India - The Indian Ocean Civilization & IOR

shyamd · Post by **shyamd** » 02 Mar 2013 17:10

How Indian diplomacy ended crisis in Maldives

ByIndrani Bagchi, TNN | Feb 25, 2013, 04.07 AM IST

NEW DELHI: It was an "understanding" between India and Maldives that resolved an embarrassing political situation in the island country after former president Mohammed Nasheed took refuge inside the Indian high commission, drawing India into the heart of the ongoing political crisis there. The resolution, which showcased Indian diplomacy at its most effective, confirmed India's position as the pre-eminent power in the Indian Ocean.

Both countries have denied there was a "deal", and there wasn't. Since the moment Nasheed became a refugee in the mission, India and Maldives and, after a while, even Nasheed himself, were looking for a way to end the agony.

On the Indian side, the initiative was led jointly by NSA Shivshankar Menon and foreign minister Salman Khurshid. Khurshid spoke with his counterpart Abdul Samad Abdulla several times in the past week to soften up the government there to the fact that a face-saving solution had to be found for all concerned.

Menon undertook the more complex job of directing the Indian effort, issuing instructions to the Indian team as well as keeping the larger picture of national interest in view. Foreign secretary Ranjan Mathai worked the phones with his counterpart and other leaders in Male from Washington DC where he was travelling. But it was the low-key actions of Harsh Vardhan Shringla, joint secretary in the ministry of external affairs, that finally won the day in Male.

The first order of business was to identify the key leadership in Maldives and sensitize them to the importance of an early resolution. Shringla and his team met an entire cross-section of the Maldives leadership — defence minister Mohamed Nazim, foreign minister Abdul Samad Abdulla, attorney general Aishath Azima Shakoor, even Abdulla Yamin, leader of the Progressive Party of Maldives (Gayoom's party), as well as acting foreign secretary Abdul Azeez Yoosuf, among others.

The mission was two-fold - first to convince them that India had no role to play in the political crisis. This was tough, particularly as Nasheed continued to stay holed up in the Indian mission where police summons could not be served on him. Indian authorities severely restricted access to Nasheed but New Delhi was really keen to have him out of there. Second, to make sure that the election process in Maldives had the field open for all candidates, whatever their colour or political affiliation.

The importance of the credibility of elections was emphasized first by India, in a strongly worded statement. This was followed in the same tone by the US, UK and the Commonwealth. That helped to push the Maldives government to postpone the case against Nasheed which allowed him to get out of the Indian mission.

By the time Nasheed left the high commission, he had achieved a couple of things — international attention on Maldives had returned and that attention was centred on him; he was able to move freely and campaign openly. But in these 11 days, Nasheed lost much international support with his caper. Within Maldives, Indians who have dealt with the political spectrum there over the years say its difficult to find a sympathizer for him apart from his party. The activist in Nasheed will continue agitating until September, when elections are due. India doesn't want Nasheed to use its shoulder to fire at the government.

The challenge for Nasheed, as well as for President Waheed, will be to win not only a presidential election in September but also a parliamentary one. While he was president, Nasheed was constrained by the fact that he did not have a majority in the Majlis, which meant he could not pass legislation. This means the political tensions currently going on in the Maldives will continue for the next six months.

India finds itself exasperated with Waheed and Nasheed, with both displaying equal degrees of political ineptness. But at the bottom of India's engagement is the reality that Maldives is too important to be left to fight itself. Having been surprised twice in the past couple of months, Indian government will keep a keen eye out for trouble.

But its lips will be sealed. India has not made any statement, and left all the explaining to the Maldives. That's the way they want it to stay.

brihaspati · Post by **brihaspati** » 03 Mar 2013 03:51

Well the coup against Nasheed, as per Nasheed's several interview-hints - was engineered by a combination fo elements of Gayoom and what he cutely calls "radical Islamists". Gayoom was definitely encouraging Islamists from late 80's and ear;y 90's and sending batches of Islamic students to Pakiland and the gulf.

What was India and or GOI and its intel doing then, sipping lemon-chai and pontificating that "islamism" is after all a bogey raised by opponents of the congress-raj who falsely accuse sucha peace-loving and immensely-positively-constructing-India religion?

If Gayoom has gained power - INC cannot escape its responsibility. Neither can the myriads of security advisers and experts who are so perceptive about China or Pakistan - claiming each of these entities to be non-threats when they are actually threats, and threats when they are non-threats.

Quite a while ago I wrote about the strength of the islamists in Maldives, and how strongly and for long they have planned their expansion. It was sought to be underplayed by repeating the standard taqyia from Islamists about lulling the suspicions from non-Muslims - islamism is just a "card" being played for political reasons. That sort of repeting what Islamist sources say what their intent is - perhaps lies at the cluelessness that dominates Indian security-planner apparatus.

Nasheed himself used Islamists for certain phases, and this diplomatic thingie ended nothing. What India should have realized is that, they have allowed the isalmist theological network to take hold of Maldivean society, and once that happens - all official or overt political parties would be forced to negotiate with Islamists. It will be downhill from hereafter - Nasheed coming to power or not.

rajithn · Post by **rajithn** » 05 Mar 2013 14:16

Nasheed's been taken into custody. Forcibly. To be produced in court tomoorrow.

