Yameen declared a 15-day state of emergency earlier this month, curtailing the powers of the judiciary and the legislature after the country’s Supreme Court ruled to quash criminal convictions against high profile opposition politicians.
The Maldives’ highest court has since revoked its order after two top judges were arrested, seemingly giving Yameen the upper hand in a bitter power struggle.
Despite criticism from the international community, legislators from the president’s party yesterday controversially approved to extend emergency rule by a further 30 days.
There was no immediate comment from the government but Yameen’s office said on Monday the extension was warranted as the threat to national security had “not diminished.”
It also said the constitutional crisis in the archipelago had not been resolved since the court’s decision on February 1.
Yameen currently has a majority in the 85-member parliament, restored on Sunday after the depleted top court also U-turned on its order for 12 pro-opposition members of parliament (MPs) – previously sacked for defecting from Yameen’s party – to be reinstated.
The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) said yesterday they boycotted the vote on the state of emergency extension and accused the ruling party of voting without the constitutionally mandated quorum in the legislature.
Hours before the Maldivian parliament rubber stamped the extension a group of South Asian legislators said they feared for democracy in the Indian Ocean nation, where Yameen has long been cracking down on dissent.
He has jailed almost all his political opponents since coming to power in late 2013.
The chairman of the Association of Saarc Speakers and Parliamentarians has written to Maldives speaker raising concerns over the current political crisis in the Indian Ocean nation urging it to immediately take steps to restore normalcy and respect for the rule of law in the country.
Karu Jayasuriya, who is also the Sri Lankan speaker, in his letter to Maldives Majlis (Parliament) Speaker Abdulla Maseeh said that “democratic norms and parliamentary practices appeared to be in peril at this time in the country” and called for “finding peaceful solutions through dialogue.”
Jayasuriya expressed concern over the declaration of emergency and the arrests and the “disrespect of the Supreme Court rulings”, which he said “threaten constitutional principles and undermine the rule of law and independence of the judiciary”.
“The recent events impact negatively on credible and inclusive pre-elections processes with the full participation of all parties in the Maldives,” Jayasuriya added in the letter.
Yameen’s office said the extension was warranted “as the threat to national security has not diminished and the constitutional crisis has not been resolved”.
The UN human rights chief has meanwhile described the state of emergency as “an all-out assault on democracy”.
The unrest has dented the Maldives’ image as a popular holiday destination.
The nation’s top earner is tourism, with holidaymakers drawn to its pristine islands and crystal-clear blue waters.
