India in its statement said that the manner in which Majilis (Maldivian Parliament) approved to extend emergency in the country by 30 days is “in contravention of the Constitution of the Maldives”.
Even after the 15 days of Emergency, the situation in the Maldives does not seem to return to normalcy any soon. On Tuesday, the government of Maldives under the Presidency of Abdulla Yameen extended the state of emergency by additional 30 days. The decision came in the wake of India’s request to the Maldives to end the state of emergency in the country sooner.
On Wednesday, Akhilesh Mishra, Indian Ambassador to the Maldives met the foreign Secretary of Maldives Ahmed Sareer to express Indian counterpart’s concern over the extended period of emergency and conveyed that the decision is deeply disappointing.
The President of Maldives Abdulla Yameen declared a state of emergency for 15 days on February 5. Yameen had been in a tiff with the Supreme Court of the country and believed that the Supreme Court is conspiring to bring down the government. Hours after the Emergency announcement, Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and another Supreme Court judge were arrested.
Press release on the State of Emergency in Maldives. It is our expectation that the Government of Maldives will not be seeking the extension of the State of Emergency and resume the political process with immediate effect. Link at https://t.co/sYKSD256HC @EoIMaldives
— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) February 20, 2018
We are deeply dismayed that the Government of Maldives has extended the state of emergency for a further 30 days. Press Release at https://t.co/Ugr8FoGa8T@EoIMaldives
— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) February 21, 2018
The Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday released a statement expressing dismay at the decision to extend the Emergency. Calling the move a “matter of concern”, the letter further read that the manner in which Majilis (Maldivian Parliament) approved to extend emergency in the country by 30 days is “in contravention of the Constitution of Maldives”.
Expressing concern over the return of normalcy in the country, the MEA observed, “The consequent delay in the resumption of the political process and the continuing suspension of the functioning of democratic institutions including the judiciary is likely to further delay restoration of normalcy in the Maldives.”
The statement concluded the Maldivian government must ensure that democratic institutions are not harmed and are allowed to function in “accordance with the Constitution”.
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