The Maldives mounting a bid for a highly coveted spot on the United Nations (UN) security council shows the country's ambition which deserves praise not ridicule, a top government lawmaker insisted despite losing the seat in an embarrassing defeat on Friday.
Indonesia defeated the Maldives in the only contested election for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council starting January 1 to join the UN's most powerful body along with Germany, Belgium, South Africa and the Dominican Republic.
Despite huge confidence by the Maldives government to pull off a successful bid, Indonesia triumphed with an overwhelming 144 to 46 votes.
The embarrassing defeat has been derided especially by the opposition while there has been increasing calls for fisheries minister Dr Mohamed Shainee who had led the campaign to resign.
Fonadhoo lawmaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla took to Twitter to hit-back saying that the bid for the seat shows the ambition incumbent president Yameen Abdul Gayoom has for the country.
"... Losing out on the seat is not something to be mocked. It deserves praise for president Yameen. And renewed strength for the future," Raheem who is also deputy ruling party leader said.
Maldives government meanwhile had expressed disappointment saying that small States were not getting the opportunity to meaningfully contribute to the international peace and security.
"In its 72 years of the United Nations, only 8 Small Island Developing States (SIDS) have had the opportunity to serve on the Security Council," the statement read.
Winning a seat on the Security Council is a pinnacle of achievement for many countries - especially for the smaller nations as it gives them a strong voice in matters dealing with international peace and security.
The rather embarrassing defeat would be a major blow to the Maldives government and could be perceived as a significant sign of the fading international support for the island nation ravaged by unprecedented political strife.
Incumbent president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom's government has been under intense international pressure over the jailing of key opposition leaders and curbing of constitutional rights and freedoms.
One of Yameen's vice presidents, two of his defense ministers, two supreme court justices, a prosecutor general and numerous opposition politicians have been jailed. Former strongman and Yameen's elder half brother Maumoon Abdul Gayoom - now an opposition politician himself - is under detention and on trial for terrorism.
In February, the Supreme Court ordered the release and retrial of self-exiled former president Mohamed Nasheed and several of Yameen's opponents. But Yameen quickly had two Supreme Court justices arrested under a state of emergency, accusing them of plotting to unlawfully oust him from power.
The remaining three judges have since annulled the order to release the jailed leaders.
