Expecting no extension of emergency in Maldives, says MEA

The Ministry of External Affairs of India (MEA) on Tuesday said that the State of Emergency declared in Maldives on 5 February 2018 comes to an end this evening.

The statement to this effect from the Ministry of External Affairs came shortly before the period of Emergency declared by Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen was set to come to a close.

''It is our expectation that the Government of Maldives will not be seeking extension of the State of Emergency so that the political process in Maldives can resume with immediate effect,'' MEA said.

''After revocation of Emergency, democratic institutions including judiciary should be allowed to function independently and in fair and transparent manner in accordance with Constitution. Order issued by Maldives SC on 1 February 2018 should be implemented in letter & spirit,'' MEA further said.

MEA said,''It is important that Maldives quickly returns to the path of democracy and the rule of law so that the aspirations of Maldivian people are met and the concerns of the international community are assuaged.''

The ongoing political crisis in Maldives has pressed New Delhi into a balancing act. It has had to repeatedly clarify that it does not intend to militarily intervene in the crisis, like it did in 1988.

Meanwhile, Maldives President Abdulla Yameen on Monday had sought parliamentary approval to extend a state of emergency for 15 days in the Indian Ocean archipelago as the "the situation has not changed", parliament's Deputy Secretary General Fathmath Niusha told the legislature.

OneIndia News