Maldives Coup

12 February 2012

Waheed appointed new cabinet Ministers today, none of which represented the MDP. This is in stark contrast to President Nasheed, who created a coalition government with representatives from each party following his legitimate election in 2008. However, in all fairness, the MDP is not cooperating with this baghee government given their brutality, which has created no space for cooperative dialogue.  The latest accounts from Addu are of police unlawfully entering MDP supporters’ homes, stripping both men and women and coating them with pepper spray prior to arrest.  There are unconfirmed reports of directly applying pepper spray to genitalia.  

In protest to the corruption that abounds in the baghee government – ruled and funded by Gayoom supporters – thousands of protestors laid Maldivian Rufiya and U.S. dollars on the street in front of police blocking the People’s Majilis Sunday evening.  Rumors of this deep-seeded fraudulence abound; photos circulated on Facebook today showing the MNDF planting alcohol in President Nasheed’s residence in an effort to discredit him.    More evidence is mounting daily – thanks to social networks – of the deeply disturbing plot to forcefully oust President Nasheed from office and weaken his popularity among the people.

In a show of international support for President Nasheed, the international climate justice advocacy group 350.org has reached their goal of over 35,000 petition signatures early Sunday morning. However, this number is continuing to grow rapidly.  Pakistani civil society has also circulated a petition in support of restoring President Nasheed. As Pakistan Today, a prominent newspaper stated, “Maldives headed for trouble…take it from us, we know!” 

It has recently come to light that the U.S. envoy Robert Blake met with Maldivian civil society.  This statement is wholly untrue, as the Maldives NGO Federation and other VERY active NGOs throughout the country have not been contacted or consulted regarding the current situation.  Madhanee Ihthihaadhu (united civil society) claim to have registered 150 organizations, however they are an illegitimate, unregistered organization that only represents the extremist views of a small number of people known to be aligned with the baghee government.

As we represent Maldivian youth throughout the country, we implore the international community, as well as the U.S., to properly engage with representatives from civil society during their baghaavai (coup) investigations.