MALDIVES RESISTANCE FIGHTS BACK ONLINE
Opposition figures give detailed accounts as police swoop in on them
AS security forces surrounded his home shortly after a state of emergency was declared in the country, ex-president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, 80, deftly hit social media to tell the world of his arrest.
The government quickly sought to control the flow of information out of the famed Indian Ocean holiday islands following its declaration on Monday night, according to local media outlets and the Committee to Protect Journalists.
However, Gayoom, opposition politicians and even the Supreme Court gave a blow-by-blow account of the dramatic events via Twitter, Periscope and other social media platforms.
Moments after posting a tweet stating that “a large number” of police had converged on his home, Gayoom calmly delivered a live video message that was aired by an opposition politician.
“Right now, police are here to arrest me. I remain steadfast in my resolve,” Gayoom said.
“I don’t know what charges they have against me. I have not done anything to be arrested. I urge you to remain steadfast in your resolve, too,” he added.
“We will not give up on the reform work we are doing. I wish all Maldivians success.
“Remain courageous and I pray Allah Almighty to direct us to the right path.”
When the Maldives’ top judge was arrested yesterday, officials from the Supreme Court similarly fought back via social media.
“BREAKING NEWS: THE NATIONAL DEFENCE FORCES OF THE MALDIVES HAVE BROKEN INTO THE SUPREME COURT OF THE MALDIVES,” said a post on @judiciarymv, the official account of the country’s top court.
After authorities detained Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and Supreme Court Judge Ali Hameed, it was unclear who had control of the account.
The registrar of the court, Hassan Saeed, was also detained.
“This is to inform that the Supreme Court of the Maldives continues to function under the guidance of the Judicial Council,” another tweet said.
Since coming to power in 2013, President Abdulla Yameen has presided over an escalating crackdown that has left almost all the political opposition jailed.
The Supreme Court’s shock decision last week to order the release of political dissidents and quash the conviction of exiled opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed sparked the crisis.
Nasheed yesterday called on the United States and India to help remove the country’s president from office, saying he had “illegally” declared martial law.
“President (Abdulla) Yameen has illegally declared martial law and overrun the state. We must remove him from power. The people of the Maldives have a legitimate request to world governments, especially to India and the US,” Nasheed said.
Gayoom, president for 30 years until the country’s first elections in 2008 and Yameen’s estranged half-brother, was detained after he sided with the opposition.
The Maldives Broadcasting Commission warned media outlets last week they could be shut down if they were deemed a threat to national security.
News channel RaajjeTV said yesterday on Twitter it feared such a fate.
“RaajjeTV shutdown... imminent. Will continue to work for the people of the Maldives till the last minute,” it tweeted.
Meanwhile, Yameen accused judges of plotting to overthrow him, hours after he declared a state of emergency and ordered the arrest of the chief justice.
“I had to declare a national emergency because there was no other way to investigate these judges,” he said in a televised address to the nation.
“We had to find out how thick the plot was. I ask the people to support me. Give me the chance to get to the bottom of this.”
He said the court had exceeded its authority, forcing him to take action.