外媒报道马尔代夫(Maldives President declares state of emergency and arrests opposition figures)

Maldives President declares state of emergency and arrests opposition figures

Maldives President Abdulla Yameen declared a state of emergency on Monday, February 5, 2018, and ordered the arrest of two Supreme Court judges, as well as a former president and opposition leader. This move has raised international concerns about the state of democracy in the island nation.

The state of emergency, which is expected to last for 15 days, comes after the Supreme Court issued a ruling on February 1, 2018. The ruling overturned the terrori conviction of former President Mohamed Nasheed, and ordered the release of all political prisoners. The government refused to comply with the order, saying that the ruling was a threat to national security and would lead to chaos.

With the declaration of the state of emergency, the security forces are given wide-ranging powers to arrest and detain people without a court warrant. The government has also suspended all constitutional rights, including the right to free speech and assembly. There are reports of internet and social media censorship, as well as the blocking of some news websites.

Opposition figures have condemned the move as an attempt to silence dissent and cement President Yameen's hold on power. Mohamed Nasheed, who was the first democratically elected president of the Maldives and was ousted in 2012, described the move as a "partial coup d'etat" and called on India to intervene. India, a close neighbor of the Maldives, has expressed its concern but has not yet taken any action.

The United States, the European Union, and the United Nations have also expressed their concerns about the situation in the Maldives. The UN human rights office has called on the government to respect the rights of the people and to release the detained Supreme Court judges. The US State Department has also issued a statement, urging the Maldives government to restore constitutional rights and respect the rule of law.

The Maldives, an archipelago of more than 1,000 islands, is known for its luxury resorts and clear blue waters. However, the country has been in political turmoil since the ouster of Mohamed Nasheed in 2012. President Yameen, who was elected in 2013, has been accused of cracking down on political opponents and of suppressing freedom of speech and assembly. There have also been concerns about corruption and the growing influence of Islamic extremists.

The current situation in the Maldives is a cause for concern for many people, both within and outside of the country. The declaration of a state of emergency and the arrest of political opponents is a clear violation of democracy and human rights. It is important for the international community to take action to ensure that the people of the Maldives are able to exercise their rights and freedoms. The world must stand in solidarity with the Maldivian people and support their struggle for democracy and justice.