India welcomes revocation of emergency in Maldives

Welcoming the revocation of the state of emergency in the Maldives, India on Thursday asserted that a number of concerns, expressed by the international community still remain to be addressed.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a statement said, "While this is one step towards addressing the issues related to the prevailing political situation in that country, a number of concerns expressed by the international community still remain to be addressed."

India called upon the government of the Maldives to implement the Supreme Court's Full Bench order of February 1 and to support a genuine political dialogue with all opposition parties.

"We, therefore, call upon the Government of the Maldives to restore all Articles of the Constitution, to allow the Supreme Court and other branches of the judiciary to operate in full independence, to promote and support the free and proper functioning of Parliament, to implement the Supreme Court's Full Bench order of 1 February 2018 and to support a genuine political dialogue with all opposition parties," the MEA said.

"It is important for the Government of the Maldives to ensure credible restoration of the political process, as well as the rule of law, before the elections are announced this year," it added.

The MEA also said that as a neighbour whose security is closely intertwined with that of the Maldives, India wishes to see a stable, peaceful and prosperous Maldives that meets the aspiration of its citizens.

Earlier in the day, Maldives President Abdulla Yameen lifted a 45-day state of emergency which had outlawed protests amid a political crisis in the country.

President Yameen imposed a state of emergency on February 5 for 15 days to annul a Supreme Court ruling that quashed convictions against nine opposition leaders and ordered his government to free those held in prison. The emergency was further extended to 30 days.

During the emergency, the current administration arrested the chief justice, another Supreme Court judge and former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on allegations of attempting to overthrow the government.