Parliament extends Maldives Emergency by 30 days

Following a request by Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen, Parliament on Tuesday approved extending the ongoing state of Emergency by 30 days, despite a lack of quorum.

Only 38 MPs from the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives were present for the vote despite the requirement of 43 lawmakers as per the Constitution, the Maldives Independent reported.

The opposition had boycotted the vote to ensure that it does not take place, but the extension was granted anyway.

Shahindha Ismail, Executive Director of the Maldives Democracy Network, accused the ruling party of "removing all democratic and lawful systems of governance in the country".

Maldives Parliament Speaker Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed quoted parliamentary regulations which do not include state of Emergency declarations among the votes where a constitutionally required quorum is needed, the daily reported.

The state of Emergency will end on March 22. However, earlier reports said the Parliament was requested to extend the ongoing Emergency by 15 days.

Yameen had requested the Parliament to extend the state of Emergency by 30 days "due to the present threat to national security and a constitutional crisis following the Supreme Court's ruling on February 1 ordering the release of detained opposition leaders, including self-exiled former President Mohamed Nasheed".

Opposition lawmaker Eva Abdulla accused the Speaker of "bypassing the Constitution" and said the state of Emergency was "illegal".

Ismail blasted the government and the ruling party. "The ruling party has effectively and completely removed all democratic and lawful systems of governance in this country," she said.

"This lawlessness is affecting the entire nation socially and economically and if there is nothing that can be done to stop this unruly and violent behaviour on the part of the state then it is time for the people to show their discontent and stand up for our rights.

"We do not have to obey unconstitutional and unlawful orders," she added.

A 15-day state of Emergency was first declared on February 5 after the surprise Supreme Court ruling asking the government to free former President Nasheed and other leaders. The order was, however, rescinded shortly after the declaration of the state of Emergency.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Association of Saarc Speakers and Parliamentarians wrote to Maldives Speaker Maseeh Mohamed raising concerns over the current political crisis in the Indian Ocean nation and urging him 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 Maseeh Mohamed 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."

--IANS

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