Maldives Coup

16 February

People power, has created the necessary pressure caused Baghee Waheed announced possible new elections if they are “free and fair.” Before this takes place, thorough vetting and strengthening of Maldivian institutions – especially the election commission and judiciary – must occur!

President Nasheed met with legitimate (i.e. registered) civil society organizations today, February 16^th, to discuss the current situation. He stressed the need to remain politically neutral and that they cannot represent the citizenry, which is the role of political parties.  However, human rights do apply to everyone regardless of politics – they are fundamental to live a life of dignity and respect – therefore the function of civil society organizations is to conduct grassroots education, particularly in regard to human rights.  President Nasheed also discussed the need for “free and fair elections,” because a President should not come to office via a coup. 

Many civil society organizations present voiced their desire for a free and fair election to be held as soon as possible.  President Nasheed agreed and nothing is more important than restoring democracy and the rule of law in the Maldives.

Furthermore, President Nasheed discussed the need for an international and impartial investigation, but that national interests are preventing that from occurring. Specifically, the U.S., India, and China are not pushing for the restoration of human rights and democracy. They lack outrage at the current coup, because there is not widespread killing or graphic violence in the streets (i.e. blood) commonly seen in coups staged in the Middle East and Africa.

These international and regional powers are failing to grasp the contextual nuances of the situation. With a population of approximately 350,000, there are deep interconnections between the populous; everyone basically knows everyone else to a degree, given large family sizes and interconnections through marriage, friendship, and work. Accountability is also maintained through the peaceful pervasion of Islamic practice in daily life. Therefore, horrendous acts of violence, even “petty” crimes are rare in the Maldives. 

Thus, while stereotypical images of coup violence have not permeated through the international media (also a symptom of the baghee government seizing control of media outlets) that does not mean Maldivian society has not been shaken to its core. The police and MNDF brutality against countless citizens as well as the swift unraveling of democracy, in part thanks to corrupt business interests permeating government institutions, must be reversed if justice, human rights, and democracy are to be restored.  

President Nasheed is therefore calling for an international investigation given the deep-rooted unethical behavior of countless government officials and institutions.  (The suggested Police Integrity Commission cannot even approximate the impartiality needed to properly vet themselves, considering they staged the coup.) Unfortunately, given the power that the U.S., China, and India possess in the UN Security Council, it is unlikely enough international pressure can be generated and resources leveraged to properly investigate, vet, and monitor legitimate elections before 2013.  These nations must put aside their national interests in favor of supporting the restoration of human rights and democracy in the Maldives for the UN to take swift supportive action.

Thursday evening human rights and democracy supporters staged a “No peace without justice ” protest today to emphasize the need for a legitimate government and that police and MNDF violence against citizens will continue in its absence.  Thousands were in attendance, wearing white in solidarity for peace to be restored in the wake of widespread police brutality.