Emergency declared in Maldives; New Delhi issues travel advisory to citizens

NEWDELHI/MALE: Beleaguered Maldives President Abdulla Yameen declared a state of emergency for 15 days on Monday, hours after asking the Supreme Court to revoke an order to free a group of imprisoned opposition leaders.

The move gives sweeping powers to security forces to arrest and detain suspects, and comes amid a deepening political crisis as Yameen refuses to comply with the country’s top court’s ruling.

On Monday, the army was deployed near the top court and the country’s Parliament, even as nations such as India and China urged their citizens to not travel to the Indian Ocean island.

The judicial ruling last week also cleared former president Mohamed Nasheed of terror charges and reinstated a dozen opposition lawmakers.

NEWDELHI:Officials from India’s mission in the Maldives held consultations with their counterparts from the US and UK on the evolving situation in the island country after the declaration of emergency.

Indian high commissioner Akilesh Mishra and his US counterpart Atul Keshap discussed the developments.

“The international community is concerned with the developments in the island nation and the threat to the rule of law and freedom of press. Countries concerned are in touch with each other to evaluate the situation. The discussions were in this regard,” said an official familiar with the developments.

A similar consultation was held with officials from the United Kingdom.

Queries about the meeting received no formal response from the external affairs ministry. A second official said: “As part of their functions, high commissioners do meet with other ambassadors and high commissioners to exchange views on a variety of subjects.”

The first official said the situation is grim as the government is pitted against both a united opposition as well as the judiciary and institutional freedoms are under threat.

The official also said that the united opposition continues to reach out to the international community.

British envoy James Dauris tweeted Maldives Chief Justice Hassan Saeed had told him that the judges are under great pressure.

“It is in the fundamental interests of every Maldivian that the independence of the judiciary is respected & supported,” he posted.