The president of the Maldives has
declared a state of emergency, quoting a danger to citizens’ safety and
national security.
Abdullah
Yameen’s ruling, which came into effect at midday, suspends all basic rights
and gives the security forces sweeping powers to arrest suspects before a major
anti-government rally planned later this week.
The main opposition Maldivian
Democratic party(MDP), whose leader Mohamed Nasheed is in jail following his opinion
earlier this year under anti-terror laws, has organized
the protest.
The Maldives has suffered acute
political instability for several years, but a new cycle of chaos and unrest
appears to be intensifying.
“President
Yameen has declared state of emergency to ensure the safety and security of every
citizen,” his spokesman Muaz Ali tweeted.
“My beloved citizens, I
assure you, that in enforcing this decree, the rights and freedoms stated in
the constitution will only be restricted within the limits of the constitution,
and only to the extent strictly required by the situation,” Yameen said.
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