What will MEA do? Maldives went back on their word that they wont do anything against Nasheed.

member_23629 · Post by **member_23629** » 05 Mar 2013 14:21

^^^ Invade the crooked jokers and put them in their place.

rsingh · Post by **rsingh** » 05 Mar 2013 19:05

IMO it is part of deal brokered by India. He will be presented to the court and released.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 06 Mar 2013 21:29

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 832765.cms

MALE: After spending 24 hours in detention, former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed today walked out of police custody as his trial for alleged illegal detention of a judge has been deferred by four weeks.

During the hearing, which lasted for over a one-and-a- half hours, 45-year-old Nasheed sought deferment of trial till the Presidential polls in September. The Prosecutor too had agreed to the proposal.

However, noting that the Elections Commission is yet to announce Nasheed as a presidential candidate for the elections, the Bench postponed the trial by four weeks.

"Nasheed has walked out as a free man. He was taken into custody on orders of the court because he was evading Court summons and not because of any vendetta as he claims," President Mohamed Waheed's Press Secretary Masood Imad told PTI.

He added, "We have maintained right from the beginning that we cannot interfere in judicial matters. Even the trail against him has been postponed by four weeks only because of the wishes of the Court".

Sanku · Post by **Sanku** » 07 Mar 2013 13:43

Yet another of the worst kept secrets is out

Confirmed! Maldives is a jihadi launchpad
http://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/s ... 130307.htm

The arrest of Reaz Qadir Khan, a naturalised American citizen in Portland, Oregon, in connection with t the 2009 suicide attack at the Inter-Services Intelligence headquarters in Lahore that killed 30 people and wounded more than 300 others, is yet another wake up call regarding the security set up in Maldives.

..........................
It is this same network which is used to send in funds which are normally raised through drug deals under the garb of import and export. Most of the drug money lands up in the hands of terrorists. Indian agencies say that there is a dedicated channel through which such activities are carried out.

"Most of such activities are carried out from Sri Lanka and also Kerala. It is for the Maldivian authorities with the help of the Indian agencies to monitor every activity generating out of Kerala and Sri Lanka as it has been seen several times that most of the slush funds are generated through this route," said the source.

..................
Over the years, both the Lashkar-e-Tayiba and the Al Qaeda have set up strong launchpads in Maldives. These groups have identified the policing problems in the island nation and also the lack of expertise to check slush funds.

The interrogation of Asif Ibrahim, an operative, who was arrested by the Kerala police also confirms the setting up of the Maldives base.

Ibrahim, who is an accused in the 2007 Male Sultan Park blast said that the operational unit for the India-Maldives terror base was based out of Kerala. It is a cycle where in money comes in from the Gulf and then is sent in to Maldives.

shyamd · Post by **shyamd** » 27 Mar 2013 01:56

Maldives crisis: Indian warships closed in

India backed its diplomacy with naval muscle to resolve the crisis that broke out last month when Maldivian opposition leader Mohammed Nasheed sought refuge in the Indian high commission.

While New Delhi was negotiating an understanding with Male that would allow the former president to leave the high commission, seven Indian Navy guided missile destroyers and frigates were exercising just outside Maldivian waters.

Days earlier, an Indian Navy fast-attack craft had entered the territorial waters, apparently to conduct joint exercises with the coast guard there.

Present Indian policy to the Maldives has sought to ensure the country holds free and fair elections later this year. The attempt by the Male government to arrest Nasheed was seen as a threat to that goal.

A naval exercise, ‘TROPEX-2013’, involving 50 ships and submarines, 2,000 troops and tanks on India’s western seaboard was originally scheduled for the eastern seaboard. It was shifted to the western coast in January as New Delhi’s concerns about developments in Male began to increase.

The political situation in the island nation reached breaking point soon after the exercise began. It concluded on March 1 after a full 30 days with all warships returning to harbour. Nasheed fled to the mission on February 13 and left 10 days later. He was arrested on March 5 and let off the next day.

During this time, seven ships — including Delhi class destroyers with the western navy fleet commander on board and Talwar and Shivalik class frigates — exercised outside Maldivian waters. Senior defence ministry sources said none of the big warships entered the country’s territorial limits.

In another coincidence, a day before Nasheed sought refuge at the mission, an Indian Navy fast-attack craft, Kalpeni, entered Maldivian waters, apparently to conduct joint exercises with the coast guard there for the next five days. It stayed an extra three days at the Male harbour.

Government sources say India has no intention of interfering in Maldivian politics. But New Delhi is determined that President Mohammed Waheed should hold early free and fair elections to prevent further instability in the region — which has 16 political parties for a population of just 300,000 and straddles some of India’s most vital sea lanes.

Agnimitra · Post by **Agnimitra** » 11 Apr 2013 23:05

X-post from Islamism & Islamophobia thread:

Trouble in paradise: The darker side of the Maldives

Public lashings. Religious extremists seizing power. A gay blogger with his throat slashed. Few of the million annual visitors to the Maldives will recognise the hellish side of these heavenly islands

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 11 Apr 2013 23:30

^ Who cares. I strongly recommend more Islam in Maldives, so much so that they will kick all those tourists out for being blasphemous. I want Taliban style Islam in Maldives.

Klaus · Post by **Klaus** » 26 Apr 2013 08:37

US seeks military presence in Maldives.

