Maldives President Abdulla Yameen slams foreign interference in country's affairs

MALE: Maldives President Abdulla Yameen has slammed foreign interference in the country's domestic affairs, describing it as the biggest challenge to national unity, amid international pressure over the controversial conviction of his predecessor Mohammed Nasheed.

"It is regrettable that every occasion that we were subjugated by foreign powers was instigated, aided and abetted by a handful of treacherous Maldivians," he said in an address to mark the 50th anniversary of the country's independence yesterday.

"Undoubtedly, the biggest challenge to our national unity in our contemporary history was the failed attempt, encouraged by a foreign power, to create a breakaway republic comprising of the three southern-most atolls in the country. It was not surprising that a few Maldivians were, yet again, involved in this plot," he said.

Yameen asked the countrymen to be mindful not to invite foreign intervention in so-called attempts at domestic dispute resolution and mediation, as "the consequences have been less than desirable from previous experiences."

He was speaking at a function which attended by Several foreign dignitaries, including Sri Lankan President Maithripala Srisena.

The Maldivian leader said that threats from outside are far more dangerous than those from within, and the countrymen be vigilant and watchful against such threats.

"Attempts by developed and technologically more advanced countries to interfere and intervene in domestic affairs of small and less developed countries, under the guise of ideology and cultural norms, is a reality that we must comprehend, counter and condemn, as such attempts that erode a country's sovereign rights clearly contravene international norms and global compacts," he said.

His comments came were seen as an apparent reference to the 53-member Commonwealth, which has criticised the Maldives over its crackdown on dissidents.

Yameen has already asked parliament to consider if the Maldives should leave the Commonwealth.

48-year-old Nasheed, the country's first democratically elected leader who was arrested on February 22 over the detention of a judge in 2012, was charged under the Anti- Terrorism Act 1990 in a criminal court hearing in March.

Immediately after the sentencing, Nasheed has been incarcerated in a prison on a remote island.

His conviction drew widespread criticism over the apparent lack of due process in the 19-day trial and tarnished the country's image as a tourist destination.

The former president was ousted in February, 2011 by a mutiny of security forces. He said he was forced to resign as a result of a coup.

On July 24, Nasheed's international counsel had said the former Maldivian President's 13-year jail term has been commuted to house arrest, a day after the Prosecutor General took a U-turn saying he would appeal the controversial conviction that drew international ire.