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Maldives Declares Political Emergency

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February 06, 2018

What is the issue?

  • While the Supreme Court has ordered the release of many jailed opposition leaders, Maldives government has openly refused to comply.
  • Contrarily, it has declared a state of emergency for 15 days, and government forces have also taken over the Supreme Court complex. 

What were the fallouts?

  • The recently political storm started by the Supreme Court’s surprise verdict to release some opposition leaders has been spiralling out of control.
  • The government has been openly refusing to comply and has started repressive action against opposing voices. 
  • Emergency - President Abdulla’s Yameen declared a state of emergency in Maldives, which is the 2nd such declaration since he came to power in 2013.
  • The 1st was in 2015, when an alleged attempt on Yameen’s life seemed to have warranted such a declaration.
  • The president has clarified that while certain rights will be restricted, general movements, services and businesses will not be affected.
  • Gayoom’s Arrest – Former President Moumoon Abdul Gayoom, who reigned for 30 years till democracy was established in 2008, was also arrested.
  • Notably, 80 year old Gayoom is the half brother of Yameen and of late, he has openly sided with the dissenting opposition for toppling the government. 
  • Also, troops stormed the Supreme Court premises and taken procession.
  • Parliament Suspended - The President is required to inform the Parliament about the declaration of emergency within two days.
  • But to circumvent this, Yameen has suspended the parliament indefinitely.
  • Notably, as the Supreme Court had also restored 12 MPs who had defected from Mr. Yameen's party, the majority is effectively with the opposition.
  • This thereby increases the vulnerability of the president to be subjected to impeachment in the 85-member parliament.

How has the reactions been?

  • Restricting fundamental freedoms and suspending of the Supreme Court can only happen during martial law, and is illegal in the current situation.
  • Hence, opposition leaders have voiced that emergency was a blatant violation and an indication of Mr. Yameen’s desperation to hold on to power.
  • They’ve appealed to the masses to demonstrate against these actions and the international community has also largely criticised Mr. Yameen’s actions.

What are the options for India?

  • Histroic Prespective - India has committed itself to the principle of “non-intervention” in the internal affairs of other countires country.
  • It is also strongly against external strings in its domestic politics and has regularly criticised western powers for interventions in developing countries.
  • But despite this, India has made multiple interventions in its neighbourhood when pressing concerns have called for such action.
  • The Bangaladesh liberation of 1971, Sri Lankan intervention in the late 1980s, and more recently, in shaping the Nepali constitution are some examples. 
  • Maldivian Case - When the former president Nasheed was ousted from office in a coup in 2012, India had backed him strongly.
  • But the subsequent rise of Nasheed’s nemesis and the current president Yameen, India was forced to recalibrate its stands.
  • This was partly due to Yameen’s strong Islamic diplomacy with the Arab world and his ties with China which is backed by high-profile infrastructure projects.
  • Current Situation - Yameen is currently looking towards China to secure his position, despite mounting international pressure.  
  • Hence, India has the option to either remain neutral or put its weight delicately behind the opposition to rally for a regime change.
  • While the former is the safer option, an intervention can be beneficial but would inherently invite the ire of China and holds with it the risk of failure.
  • India needs to make its move after weighing all the stakes involved.

 

Source: The Hindu

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