The draft agreement “incorporates the principal provisions and necessary authorisations for the temporary presence and activities of United States forces in the Republic of Maldives and, in the specific situations indicated herein, the presence and activities of United States contractors in the Republic of Maldives.”

However, the US embassy in Colombo has maintained that “There are no plans for a permanent military base in Maldives. SOFAs are normal practice wherever the Unites States cooperates closely with a country’s national security forces.

On the other hand, the draft SOFA is a sweeping document which says, “The Republic of the Maldives authorises United States forces to exercise all rights and authorities with Agreed Facilities and Areas that are necessary for their use, operation, defence or control, including the right to undertake new construction works and make alterations and improvements.”

The draft SOFA envisages that the Maldives would “furnish, without charge” to the US unspecified “Agreed Facilities and Areas”, and “such other facilities and areas in the territory and territorial seas of the Republic of Maldives as may be provided by the Republic of Maldives in the future.”

It specifies: “The Republic of the Maldives authorizes United States forces to exercise all rights and authorities with Agreed Facilities and Areas that are necessary for their use, operation, defense or control, including the right to undertake new construction works and make alterations and improvements.”

It further says, the US would be authorised to “control entry” to areas provided for its “exclusive use,” and would be permitted to operate its own telecommunications system and use the radio spectrum “free of cost to the United States”.

Besides, the US would also be granted access to and use of “aerial ports, sea ports and agreed facilities for transit, support and related activities; bunkering of ships, refuelling of aircraft, maintenance of vessels, aircraft, vehicles and equipment, accommodation of personnel, communications, ship visits, training, exercises, humanitarian activities.”

Interestingly, the SOFA confers on the US personnel (and civilian staff) “the privileges, exemptions and immunities equivalent to those accorded to the administrative and technical staff of a diplomatic mission under the Vienna Convention”, and guarantees that the Maldives laws won’t be applicable to the US personnel, who will be subject exclusively to the criminal jurisdiction of the United States.

The US personnel and contractors would also be permitted to import and export personal property, equipment, supplies and technology without license, restriction or inspection, or the payment of any taxes, charges or customs duties.
Most important, the vessels and vehicles operated by, and for, US forces would be permitted to enter and move freely within the territorial seas of the Maldives, free from boarding, inspection or the payment of landing, parking, port or harbour fees.

New angle to the Maldives saga as well as the GMR fiasco? Anglo-American influence in the littoral IOR has been talked about in BR before.

habal · Post by **habal** » 26 Apr 2013 09:39

It's not China that has a string of pearls, it is US. They will use this to launch their Islamist proxies into India just like they did in Syria & Egypt & Libya.

member_20317 · Post by **member_20317** » 26 Apr 2013 10:54

Umrikhans and Islamists.

shyamd · Post by **shyamd** » 15 Aug 2013 01:31

India courts Maldivian parties ahead of polls there

As Maldives lurches towards elections — slated for September 7 — India is spreading the love across the political spectrum in the Indian Ocean archipelago that is crucial to India's security interests.

Almost all the prospective presidential candidates have swung by New Delhi to meet and greet the Indian political leadership. A week after ousted president Mohamed Nasheed met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, India is preparing to welcome Yamin Abdulla, former president Abdul Gayoom's half-brother and presidential candidate for his party, PPM. Abdulla will be accompanied by Gayoom's sons who are also in the electoral fray.

Maldives watchers say Nasheed has had a good campaign, while his successor — current president Waheed — is virtually without allies. Waheed, who last visited India in May 2012, even lost the extremist ideologue — Hassan Saeed — from his coalition. Saeed, who, along with other leaders of the extremist Adhaalath Party have undergone religious training in Pakistan, have now tied up with a resort owner Gasim to form the Jumhoree Alliance. Saeed is Gasim's running mate. The new coalition consists of resort tycoon, media owner and presidential candidate Gasim Ibrahim's Jumhoree Party (JP), the Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP) — led by Saeed — and the religious conservative Adhaalath Party (AP).

Both these parties, DQP and AP were part of Waheed"s 'Forward with Nation' coalition, but abandoned him. India is not all that enamoured of Waheed either, admitting to a serious "trust deficit" with the president, particularly after infrastructure major GMR's unceremonious exit from the country.

But India's message to all is the New Delhi would be happy to work with all as long as elections in Maldives were free and fair. Until recently India worked hard to ensure that Nasheed was allowed to run. That is now beyond doubt.

In fact, India will be called upon to play even more delicate and important roles as its smaller neighbours go in for elections and new dispensations. While national security adviser (NSA), Shivshankar Menon and foreign secretary Sujatha Singh were the first to call on the new government in Thimphu, it was a signal from New Delhi that they were willing to make amends for India's thoughtless actions just before the elections.

Maldives is more important for India's security considerations in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), and elections there will be closely watched.

Victor · Post by **Victor** » 28 Sep 2013 06:04

Maldives elections postponed, is this the end of India’s influence over it?

This is a severe diplomatic and strategic setback for India. The development indicates that all is not well for India in the tiny archipelago nation in the Indian Ocean where Pakistan and China are feverishly engaged in a covert game of outsmarting and outplaying India on the Maldivian chess board.

