Extension of emergency: Maldives says India ignoring facts, ground realities; asks to refrain from any actions

Hours after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India said that it does not see any valid reason for extending the emergency period in the Maldives, the Island nation claimed that India is ignoring the facts and ground realities with regard to the ongoing political developments.

The Island nation also asked India to refrain from any actions that could hinder resolving the situation facing the country.

Accepting President Abdulla Yameen's recommendation, the Maldivian Parliament (Majlis) on Tuesday extended the state of emergency by another 30 days, hours after India had asserted that it was important that the island nation quickly returns to the path of democracy and the rule of law, expecting that there will be no extension.

"The Government of Maldives takes note of the public statements issued by the Government of India that ignore the facts and ground realities with regard to the ongoing political developments in the Maldives," said Maldives Ministry of Foreign Affairs reacting to MEA's statement.

"The assertion by the Government of India that the extension of the State of Emergency by the People’s Majlis was unconstitutional is a clear distortion of facts, which ignore the Constitution and Laws of the Maldives," it said in a statement.

Stating that there is no doubt that the Maldives is experiencing one of the most difficult periods in the history of the nation, Maldives Foreign Ministry added, "It is therefore important that friends and partners in the international community, including India, refrain from any actions that could hinder resolving the situation facing the country."

However, the Island nation reiterated its commitment to work closely with the international community, including India, to address the concerns they might have.

Earlier in the day, India said that it is dismayed that the Maldives government has extended the emergency a further period of 30 days.

"We, of course, continue to watch the situation and would continue to urge the government of Maldives to release political prisoners, release the chief justice, implement the supreme court order and restore the normal functioning of the institutions of democracy," MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.

President Yameen declared the emergency on February 5 after the Supreme Court ordered the release of a group of Opposition leaders, who had been convicted in widely criticised trials. Among them was exiled ex-president Mohamed Nasheed.

The US also expressed disappointment over the development in the Maldives.

Here is Maldives Ministry of Foreign Affairs Statement

The Government of Maldives calls for dialogue; public statements unhelpful

The Government of Maldives takes note of the public statements issued by the Government of India that ignore the facts and ground realities with regard to the ongoing political developments in the Maldives.  The assertion by the Government of India that the extension of the State of Emergency by the People’s Majlis was unconstitutional is a clear distortion of facts, which ignore the Constitution and Laws of the Maldives.

On 5 February 2018, the President declared the State of Emergency under the powers vested in him in Article 253 of the Constitution, pertaining to a Constitutional Crisis, and an imminent threat to national security, upon the advice of the National Security Council. 

The Supreme Court had cleared the validity of the Emergency in its ruling on 21 February 2018. In its decision to extend the State of Emergency on 20 February 2018, the People’s Majlis provided relief by lifting some of the restrictions imposed on Constitutional Articles under the State of Emergency and by imposing the State of Emergency only upon individuals alleged to have carried out illegal activities and in the places they stayed. 

The Peoples’ Majlis also in its sitting decided to refer the issue to the Supreme Court, for Advisory Opinion, under Article 95 of the Constitution, pertaining to which the Supreme Court has issued an Order to implement the State of Emergency, till the Court issues a verdict on the issue. Other than implementing the necessary measures stated in the Decree imposing the State of Emergency, it ensures no other restriction on the daily lives of the people and provides protection to the citizens living in the Maldives, to foreign workers and to those visiting the country.

There is no doubt that the Maldives is experiencing one of the most difficult periods in the history of the nation.  It is therefore important that friends and partners in the international community, including India, refrain from any actions that could hinder resolving the situation facing the country.

The Government of Maldives reiterates its firm commitment to work closely with the international community, including India, to address the concerns they might have.