Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen on Monday declared a 15-day state of emergency, his aide Azima Shukoor announced, deepening the political crisis in the Indian Ocean nation. The move gives sweeping powers to security forces to arrest and detain suspects and comes amid a tense standoff between the Supreme Court and the government.
The president has refused to comply with a court order to release political prisoners, despite growing international pressure and concern. Shukoor read out the declaration on state television shortly after Yameen sent three letters to the judges asking them to reverse their decision.
This is the second time Yameen has declared a state of emergency. He last took the step in November 2015 after an alleged attempt to assassinate him.
Officials said the president is required to inform the parliament about any declaration of emergency within two days, but the country's legislature has been suspended indefinitely by authorities. The Supreme Court on Thursday had also restored the seats of 12 MPs who had defected from Yameen's party, effectively handing the opposition a majority in the 85-member parliament, making the president vulnerable to impeachment.
Former president and current opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed described the government's refusal to obey the Supreme Court as a "coup". Nasheed, who was controversially convicted of a terrorism charge and jailed for 13 years in 2015, urged police and troops to uphold the constitution.
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Meanwhile, the White House on Monday pressed Maldivian leaders to safeguard democracy, after a 15-day state of emergency was declared. "America stands with the people of Maldives," The National Security Council said in a tweet. "The Maldivian government and military must respect the rule of law, freedom of expression, and democratic institutions. The world is watching," the council continued.
On the other hand, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a travel advisory to Indian citizens, asking them to avoid travelling to the island country for the time being, in view of the deepening political crisis. It also advised Indian expatriates to exercise caution to ensure safety in public.
"Prevailing political developments in Maldives & resultant law and order situation is a matter of concern for Government of India. Indian nationals are advised to defer all non-essential travels to Male and other atolls until further notice. Indian expatriates in the Maldives are also alerted to the need for heightened security awareness, and urged to exercise due caution in public and avoid public gatherings," said the MEA in a statement.
Security forces have been deployed inside the national parliament - known as the People's Majlis - since March last year when Yameen ordered them to evict dissident lawmakers. The president's crackdown on dissent has tarnished the Maldives' image as an upmarket holiday paradise and sparked calls from the United Nations and several countries to restore the rule of law in the fledgeling democracy.
Nasheed, the country's first democratically elected leader, was toppled in 2012. He was barred from contesting elections after his 2015 terrorism conviction, which was internationally criticised as politically motivated.
He has been in exile since 2016 when he left on prison leave for medical treatment. He is currently in Colombo, meeting Maldivian dissidents based in Sri Lanka. The MDP - which is led by Nasheed - has expressed fears that any move by the government to resist the Supreme Court's order may trigger unrest in the nation of 340,000 Sunni.
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