And the pathetic bleat from our foreign minister:

We are deeply disappointed and distressed that this should have happened.....I would urge all countries that care for democracy and who have a special cause of Maldives at heart, I would urge them all to use their good offices to ensure that democracy is preserved.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 28 Sep 2013 08:16

I have given up hope for congi foreign policy. if we cannot control the situation in nepal, bhutan and maldives we might as well disband the MEA & IFS and save some money, there is NO POINT in a expensive and vast bureaucracy in consulates all over the world and in delhi which can neither gain us commercial advantage or political advantage.

the task of visa and passport processing can be outsourced to any reputable pvt outfit like VFS, TTS, TCS and their foreign peers in all countries were we keep consulates. there is no need to post a expensive retinue of diplomats and IFS / MEA staffers .

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 22 Oct 2013 07:50

Events in the Maldives is turning sinister,with attempts to prevent the most popular leader,Nasheed from becoming president again.The anti-Indian gang of thieves in the Maldives are suspected of belonging to the Sino-Pak JV which wants to establish a mil. base as well as ushering in a fundamentalist Islamic pro-Paki regime. The GOI must seriously think of another Op.Cactus and this time see to it that once and for all the Maldives does not pose a future mil. threat to India by signing on a mutual defence deal,such as we have with other island IOR nations like Mauritius,where India looks after the security interests of the island.

Indian intervention is inevitable if democracy is derailed yet again.One knows how the airport contract given to an Indian firm was scuttled.It is time for taking a very serious view of the situ and some crisis planning in advance to give us options should another "Cactus" become neccessary.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 95102.html

Andrew Buncombe October 21 2013
'They came to power in a coup, They will not leave': There may never be an election, claims former leader of Maldives

The bitter battle over the future of the Maldives has intensified after the country’s former leader accused the current president of trying to indefinitely postpone elections and hang on to power at any cost.

Two days after police prevented a presidential poll from going ahead, Mohamed Nasheed said President Mohamed Waheed should step down and allow an election to be held under the supervision of parliament.

On Monday night, the office of Mr Waheed said a new vote had been scheduled for November 9. But earlier Mr Nasheed, a former political prisoner, said he doubted the authorities would allow a fair election to take place.

“I don’t think there is going to be an election any time soon,” Mr Nasheed told The Independent, speaking from Male. “They have had the election and they have had the result, and we won. They came to power in a coup and they will not leave.”

The archipelago island nation has been rocked by a series of crises since Mr Nasheed was forced from office in February 2012 in what he and his supporters say was a police-backed coup. Under international pressure, his successor, Mr Waheed, agreed to hold new elections.

The first round of those polls was held on September 7, with Mr Nasheed emerging with the highest number of votes and appearing well-placed for a run-off, due to have been held on September 28.

When the country’s court halted that run-off amid claims the original poll had not been fair, despite observers saying they believed it was legitimate, a fresh poll was fixed for Saturday. But on Saturday police prevented the poll from going ahead, claiming it was in breach of a court ruling.

Observers said that beneath the twists and turns lies a more fundamental battle over the future of the Maldives. Mr Nasheed was elected in 2008 in the country’s first independent election, defeating Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, the former dictator who had ruled for 30 years.

Immediately upon securing office, he set about a series of reforms and raised the profile of the Maldives, particularly in relation to climate change and the danger posed by rising sea levels. Crucially, he sought to reform the judiciary, which he claimed was in the pocket of Mr Gayoom.

Mr Waheed’s term expires on November 11, the date by which the Supreme Court has said elections must be held. He has said he will stand down on November 11, regardless of whether an election has taken place.

But Mr Nasheed called on the president to stand down immediately. “I think he should resign and hand over to the parliament and the Speaker,” he said. “The Election Commission should have a free hand to conduct the election.”

Supporters of Mr Nasheed and his Maldivian Democratic Party claim that Mr Gayoom is still influencing events from the sideline, an accusation the former dictator has denied.

But two political parties which had sought a postponement of Saturday’s votes, both have links to Mr Gayoom. The candidate of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) is Abdulla Yameen, the half-brother of the former dictator while the Jumhooree Party (JP) is headed by Gasim Ibrahim, a tourism and media tycoon who once served as Mr Gayoom’s finance minister.

In what Mr Nasheed’s supporters said was an indication of the drift away from democracy, Mr Gasim on Monday called for a state of emergency to be called.

Best known for its white sand beaches and picture postcard islands by the 90,000 Britons who annually travel there for holidays, the Maldives is facing a struggle over its future direction. The conservative Muslim nation has limited experience with democracy and is confronting major economic and environmental challenges.

Mr Nasheed said the international community should put pressure on the government to proceed with an election as soon as possible. He also urged potential holiday-makers to be careful where they stayed.

“There are a number of resorts operate by those opposed to the polls,” he said. “We hope they would not choose a resort that is supporting the anti-democratic measures in the Maldives.”

Mr Waheed, the president, on Monday spoke to the nation in a televised address and told the media he would guarantee a free and fair poll. His spokesman, Masood Imad, dismissed Mr Nasheed’s claims and said the president would not remain after his term expires.

“The President has said he would not wish to stay in office after November 11,” said Mr Imad. “The President has no intention of not stepping down. Nasheed is a liar.”

There has been widespread international criticism of the delay in the election. Late on Monday evening, the Mr Waheed’s office said a new election date had now been fixed for November 9, with any run-off poll to held on November 16

One Western diplomat who asked not to be identified, said if a run-off was required it would take place after the expiration of Mr Waheed’s term. The diplomat said: “That takes us into slightly uncharted waters.”

