Upset with the current state of affairs in the Maldives, the Indian Government has spurned President Abdul Yameen’s efforts to reach out to New Delhi and indicated a hardening of stand till its “core concerns” are addressed and all political prisoners and judges are freed. India has refused to grant audience to the Special Envoy of Yameen citing protocol and scheduling issues, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) demonstrating
its displeasure at the present regime efforts to undermine democratic institutions and the judiciary.
Wary of backlash from the world community and the United Nations which may lead to sanctions on his Govern-ment, Yameen is trying to reach out to certain “friendly countries”, including India, to justify the Emergency in the Maldives. Yameen’s Foreign Minister Mohamed Asim was to reach New Delhi on Friday as a Special Envoy but his visit was prevented by India’s stern response.
“The first stop of the Special Envoy was India. Foreign Minister of the Maldives Dr Mohamed Asim, the designated Special Envoy of the President, was scheduled to visit India on February 8 but it was cancelled on the Indian Government’s request. The Government of the Maldives was informed the said dates were not suitable for India’s leadership,” Maldives Foreign Office said on Thursday.
What clearly appears a diplomatic excuse to avoid giving Asim an audience, sources pointed out, is the protocol, which includes explaining agenda in advance for the envoy’s visit. Apparently, the Maldives did not apprise the MEA of the purpose of sending the envoy to New Delhi. While External Affair Minister Sushma Swaraj is visiting Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be out of country for a three-nation tour from Friday evening.
Asim has already been to Pakistan, while Maldives’ Minister of Economic Development Mohamed Saeed is in China, and Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture Mohamed Shainee is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia to apprise them of the political crisis and justify Yameen’s crackdown on the judiciary.
The decision to send Asim to New Delhi came barely a day after Maldives’ Opposition leaders and former President Mohammad Nasheed reached out to India seeking its military and diplomatic intervention in the country.
Maldives Foreign Minister’s visit would have taken place against the backdrop of reports that Indian Special Forces are being kept in readiness in Bangalore for any exigency. India had in 1988 sent Special Forces to protect democracy in Maldives from a coup attempt. Presently. sending troops to the Maldives is not an option India is looking at. However, New Delhi is open to mediate between Yameen and the Opposition.
To avoid international sanctions and any possible intervention from outside, Yameen on Thursday indicated he is engaging with the Opposition by calling an all-party meeting.
The MEA in a statement two days back said it is “very disturbed” by the declaration of Emergency in Maldives and the refusal of the Government to abide by the unanimous ruling of the Supreme Court, the arrest of the Supreme Court Chief Justice, former President and other political figures. It is clear that New Delhi does not want to give Yameen an opportunity to justify his authoritarian and undemocratic actions.
Instead, India wants all its influence to persuade Yameen to restore democracy, release the judges, former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and others from detention, and execute the orders of the SC to release political prisoners. Sources made it clear that the Indian Government has not seen any real action from the Maldives Government on the concerns stated by the international community, including India.