The Maldives fisheries minister in an op-ed on Asian Times had lambasted the opposition's alleged scheming to topple the government and their attempts to impeach incumbent president Abdulla Yameen.
Stressing that the only 'proper' and possible route to power in the island nation is "the front door of democracy" fisheries minister Dr. Mohamed Shainee said "Remnants of the ancien-régime cannot brazenly pervert our institutions to usurp the state."
Explaining how the ongoing state of emergency in Maldives is a farcry from what the opposition are attempting to portray in international media, Dr. Shainee drew comparison from the two-year state of emergency in France declared immediately after the Bataclan theater terrorist attack.
"Such a state has recently been declared in the Maldives – the nation I serve as the minister of fisheries and agriculture and lead government representative at the All-Party talks," Dr. Shainee wrote.
He also claimed the judges motives for the February 1 order to release nine political prisoners facing charges ranging from terrorism to attempted murder and embezzlement, was not of "noble nature."
"Why had the Supreme Court ordered the release and retrial of guilty parties without overturning any of their convictions? Why was the ruling not made in an open court – as stated by law – but behind the closed doors of chambers? And why was the order announced at 11pm on a Thursday – just as the Maldivian weekend begins? Clearly this was an abnormal ruling," Maldives fisheries minister wrote in his opinion piece.
Furthermore Dr. Shainee asserted the actions of both Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and top-court judge Ali Hameed reinforced the notion of 'dubious play.'
Maldives state had understandable concerns, the minister wrote, about the legality of implementing the apex court order.
Thus he also placed justification behind president Abdulla Yameen declaring a state of emergency, stressing it had "allowed for the prompt investigation and prosecution of, as well as the search and seizure of evidence (such as million-dollar transactions and houses bought abroad) from, those involved. Basic constitutional rights still stand, such as the right to freedom of expression, access to legal counsel, and fair and transparent hearings."
Dr. Shainee had also noted that the 'purview' of the emergency had since waned with key constitutional rights that were shelved in February 5 being reinstated.
Maldives was thrown into new political woes after the apex court ordered the release of nine political dissidents that had included the former president Mohamed Nasheed as well as second vice-president of Yameen's regime, Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Ghafoor who is charged with attempted assassination of the president's couple.
Moreover the top court had also annulled the anti-defection law thus reinstating 12 lawmakers who were deposed earlier according to Elections Commission for floor-crossing.
President Abdulla Yameen attempted multiple times to convince top court to rescind its order. However much to his adding dismay, the top court refused to comply to the requests by keeping their order unchanged.
This led to president Yameen declaring an initial 15-day state of emergency by temporarily locking down more than 20 constitutional rights and several judicature rights. He quelled any imminent countering by Supreme Court by suspending constitutional right citing president impeachment.
Immediately after the declaration of emergency, military crackdown resulting in the arrest of chief justice Saeed, top-court judge Hameed and even former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, his son-in-law Ahmed Nadheem and even the judicial administrator on charges of attempting to overthrow the government as well as bribery charges.