Farah Faisal, a supporter of Mr Nasheed and who previously served as the Maldives’ ambassador to Britain before resigning in protest, said she worried that Mr Nasheed’s rivals would not allow voting to go ahead on November 9.

She said: “If you are staring defeat in the face why would you want to have an election?”

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 29 Oct 2013 07:28

Indian Envoy's car attacked in Male - The Hindu

Indian High Commissioner Rajeev Shahare’s car was damaged when unidentified persons hurled a rock at it in the Maldivian capital on Monday, though no one was injured in the incident.

Two unidentified persons riding a motorcycle threw a rock at the car while it was parked in front of the mission, police were quoted as saying by the Sun Online portal.

The incident was reported to the police at 6.45 p.m. (local time). A photo posted on the website showed a hole in the rear windscreen of the Mercedes-Benz.

“The police arrived at the scene and efforts are ongoing to find the suspects,” a police official said.

The police strongly condemned the crime and asked people to contact their hotline if they had “any information on the individuals behind this attack”.

They registered a case over the incident and a team of investigators have started examining the matter, sources said. — PTI

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 29 Oct 2013 09:56

Maldives EC rejects early re-vote plan - The Hindu

Concerted efforts being made through the judiciary, then the police and now the EC to subvert democracy in the Maldives.

Maldives officials on Monday rejected a proposal by three of the country’s presidential candidates to hold a revote before the incumbent’s term ends in order to avoid a possible constitutional crisis.

The three candidates — in a rare instance of agreement — proposed that the Elections Commission move up its third attempt at holding the vote so it takes place before November 11 when President Mohamed Waheed Hassan’s term ends.

The Elections Commission had set the revote for November 9 and if no clear winner emerges a runoff election will be held November 16 five days after the presidential term ends. — AP

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 03 Jan 2014 10:08

No firm assurance from Yameen on GMR issue
http://www.thehindu.com/business/Econom ... 530231.ece

India on Thursday offered Maldives an enhanced security grid, more defence equipment as well as subsidised petroleum in return for greater investment opportunities to its companies which have had a rough time in the island nation of late.However, there was no forthright word from the visiting President Abdulla Yameen on settling disputes beyond an assurance that his new government would try to amicably resolve the row over the biggest project — the $500-million investment proposal by the Indian company GMR —- in a “broad sense.”
The relationship between the two countries suffered a setback soon after the resignation of the then President Mohd. Nasheed in February 2012 because his successor, Mohd. Waheed scrapped the GMR project for modernising and managing the Male airport. There was no resolution of the issue even though Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spoke to the then President, who had assured him that the dispute would be resolved.Instead, the subsequent period saw anti-India propaganda by groups supporting Mr. Waheed in office as well as issues entangling some other projects being pushed by India Inc. On Thursday, at a meeting with business people, Mr. Yameen described the GMR case as a “politicised” one and hoped that “before we are through with arbitration, we will be able to mutually resolve this matter.”
Despite these difficulties, India is hopeful of a reinvigorated relationship with Maldives, said officials, while referring to Dr. Singh’s media statement in which he described cooperation between the two countries as “indispensable” for their maritime security and essential for promoting peace in the Indian Ocean Region.Dr. Singh offered a standby credit facility of $25 million to Maldives for imports from India and agreed to meet the island country’s requirement for petroleum products. India also agreed to step up the pace of work on some projects, and was offered a plot in land-challenged Male for High Commission premises.
Dr. Singh stressed the need for the two countries to be vigilant against terrorism and wanted them to “share the firm commitment” to be sensitive to each other's concerns and not allow their territories to be used by “any inimical quarters.”The two leaders agreed on initiatives to strengthen bilateral defence and security cooperation through training, supply of equipment, capacity building, joint patrolling and aerial and maritime surveillance. They decided to deepen trilateral maritime security ties with Sri Lanka.“We look forward to expanding it to other countries in the Indian Ocean. India is ready to provide further assistance and support to Maldives in strengthening our collective ability to address our shared security challenges,” the Prime Minister said.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 03 Jan 2014 10:34

Talked to some business types NYE. The lesson of GMR in Maldives was don't do business unless GOI is ready to back you. And they will back US and not Indians.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 03 Jan 2014 11:14

Jhujar wrote:No firm assurance from Yameen on GMR issue
http://www.thehindu.com/business/Econom ... 530231.ece

Yameen won narrowly and that too after repeated annullment and re-elections until a favourable verdict was reached. So, there is no surprise in his GMR outlook.

devesh · Post by **devesh** » 03 Jan 2014 11:37

in all these successive foreign debacles, one can only hope that the blind faction of appeasement within the Babudom gets shafted. if they loose their credibility and their titles and ranks become paper tigers with no reputation within the State apparatus, that would be good. one can only hope.

brihaspati · Post by **brihaspati** » 05 Jan 2014 12:23

How can Nasheed be so popular and yet be defeated and cornered by the state which was supposedly in Indian pockets with all talk of radicalism and jihadism mere superheated imaginations of the anti-secular forces? Where are the defenders of the clean-shaven Maldivean image!

Denial does not even serve the ostrich or the rabbit.

