former president Mohamed Nasheed of terror charges and reinstated a dozen opposition lawmakers – has led to a standoff between Yameen and the court. The order to restore the seats of government MPS who defected to the opposition would effectively reduce Yameen’s party to a minority in Parliament.
Yameen, in a letter to the court released by his office, said the order had encroached on the powers of the state and was an “infringement of national security and public interest”. He said the order “cannot be enforced in accordance with the constitution” and urged the court to “review the concerns” of the government.
Officials said the court had not properly responded to a series of letters from the government, citing problems with implementing the order, including that the cases against the political prisoners are at different legal stages. But the Supreme Court had said on Sunday “there are no obstacles in implementing the ruling”. The court also said the guilty verdicts against the opposition leaders were politically influenced. On February 1, the court quashed terror cases against former president Mohamed Nasheed — in self-exile in Sri Lanka — and ordered eight other opposition leaders be released and tried again. It also ruled that 12 parliamentarians sacked for defecting from Yameen’s party be reinstated — such a move would reduce the ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives to a minority President Abdulla Yameen has said that the court had overstepped its authority. His law minister said that the government does not believe that the ruling "can be enforced".
Two police chiefs who said they would uphold the court verdict have been fired. The ruling PPM has also sought to shut an independent TV station accused of "spreading discord" The Lashkar-e-taiba, through its front organisation Idara Khidmat-e-khalq has established a foothold in southern Maldives in the garb of the post-2004 tsunami relief operations
Nasheed has said that up to 200 Maldivians went to Syria and
Iraq to fight for Islamic State NEWDELHI: Officials from India’s mission in the Maldives held consultations with their counterparts from the US and UK on the evolving situation in the island country after the declaration of emergency.
Indian high commissioner Akilesh Mishra and his US counterpart Atul Keshap discussed the developments.
“The international community is concerned with the developments in the island nation and the threat to the rule of law and freedom of press. Countries concerned are in touch with each other to evaluate the situation. The discussions were in this regard,” said an official familiar with the developments.
A similar consultation was held with officials from the United Kingdom.
Queries about the meeting received no formal response from the external affairs ministry. A second official said: “As part of their functions, high commissioners do meet with other ambassadors and high commissioners to exchange views on a variety of subjects.”
The first official said the situation is grim as the government is pitted against both a united opposition as well as the judiciary and institutional freedoms are under threat.
The official also said that the united opposition continues to reach out to the international community.
British envoy James Dauris tweeted Maldives Chief Justice Hassan Saeed had told him that the judges are under great pressure.
“It is in the fundamental interests of every Maldivian that the independence of the judiciary is respected & supported,” he posted.
The state of emergency) is an indication of President Yameen’s desperation... It only serves to show an isolated man who no longer has the confidence of the Maldivian people and independent institutions. He has no democratic mandate to govern and must resign immediately.
South Africa’s president has defied his African National Congress party and refused to step down The ruling ANC was scheduled to meet on Monday to discuss 75-year-old Zuma’s future amid growing pressure on him to step down. According to ANC rules, all members fulfil their functions according to the will of the party, though this may raise significant constitutional issues
Zuma has been South Africa’s president since 2009. His tenure has been controversial, with corruption scandals undermining the image and legitimacy of the party