MALE – The political chaos of Maldives – the honeymoon islands – deepened further after the chief justice and other top judges of the Supreme Court were arrested on Tuesday following proclamation of emergency by President Abdulla Yameen.
The crackdown on judges and the emergency came after the top court ordered the release of Yameen’s political rivals, besides enabling exiled politicians, including former president Mohammad Nasheed to take part in the upcoming elections.
Yameen did not honour the court orders and declared emergency on Monday night, giving special powers to forces to make arrests and bar public gatherings.
Hours after the move, Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and another judge, Ali Hameed have been arrested by the Maldivies police.
Following the crackdown, Nasheed in a statement on Twitter from his Sri Lanka base urged India and the US to make intervention. Hes said, “On behalf of Maldivian people we humbly request:
1. India to send envoy, backed by its military, to release judges & pol. detainees inc. Prez. Gayoom. We request a physical presence.
2. The US to stop all financial transactions of Maldives regime leaders going through US banks.”
https://twitter.com/MohamedNasheed/status/960758666268835841
Nasheed – the country’s first democratically elected leader – told BBC News that the government’s actions were “brazenly illegal” and amounted to a coup.
“Maldivians have had enough of this criminal and illegal regime,” he said. “President Yameen should resign immediately.”
Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who has allied himself with the opposition, was also detained at his home.
“I urge you to remain steadfast in your resolve too. We will not give up on the reform work we are doing.”
Travel Advisories
After the tension escalated, the US, UK, India and China have issued travel advisories to their holidaymakers, urging them not to travel to the archipelago.
It is to mention here that the country’s major source of income is tourism but a constitutional crisis between Yameen and the security forces against the apex court would pose threat to it.