Karan Dixit · Post by **Karan Dixit** » 05 Jan 2014 22:21

Current Indian administration does not know how to use saam, daam, dund, vhed.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 23 Feb 2015 11:40

here is no td. for this most vital region,the IOR.Developments in the Maldives are taking placa apace with implications for our security.The PM plans a visit there shortly which may be postponed tx to the latest developments.Developments in the Maldives must also be seen in the light of PRC efforts to wean the state away from India,esp. after the debacle in Colombo,where its flunkey bit the dust. The rapid Islamisation of the nation is also due to Paki mischief with the ISI looking at the islands with beady eyes.
Tough decisions for India,it cannot allow the islands to become a staging ground against India for either the Pakis or Chinese.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/f ... terror-law
Former Maldives president detained under anti-terror law
Mohamed Nasheed recently called for the international community to consider sanctions against the island nation’s leadership

Jason Burke in Male
Sunday 22 February 2015

A week ago, the former president of the Maldives warned that the island nation was on a “dangerous and precarious slide” towards authoritarianism and called on the international community to consider introducing sanctions against its leadership.

Now, days after voicing his concerns in an interview with the Guardian, Mohamed Nasheed – who says he has spent more than half of his adult life incarcerated – finds himself in detention once again under an anti-terror law, accused of using the military to arrest a senior judge during his time in office.

In the week before his arrest, Nasheed, the country’s first democratically elected leader, asked world leaders to take action against the government of president Yameen Abdul Gayyoom, and appealed to tourists travelling to the Maldives to reconsider their views on the popular holiday destination.

“It is good and necessary to have a relaxing holiday but important [they]understand what is happening here too,” he told the Guardian in an interview in Malé, the capital of the Maldives, last week.

Maldives court postpones presidential polls sparking street protests
More than a million tourists visited the tropical island destination last year, many from the west. Few see much of the country beyond their resorts.

Nasheed resigned as president in 2012 following weeks of protests over the judge’s arrest, in what supporters claim was a coup.

He failed to win back power in elections in 2013 after a first round of voting which he had won was cancelled following allegations of vote-rigging.

Amnesty International has also been critical of the human rights situation on the islands, raising the case of Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla, a well-known journalist who disappeared last year, and alleging systematic impunity for human rights violations, especially for torture and other ill-treatment, and for excessive use of force by police against demonstrators.

Relatives of the disappeared man accuse police of being “either negligent or complicit in the abduction.”
A report released by Amnesty last month said the government had been “effectively undermining human rights protection by failing to strengthen the independent institutions of the state.”

“I have spent more than half my adult life in prison or banishment but we cannot give up or relent, I hope Maldivians understand that if we lose these institutions we lose everything,” said Nasheed, speaking before his arrest.

“The international community have a number of tools they can engage on this,” he said.
“The majority of our trade is with Europe and any ups or downs will have a big effect on our society here.

“Whatever means possible to maintain the democratic trajectory here must be considered, including, after all other avenues have been exhausted, sanctions.”

Nasheed has also highlighted what he says is growing Islamic extremism in the Muslim nation.
News website in the Maldives under attack after abduction of reporter

Transparency Maldives, an NGO, recently expressed concerns about “the increasing trend of undermining democratic practices and institutions”, particularly the independence of the judiciary in the archipelago of 1,200 islands.
But it also criticised Nasheed’s Maldivian Democratic Party for an “attempt to destabilise the elected government”.

Ibrahim Muaz Ali, a spokesman for the government of President Yameen Abdullah, said the accusation of authoritarianism was “absolutely unfair”.

“We have carefully separated powers between the president, parliament and judiciary. The Maldives practises parliamentary democracy,” he said.
Ali said the government’s focus was on economic development.

“The ballot box is paramount in a democracy and we have a majority in parliament. All actions taken are in accordance with the constitution,” he said.

The island nation has suffered repeated bouts of political instability since the end of the 30-year rule of authoritarian ruler Mamoun Abdul Gayoom in 2008.
Factions loyal to the ousted autocrat have retained significant influence in key institutions, including the judiciary and the police. The current president is Gayoom’s half-brother.

On 15 February, authorities withdrew charges against Nasheed over his order to arrest criminal court chief judge Abdulla Mohamed, which could have seen the 47-year-old politician jailed and barred from competing in the next scheduled presidential polls in 2018. But Nasheed was rearrested on Sunday over the case.

Maldives will censor all books to protect Islamic codes

Mohamed Shareef, a government minister, toldAP that Nasheed was arrested because a criminal court believed he may not honour a summons to stand trial in the case, adding that the anti-terrorism laws he had been detained under relate to wide range of “acts against the state.”

Nasheed is accused of detaining Mohamed for weeks without trial, according to Shareef.
At the time, Nasheed’s government had accused Mohamed of bias and corruption after he released an opposition politician.
About 1.2 million tourists visited the Maldives in 2014, a 7.1% increase on the year before.

Tourism is the biggest industry for the country of 350,000 and has been boosted in recent years by growing numbers of Chinese holidaymakers. Most resorts are situated on uninhabited islands exempt from strict laws prohibiting alcohol in the Muslim state.

The Maldives’ $3bn (£2bn) economy grew by 4.5% last year, according to the Asian Development Bank and is forecast to do slightly better in 2015.

