Exiled former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed today sought India’s diplomatic and military intervention to resolve the ongoing political crisis in the island nation after President Abdulla Yameen declared a state of emergency and troops arrested the top judge.
Maldives plunged into chaos on Thursday when the Supreme Court called for the release of nine imprisoned opposition politicians, ruling that their trials were politically motivated and flawed.
The government refused to implement the ruling, prompting a wave of protests in the capital, Male, with angry clashes between police and demonstrators.
The Maldivian police on Tuesday arrested the country’s Chief Justice and another judge after the government of President Yameen declared a state of emergency.
Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and Justice Ali Hameed were arrested from the Supreme Court at around 3 a.m., after an almost seven-hour siege of the premises by the security forces, reports the Maldives Independent.
The Army scaled the court building and held staff and judges under military supervision.
The judges were later taken to a detention facility outside the capital, Male.
Judicial administrator Hassan Saeed was also arrested after midnight and his residence was raided for the second time.
The reason for the judges’ arrest remains unknown. However, the Maldives Police Service has said that there was evidence that could implicate Saeed and Hameed.
Nasheed, whose Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) functions from Colombo, appealed for India’s help.
In a statement issued here by the MDP, Nasheed said, “We would like the Indian government to send an envoy, backed by its military, to free the judges and the political detainees, including former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, from their detention and to bring them to their homes. We are asking for a physical presence”.
Nasheed said President Yameen has illegally declared martial law.
“President Yameen’s announcement which declares a state of emergency, the banning of fundamental freedoms, and the suspension of the Supreme Court is tantamount to a declaration of martial law in the Maldives. This declaration is unconstitutional and illegal. Nobody in the Maldives is required to, nor should, follow this unlawful order,” Nasheed said.
“We must remove him from power. The people of the Maldives have a legitimate request to world governments, especially to India and the United States”.
He also asked the US to ensure that all American financial institutions stop all transactions of the Yameen regime’s leaders.
Nasheed, 50, the country’s first democratically-elected leader – was sentenced to 13 years in jail on terror charges in March 2015 over the arbitrary arrest of chief criminal judge Abdullah Muhammed during his presidency.
He was granted asylum in the UK after he was authorised to seek medical treatment there amid mounting foreign pressure.
Nasheed was narrowly defeated in 2013 by President Yameen. Nasheed says his conviction on terror charges was politically motivated.
The Maldivian government holds that Nasheed is convicted for a crime and is wanted in the Maldives to serve a jail sentence. Nasheed said he will seek UN support to ensure he is allowed to contest this year’s election. (The Statesman)
