Maldives declares state of emergency as crisis deepens

NEW DELHI: Beleaguered Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen has declared a 15-day state of Emergency, his aide Azima Shukoor announced on state television on Monday night. The move gives sweeping powers to security forces to arrest and detain suspects as Yameen refuses to comply with a Supreme Court order to release political prisoners.

India is in touch with friendly countries including West Asian nations after the Supreme Court of Maldives sought its intervention amid a snowballing political crisis as President Abdulla Yameen chose to suspend parliament instead of complying with the court’s order directing release of nine lawmakers, a step that would have restored the opposition’s majority.

“As a matter of principle India does not interfere in the internal politics of any country. But it won’t be surprising if any of the friendly countries impresses upon President Abdullah Yameen to arrest the situation," said an expert on India-Maldives relations, who did not wish to be identified.


Some of the West Asian nations have a strong influence on Yameen. “Maldives is extremely critical for India’s security interests and the unfolding situation warrants close monitoring,” the expert said.

India, like some other countries in the region and beyond, has been worried over the growing trend of fundamentalism in Maldives, where sections of youth have been lured to join ISIS. The latest crisis was triggered when the Maldivian SC last Thursday ordered the release of some opposition leaders, including former president Mohammed Nasheed, after overturning their “terrorism” convictions.