1worldinternational’s “2012 News Stories to Watch Out For” column published at the start of the year failed to predict recent developments in the Indian Ocean Island of the Maldives which has seen its three year old democracy threatened. This week, it was reported that the country’s President Mohamed Nasheed had stepped down to prevent violence and bloodshed following recent protests by opposition groups. The waters were subsequently muddied by Mr Nasheed’s proclamation that he had in fact been ousted by way of a military-backed coup orchestrated by mutinous Police and military officers.
Mr Nasheed assumed power in 2008 following the country’s first democratically held elections which ended the 30-year rule his predecessor, Maumoon Gayoom. During his leadership, Nasheed, who was once a political activist and prisoner as a result, has endeared himself to the international community by vociferously advocating climate change awareness. The ousted President’s calls for initially reinstatement, and now demands for snap elections have thus far fallen on the deaf ears of his replacement, Mohamed Waheed, who was also Mr Nasheed’s Vice-President and who has also now unequivocally ruled out any elections before October 2013.
The international community’s response has been, for want of a better word, lukewarm. The US, via its Assistant Secretary for South Asian Affairs, Robert Blake has requested both sides to make “compromises”. The compromise solution been sought is a US backed coalition or national unity government which Mr Nasheed has plainly rejected. In response to Mr Nasheed’s calls for snap elections, the US through Robert Blake have stated that it is too early to hold elections given that Maldivian state institutions such as the Police, the judiciary and electoral commissions need to be strengthened before November 2013 when the next elections are expected to be held.
The 9-member Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) which deals with serious violations of the Commonwealth’s political values and which also has the power to suspend member states for violations of democratic values is scheduled to hold an emergency conference today about the recent unrest. Meanwhile, Mr Nasheed is still calling for an independent investigation into the alleged coup while his Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) supporters allege Police victimisation and intimidation. Once again, the UN’s response to recent events has been criticised as has been the case with issues it is seized with at the present time. The US’s response is also questionable as it does appear to sanction the overthrow of a democratically elected government through its pronouncements that it favours a coalition government. Surely the US should condemn the overthrow of Mr Nasheed and the intimidation and violence which his supporters have been subjected to. The Commonwealth like the UN has also been slow to react although the international community has been successful in putting pressure on the new government which has ensured that the arrest warrant against Mr Nasheed has not been executed and in turn preventing further bloodshed.
Although the facts are somewhat thin on the ground, what is clear is that Mr Nasheed left office against his will. Under this circumstance, the Commonwealth has no other option but to suspend the country from the organisation until an election date is set, preferably within the coming months. The EU and the US should follow suit by threatening sanctions against the country until a date is set for next elections. Although the country’s new President has pledged to carry out independent investigations into the alleged coup, there are doubts that this investigation may be compromised by his relationship with supporters of the country’s former leader, Maumoon Gayoom and his affiliation with opposition parties. Therefore, the international community, via the UN needs to take conduct of the investigation itself as an impartial observer to the proceedings. In the event of the international community’s failure to respond effectively, we as individuals can also take matters into our own hands by leading a boycott of the country’s tourism industry which is the Maldives’ major source of revenue. Its government would no doubt pause and heed the cries of democratic activists if its purse strings were to be threatened. The developments in the coming weeks will no doubt determine the country’s course for generations.
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