Despite being one of the smallest countries over the world, with just 190 square miles and 400.000 inhabitants, the eyes of international organizations and developed democracies are focus on what’s happening in Maldives. Washed by the soft and warm waters of the Indian Ocean, this archipelago formed by almost 1.200 islands, the preferred touristic destination for celebrities such as Cristiano Ronaldo or Sir Paul McCartney has made front page news this week, since his president, Abdulla Yameen, declared a state of emergency on November, 4.
The nation has been experiencing a convulsive situation during these last weeks. Everything started on September, 28, when a supposed bomb blasted on the president’s speedboat, wounding three people, among them Yameen’s wife. At that time, Maldivian foreign minister, Dunya Maumoon, assured that there had been a plot to overthrow Yameen. She also announced that security forces had found a little hidden arsenal, including AK-47 rifles and hand grenades, which had been stolen from the military armoury.
Almost a month afterwards, on October, 24, when vice president Ahmed Adheeb came back from China was arrested at the airport of Male, the capital city, accused of being connected with the attempt on the life of the president. Later that day, police announced the detention of 17 supporters of Adheeb, charged with public order offences.
The tension of the political situation has risen last week, with an increasing popular uprising against the crackdown of government policies. To such a degree has the situation become uncontrolled, that even a video showing alleged terrorists of Islamic State threatening Yameen’s life, has been broadcast. In this recording IS demands the release of the leader of Adhaalath Party, Sheikh Imran Abdulla, in exchange for not attempting against the Maldives’ president’s life. But, according to official sources, the facts that rushed things were, first of all, the supposed discover of explosives near the presidential palace, and secondly, the detention of a new suspect charged with plotting a sniper attack to kill the president. That has been the last straw…
Even from the government affirming that this is only a “precautionary and preventive measure”, many are suspicious of Yameen’s intentions, and they still remember the detention of Mohamed Nasheed, the first democratic president of the nation, who was condemned to 13 years in prison, after a summary trial judged by the United Nations Working Group as an Arbitrary Detention and a totally unfair process.