MALE: India has been left fuming after the Maldivian President AbdullaYameen Gayoom on Wednesday sent his special envoys to three ‘friendlynations’ – China, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, amid a political crisisbrewing in the nation.
In a statement, Yameen’s Presidential Office said, “Members of theAdministration’s Cabinet, on the direction of President Abdulla YameenAbdul Gayoom, will visit friendly nations of the Maldives and provideupdates on the current situation.”
On Wednesday, the Minister of Economic Development, Mohamed Saeed, departedfor China and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Mohamed Asim, went toPakistan, while on Thursday, the Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture, DrMohamed Shainee departed for Saudi Arabia.
On Monday, a state of emergency was declared by President Gayoom inMaldives for a period of 15 days, deepening the political crisis in theIndian Ocean nation.
The move gives sweeping powers to security forces to arrest and detainsuspects and comes amid a tense standoff between the Supreme Court and thegovernment.
“All basic rights have been suspended. Security forces have sweeping powersto arrest and search,” Member of Parliament, Eva Abdulla had said.
Following this, Indian Ministry of External Affairs had expressed concernsover the political crisis prevailing in Maldives. “Prevailing politicaldevelopments in Maldives and resultant law and order situation is a matterof concern for GoI. Indian nationals are advised to defer allnon-essential travels to Male and other atolls until further notice,” theministry had said.
MEA had further said, “Indian expatriates in Maldives are also alerted tothe need for heightened security awareness, and urged to exercise duecaution in public and avoid public gatherings.”
The MEA had also issued an advisory for the Indian Nationals traveling toMaldives. The ministry’s official spokesperson Raveesh Kumar took toTwitter saying, “Indian nationals are advised to defer all non-essentialtravel to Male and other atolls untill further notice. Detailed traveladvisory at link”
“The prevailing political developments in Maldives and the resultant lawand order situation is a matter of concern for the Government of India.Indian nationals are, therefore, advised to defer all non-essential travelsto Male and other atolls until further notice. Indian expatriates inMaldives are also alerted to the need for heightened security awareness,and urged to exercise due caution in public and avoid public gatherings,”the advisory had read.
Massive protests had erupted after President Gayoom refused to follow theSupreme Court’s ruling to release the key political prisoners and reinstatethe 12 MPs.
On February 1, the Supreme Court had ruled that all politicians opposed toPresident Gayoom, including Nasheed, should be released. It had furthersaid that their trials were “politically influenced”.
The high-profile prisoners also include self-exiled former PresidentMohamed Nasheed and former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb.
The government has so far refused to implement the order, saying it hadconcerns about releasing those who were convicted for “terrorism, graft,embezzlement and treason”.
Nasheed, the country’s first democratically elected leader, took office in2008. He was ousted in a coup in February 2012.
The country has seen political unrest since he was sentenced to 13 years injail in 2015 on terrorism charges. He was given political asylum in the UKin 2016.