Maldives opposition leaders want Indian intervention after President Yameen imposes Emergency

The latest political crisis in Maldives has been triggered by a Supreme Court verdict that had directed release of nine imprisoned opposition political leaders.

The government of President Yameen refused to implement the Supreme Court ruling and instead clamped a 15-day state emergency and cracked down on the apex court itself, even as protests rocked capital Male.

As the political crisis in island nation Maldives deepened with the regime of President Yameen arresting two Supreme Court judges including the Chief Justice, after declaring a 15-day state of emergency, the opposition leaders fearing imminent arrest and suspension of all civil rights have appealed to the international community, including regional power India, for immediate intervention.

"Politically we cannot do anything. The only hope is international help," said Ali Zahir, vice president of Adhaalath Party told global humanitarian news portal Just Earth News.

Exiled opposition leader and former president Mohamed Nasheed tweeted: On behalf of Maldivian people we humbly request: 1. India to send envoy, backed by its military, to release judges & pol. detainees inc. Prez. Gayoom. We request a physical presence.  2. The US to stop all financial transactions of Maldives regime leaders going through US banks."

Nasheed ( of Maldivian Democratic Party or MDP),  whose 13-year jail sentence was nullified by the Supreme Court recently, termed the declaration of emergency "illegal and unconstitutional" and a move which is "tantamount to a declaration of martial law in the Maldives".

Speaking from his home in Male, Independent Member of Parliament Ali Hussain told Just Earth News: "The situation is grave. The Supreme Court is under siege. The military has broken down the gates of Supreme Court and they have entered inside .... we hear that there were two judges [including chief justice] and they were in their control [they were arrested according to latest reports]."

"The most important powers of the Supreme Court, the last judgement [to release the opposition leaders] have been taken away, the power of Parliament has been taken away too," he said fearing his arrest.

"Even the criminal procedure court has been suspended. The entire Constitution of Maldives has been suspended," said Hussain.

"This is like a coup because the President has nullified the whole powers of judiciary, the Supreme Court and Parliament. From every corner and every angle we have the threat of being arrested any time. Opposition MDP (Maldivian Democratic Party) office has been cracked down too," he said.

"I think this is crucial time when India has to show interest. India should warn the government of Maldives. I do not know exactly what form of intervention it could be but without direct international intervention at this moment it is... well I do not know, we all can be arrested," he said, fearing that even Internet service could be suspended.

"Yameen is a mad man," said Hussain adding that the President resorted to this measure to hush up the corruption charges and scandals in which his government is mired.

The present crisis was triggered when the Supreme Court directed Yameen to release from jail nine opposition leaders who were arrested on politically motivated charges.

Yameen instead of following the court order, retaliated by cracking down on the Supreme Court itself suspending its powers and arresting judges.

Present President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom representing Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) is half brother of former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom who had ruled the Islamic island nation from 1978 to 2008 uninterruptedly.

Gayoom was defeated in the October 2008 presidential election but in September 2011, he returned as the leader of the newly formed Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).

Yameen was elected as President in 2013, defeating Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) leader and former president Mohamed Nasheed in the 2013 elections.

In 2016, Nasheed was given asylum in the United Kingdom after he was convicted under the Anti-Terrorism Act of Maldives for arresting Criminal Court Judge Abdulla Mohamed though international rights group like Amnesty International has described the conviction as "politically motivated".