Maldives declared State of Emergency for 30 days

Citing threat to national security, Maldives government on 4 November 2015 declared a state of emergency for a period of 30 days.

The declaration was made under Article 253 of Maldivian constitution that gives powers to the President to declare emergency and suspend certain laws and citizen rights.

The measure was taken after arms and explosives were seized by the police in a lorry parked at an island resort in Male. The arms and explosives were found during the investigation into the September 2015 blast on the speedboat on which President Abdulla Yameen was traveling.

Under the emergency provisions, police can arrest protestors and political leaders without warrant. Political experts are also viewing the declaration in context of the planned anti-government public rally by opposition Maldivian Democratic Party on 7 November 2015.

The action comes few days after Vice President Ahmed Adeeb was arrested in connection with the explosion aboard the president’s boat, which was termed as an assassination attempt by the authorities. He was arrested on 25 October 2015. The authorities have also arrested a senior Maldivian diplomat as well as four other Maldivians.

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