Government publications claimed substantially higher growth rates. However the country suffers from a range of social problems including high rates of youth unemployment, drug abuse and overcrowding

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 23 Feb 2015 13:04

Xcpt:

The arrest comes weeks after a key ally of Yameen Abdul Gayyoom, whose support helped him win the presidency, defected from the ruling coalition to align with Nasheed’s Maldivian Democratic Party to launch a series of protests to force Gayyoom to resign.

They accuse Gayyoom’s administration of repeatedly violating the constitution.

Government minister Mohamed Shareef said Nasheed was arrested because the court felt he may not honor a summons to stand trial.

Shareef said the anti-terrorism laws cover not only acts or planned acts of violence, but a wide range of “acts against the state.”

Nasheed is accused of using the military to arrest the senior judge when it had no authority to do so, Shareef said. He also is accused of detaining Mohamed for weeks without trial or legal counsel and ignoring a Supreme Court order to release him, he said.

Read more here: http://www.mercedsunstar.com/news/natio ... rylink=cpy

shiv · Post by **shiv** » 23 Feb 2015 13:59

Maldives a fertile ground for ISIS, India must act: Former president Nasheed

NEW DELHI: About 30 Maldivian ISIS jihadists have returned home and are currently active in the archipelago, the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has alleged, ahead of PM Narendra Modi's visit to the country.

Former Maldives president and MDP leader Mohamed Nasheed told TOI that he suspected the role of Maldives government in facilitating recruitment of jihadists by ISIS. Modi will visit Maldives on March 15 as the final leg of his 4-nation Indian Ocean tour.

Nasheed recently sought asylum in India saying he feared prosecution by President Abdulla Yameen government over baseless charges. He said Maldives Islamic affairs minister Sheikh Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed may be facilitating recruitment of Maldivians by ISIS. "Most of these recruits travelled to Syria from Turkey. It is certainly a worry that this minister has been visiting Turkey regularly,'' said Nasheed, adding that over 200 Maldivian men had been recruited by ISIS.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 23 Feb 2015 16:13

The Maldivian govt. could've picked up the ex-pres anytime.Why the indecent haste ask some? Was it to embarrass/prevent PM Modi from visiting the island?

devesh · Post by **devesh** » 23 Feb 2015 17:51

As usual, Jihadis strike and GoI is left floundering for a response. This is almost surely an Islamist test for Modi to see how he reacts. If he mutely goes forward with his visit, after an ally of India was so thoroughly humiliated, he looses all face. In fact that pretty much destroys any power projection India has. Repeatedly, our State apparatus is caught unawares by Jihadis.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 23 Feb 2015 18:10

Philip wrote:The Maldivian govt. could've picked up the ex-pres anytime.Why the indecent haste ask some? Was it to embarrass/prevent PM Modi from visiting the island?

There may be a political angle, or an Islamist angle to this. But, there is also another important angle to this, that of China. The Maldives is an important outpost in the Chinese scheme of things such as the Maritime Silk Road, its ambitions on the IOR, R&R for the PLAN, encirclement of India, scuppering India's sphere of influence etc. Nasheed is viewed as pro-India and anti-China based on his past statements (and perhaps actions).

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 23 Feb 2015 19:06

India expresses concern over developments in Maldives - PTI, The Hindu

India on Monday said it was concerned over recent developments in the Maldives, including the “arrest and manhandling” of former President Mohamed Nasheed, and asked all the involved to resolve their differences within the constitutional framework.

“We are concerned at recent developments in the Maldives, including the arrest and manhandling of former President Nasheed. We urge all concerned to calm the situation and resolve their differences within the constitutional and legal framework of Maldives,” Spokesperson of the External Affairs Ministry Syed Akbaruddin said.

India reiterates its commitment to supporting the people and the government of Maldives in their quest for peace, development, prosperity and democracy, he added.

Nasheed, who was arrested on Sunday under anti-terrorism laws for allegedly ordering the arrest a senior judge in 2012, was today virtually dragged by the security forces to be presented before the criminal court, which ruled that the Opposition leader will remain in custody until the case against him was complete.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 23 Feb 2015 19:19

The events in the Maldives are in my opinion directly linked to the recent elections in Sri Lanka where the "Manchurian Candidate",Rajapakse,was unceremoniously dumped into the dustbin by the Lankan people.China had laid great hopes upon MR being its catspaw and liberally funded his profligacy and monumental corruption,on the scale of a Marcos. It is a mystery to me why the Lankan media has not castigated the Chinese for sponsoring the massive corruption under Rajapakse and taking them to task. India must be more forthright as many say ,at least in private.

In the case of the Maldives,the PRC and Pakis are trying to recover ground.Fortunately the Maldives is a nobody internationally.A "Grenada" style operation to cleanse the islands of Islamist terror would be welcomed worldwide.We had the experience of op Cactus. It must be dusted off.The GOI must read out the riot act to the current regime."Fall in line or be fallen" will do the trick.We must not dither.Either diplomacy or the big stick must be used with the mercenary,would-be Manchurians,the Maldivians.

ravip · Post by **ravip** » 23 Feb 2015 19:28

SSridhar wrote:India expresses concern over developments in Maldives - PTI, The Hindu
India on Monday said it was concerned over recent developments in the Maldives, including the “arrest and manhandling” of former President Mohamed Nasheed, and asked all the involved to resolve their differences within the constitutional framework.

