Exiled and former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed urged India to act swiftly to aid in resolving the political crisis on the island. The crisis escalated after the President Abdulla Yameen announced a state of emergency and had the troops arrest the top judge of the Supreme Court.
Last week, the Supreme Court ordered the release of a few political prisoners. The Court also asked for reinstatement of elected members from the Parliament. This was done in an attempt to increase the power of the Opposition. However, President Yameen refused to adhere to the Court’s order.
This caused protests in the country’s capital pushing President Yameen to declare a state of emergency. Immediately after the announcement Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and Judge Ali Hameed were arrested. The Government did not release any details about the investigation or charges. Former President of the Maldives Maumoon Abdul Gayoom from the Opposition was detained by authorities.
Mohamed Nasheed is part of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) functioning from Colombo. The MDP released a statement in which 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 further added, “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. 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.”
The exiled president also asked the U.S,. to stop all the American financial institute’s transactions of the Yameen regime’s leaders.
Nasheed was the first democratically elected leader and was charged with terror actions in March 2015. The accusations were made due to the arbitrary arrest of Chief Criminal Judge Abdullah Muhammed.
