Amid reports of physical torture to Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed, Justice Ali Hameed and Judicial administrator Hassan Saeed, along with other political prisoners in the Maldives, India is engaging with its strategic partners and like-minded countries to negotiate the early release and evacuation of these judges, along with former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who is also in police custody in Male.
Sources said India is working closely with several of its partners who are “equally concerned” over the recent developments in the Maldives to ensure the return of democracy and rule of law. This even as the latest reports stated that the Maldives Police on Saturday raided the house of military Intelligence chief Brigadier General Abdul Raheem’s house on the directions of President Abdulla Yameen.
With the plea for an Indian intervention through a swift “diplomatic or military intervention” in the archipelago growing, hectic back channel diplomatic discussions are on between India and other countries.
But New Delhi is keen for a United Nations-backed fact-finding team to visit the Maldives to assess the situation on ground even as UN Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenca told the top body that “the situation in the Maldives is tense and may deteriorate even further.”
With the Opposition parties planning to launch a major protest from February 16 in Maldives, the situation is expected to deteriorate.
Former President Gayoom, CJ Abdulla Saeed, Justice Hameed and judicial administrator Saeed were arrested by security forces on Monday after President Yameen declared Emergency in the country.
Unconfirmed reports have been circulating about CJ Saeed being subjected to third-degree torture in jail. Such reports have claimed that Justice Saeed has been bleeding badly due to the “injuries in the rectum”. In fact, another judge, who was hospitalised, too was spotted having bruises and injuries on his face and body, reports claimed. Justice Saeed has done some part of his legal education in India and has family connections with the country.
However, in the absence of any credible information, India wants the UN to intervene directly. Though the Maldives issue has been under discussion at the UN unofficially ever since President Yameen imposed Emergency, the world body is yet to take any concrete step besides issuing two statements. The Maldives issue was to be listed for formal discussion on Thursday at the UNSC but was blocked by China, Russia and Saudi Arabia, claimed Yameen.
“Up until last night, UN Security Council was discussing what measures to take against the Maldives. But the discussions were unofficial. The discussions then moved to table the Maldives on its official agenda. But that move failed. Our foreign policy has also emerged victorious. This was made possible by the efforts of our closest friends. That is China, Russia and Saudi Arabia,” Yameen told his supporters.
China, with deep economic and strategic interests in the Indian Ocean region, on Thursday made it clear it is opposed to any UN intervention in the Maldives saying it was an internal matter of the country. China has also threatened India that if it intervenes, then the Maldives can be fresh flashpoint between India and China after Doklam. There are allegations that the present chaos is backed by China that has been paying off Yameen to acquire prime atolls in the Indian Ocean to build its military ports. Already the docking of Chinese military ships in the Maldives last August has not gone well with India.
The Maldives is scheduled to go for election around August this year and it is in the interest of China to see Yameen in President’s office to pursue their interests, the Opposition has alleged. There are growing demands to put an interim Unity Government in place before the scheduled elections to ensure free and fair polls under the watch of international observers.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Donald Trump on Friday held telephonic discussions on the Maldives issue. India, France, China, Singapore and European nations have already issued travel advisories asking its citizens to stay away from the Maldives even as Yameen sought to reassure the global tourists that they will not be impact with the present crisis in Male. More countries are expected to issue similar advisories.
Meanwhile, the two journalists from the French news agency AFP -- photographer Money Sharma and an Indian origin Britisher Atish Ravi Patel - who were arrested on Friday were deported to India on Saturday on grounds of violation of immigration laws. The Maldives has visa-on-arrival facility for several countries, including India, but Male said in order to work in the Maldives, people need to have business visas and these two journalist were found working on a tourist visa. “We note that China has said that the Maldives has the ability to protect the security of Chinese personnel and institutions. We hope that all countries can play a constructive role in the Maldives, instead of doing the opposite,” an MEA spokesperson said.