“We are concerned at recent developments in the Maldives, including the arrest and manhandling of former President Nasheed. We urge all concerned to calm the situation and resolve their differences within the constitutional and legal framework of Maldives,” Spokesperson of the External Affairs Ministry Syed Akbaruddin said.

India reiterates its commitment to supporting the people and the government of Maldives in their quest for peace, development, prosperity and democracy, he added.

Nasheed, who was arrested on Sunday under anti-terrorism laws for allegedly ordering the arrest a senior judge in 2012, was today virtually dragged by the security forces to be presented before the criminal court, which ruled that the Opposition leader will remain in custody until the case against him was complete.

We always express concern but in the same breath we also express solidarity with their government, at the most we will summon their envoy, since UPA our reactionary diplomacy has not changed seeing things nothing might change.

We left the present President to rule without causing any problem, who has now settled down and leveraging it against us, the least we could have done is to accept the request of asylum from Mohamed Nasheed.

Situation demands for the much acclaimed acts of Ajith Doval to be displayed but covertly, no one is asking a swift commando raid but slow poison should cripple their political system, don't allow gayoom to rule peacefully. There are enough factions to play the spoil sport, but the ultimate overt action is a must if Nasheed life is in danger.

RamSuresh · Post by **RamSuresh** » 23 Feb 2015 19:44

Beautifully timed. Modi is busy with budget session. Anna and opposition are raising land acquisition bogey. China and Pakistan are wagging Maldives' tail.

This is also a blunt message to parties in Nepal that pro India approach will meet violent curbs.

Tough leaders will come out of this; A great test for the foreign policy of Modi.

schinnas · Post by **schinnas** » 23 Feb 2015 20:35

Philip wrote:The events in the Maldives are in my opinion directly linked to the recent elections in Sri Lanka where the "Manchurian Candidate",Rajapakse,was unceremoniously dumped into the dustbin by the Lankan people.China had laid great hopes upon MR being its catspaw and liberally funded his profligacy and monumental corruption,on the scale of a Marcos. It is a mystery to me why the Lankan media has not castigated the Chinese for sponsoring the massive corruption under Rajapakse and taking them to task. India must be more forthright as many say ,at least in private.

In the case of the Maldives,the PRC and Pakis are trying to recover ground.Fortunately the Maldives is a nobody internationally.A "Grenada" style operation to cleanse the islands of Islamist terror would be welcomed worldwide.We had the experience of op Cactus. It must be dusted off.The GOI must read out the riot act to the current regime."Fall in line or be fallen" will do the trick.We must not dither.Either diplomacy or the big stick must be used with the mercenary,would-be Manchurians,the Maldivians.

Well said. We absolutely cannot let Maldives insult India by arresting and man-handling their PM who is widely known to be close to India just days ahead of visit by Indian Prime Minister. Maldivies which had to depend on Indian generosity and swift action when they need drinking water cannot be allowed to act like a ruffian. One should remember how US protects its allies and interests. It is time to read the riot act and follow it with swift MARCOS action. We should conduct a free and fair election in Maldives and oversee Nasheed established as the genuinely elected leader of the people. We cannot sit and quietly watch Maldives become a Puki and Cheen colony and a breeding ground of islamic radicals.

schinnas · Post by **schinnas** » 23 Feb 2015 20:39

deleted.. duplicate.

schinnas · Post by **schinnas** » 23 Feb 2015 20:40

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 23 Feb 2015 22:26

Up...

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 23 Feb 2015 22:31

Maldives former president arrested on terrorism charges

Police in Maldives arrested former president Mohamed Nasheed on Sunday after a court said he might flee the country to avoid hearings on terrorism charges, leading to clashes between his supporters and authorities.

Nasheed, Maldives' first democratically elected president, had been facing criminal charges over his order to arrest a top judge in January 2011. Nasheed stepped down in early 2012, saying he had been overthrown in a coup.

Last week the prosecutor-general withdrew the original charges against Nasheed, but issued an arrest warrant on Sunday under new charges of terrorism relating to the same incident of the arrest of the judge four years ago. The first hearing will be on Monday.

Police used teargas to disperse protesters from Nasheed's Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) as he was taken from his home.

"I call on the public to do all that is necessary to stop the harassment meted out to me and other politicians to save Maldives," Nasheed told reporters in Male while being taken to a detention center on a separate island.

Last week Nasheed asked India to intervene in case President Abdulla Yameen, to whom Nasheed lost the last election in 2013, imposed emergency rule.

An opposition alliance between the MDP and Jumhooree Party, which broke away from Yameen's ruling coalition, has held a series of street demonstrations in recent weeks accusing the government of breaching the constitution a number of times.

Earlier this month Defense Minister Mohamed Nazim was arrested on terrorism charges while MDP's chairperson Ali Waheed was taken into police custody on Sunday.

Hamid Abdul Ghafoor, MDP's international spokesman, told Reuters they were planning a big protest on Feb. 27 and hoped some members of parliament would switch from the government to the opposition at the next parliamentary session on March 3.

The MDP said in a statement it now feared the actions by the Maldives government may "lead to uncontrollable scenes of unrest and confrontations on the streets."

Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Muaz Ali, however, tweeted: "I fully assure you this government won't arrest or detain any citizen unlawfully."

Maldives is a group of more than 1,000 coral islands southwest of India.