Elections Bring A Major Change In The Country Of Maldives

 

CNN: Pro-China candidate Mohamed Muizzu wins Maldives presidential vote 

Reuters — Opposition candidate Mohamed Muizzu has won the Maldives presidential election, beating incumbent President Ibrahim Solih in a second-round runoff that could herald a pro-China shift for the Indian Ocean archipelago from traditional partner India. 

With nearly all votes counted, the Elections Commission of the Maldives said on its website that Muizzu had received 54% of the ballots in Saturday’s vote, with 46% for Solih. About 85% of 282,000 eligible voters in the Maldives, known for its pristine beaches and high-end resorts, turned up at more than 586 polling stations across 187 islands. 

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WNU Editor: What is happening in this part of the world is not being properly reported. This is a major win for China, and a major loss for India. The changes are already happening .... Foreign troops must leave Maldives, president-elect Muizzu says (Reuters). More here .... Jailed Maldives’ ex-president transferred to house arrest after his party candidate wins presidency (AP).

Former Maldives President And Current Parliament Speaker Injured In Targetted Bomb Attack

There were no details of the injuries suffered by Mohamed Nasheed. (File) 

Al Jazeera: Former Maldives President Nasheed hurt in suspected bomb attack 

Ex-president and current Maldives Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed rushed to hospital after the blast. 

Former Maldives president and current Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed was injured in a blast outside his family home on Thursday, police said in a statement. 

“Following an explosion … Speaker of Parliament President Mohamed Nasheed has sustained injuries and is currently receiving treatment at ADK Hospital,” the statement said on Thursday.  

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Update #1: Maldives Speaker Mohamed Nasheed injured in blast: Police (Times of India/AP)  

Update #2: Former Maldives President Injured In Blast, Hospitalised: Report (NDTV (AFP)  

WNU editor: No details on his injuries have been made public.

Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed Headed For Landslide Election Win

President Solih and his predecessor Nasheed on election night in Male on Saturday [Ashwa Faheem/Reuters]

CNN: Maldives President who promised to investigate China headed for landslide election win

Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's political party looks to have scored a landslide victory in parliamentary elections Sunday.

According to state media, initial results show Solih's Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has won 67 out of 87 seats in parliament, an historic margin that will strengthen his mandate to investigate the former government's ties to China.

"Today is a happy day," Solih said in a statement late Sunday. "Without exception, the biggest winners of today's elections are the Maldivian people. To have this election across the country under peaceful and civil conditions is a clear win for us as a society. That our campaign was issue-oriented and not based on hatred and narrow divisions is a win for our young democracy. That our government did not hinder those candidates with whom we did not agree is a big win for the country."

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More News On Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed Heading For A Landslide Election Win

Maldives leader celebrates victory in parliamentary election -- FOX News/AP
Maldives election: Early results show victory for president's party -- BBC
Former Maldives president makes comeback from exile with landslide win -- SBS
Maldives: President's party set for landslide win -- DW
Former Maldives president makes comeback with landslide win -- Al Jazeera

Maldives Opposition Are Claiming That The President Is Attempting To Stay In Power After Losing The Election

The Guardian: Maldives army vows to uphold election result amid rumours of challenge

Opposition groups claim Abdulla Yameen, who was defeated in the poll, was ‘preparing to annul’ the vote

The Maldives police and army have said they will act to guarantee the result of Sunday’s presidential election is honoured, amid reports the country’s ousted leader Abdulla Yameen is preparing a last-minute legal challenge to the vote.

The acting chief of the Maldives police, Abdulla Nawaz, tweeted on Wednesday evening the decision “made by the beloved people of the Maldives on 23 September 2018 will be respected and upheld by police”. A similar statement was issued by captain Ibrahim Azim, an information officer in the Maldives National Defence Force.

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More News On The Maldives Opposition Claiming That The President Is Attempting To Stay In Power After Losing The Election

Maldives ruling party seeking to delay official election result -- Maldives Independent
Maldives opposition: President attempting to stay in power -- AP
Maldives military backs 'will of the people' after election -- Straits Times/AFP
Maldives security forces vow to uphold presidential vote results -- Al Jazeera

President Abdulla Yameen Concedes Defeat In Maldives Presidential Election

ABC News Online: Maldives election: President Abdulla Yameen concedes defeat to opposition candidate

The Maldives' strongman President Abdulla Yameen has conceded he lost Sunday's election to his challenger.

Mr Yameen said at a news conference televised live from the capital, Male: "I know I have to step down now".

The Maldives Election Commission released provisional results earlier on Monday showing longtime politician Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had won, with 58.3 per cent of the vote.

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WNU Editor: This election was also a rebuke of ex-President Yameen's outreach to China .... Opposition victory in Maldives deals potential blow to China (Reuters).

More News On President Abdulla Yameen Conceding Defeat In Maldives Presidential Election

Maldives’ president concedes loss to opposition candidate -- AP
Maldives election: Pro-China President Yameen concedes shock defeat as rival India celebrates 'triumph of democracy' -- The Independent
Abdulla Yameen concedes defeat in Maldives presidential election -- Al Jazeera
Maldives voters throw out China-backed strongman president -- The Guardian
Maldives election: Opposition defeats China-backed Abdulla Yameen -- BBC
Maldives election: Solih hails new dawn after claiming election win -- CNN
Fears of Maldives Crisis Ease After President Concedes Election Loss -- New York Times

Maldives Opposition Leader Declares Victory In Presidential Election

The Guardian: Maldives voters throw out China-backed strongman president

Election result is extraordinary rebuke to Abdulla Yameen, who jailed political opponents and judges during a tumultuous five-year term

Voters in the Maldives have thrown out the incumbent president, Abdulla Yameen, in an extraordinary rebuke to a leader who jailed political opponents and judges and drew his country closer to China during a tumultuous five-year term.

With more than 80% of the ballots counted on Sunday night, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, popularly known as Ibu, was ahead by an unassailable 17 points in an election viewed as a referendum on democracy in the Indian Ocean archipelago.

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WNU Editor: This was not expected. The final numbers will be announced on September 30.

More News On On Maldives Opposition Leader Declaring Victory In Today's Presidential Election

Maldives election: Ibrahim Mohamed Solih claims victory -- BBC
Opposition leader Solih tells supporters he won Maldives election -- Reuters
Maldives’ opposition presidential candidate claims victory -- AP
Maldives opposition leader wins presidential poll -- AFP
Maldives opposition candidate declares victory in high-stakes presidential election -- CNN
Opposition Candidate Declares Surprise Victory in Maldives -- VOA
Maldives opposition leader Solih declares victory in presidential election -- Times of India

Maldives' Political Crisis Deepens With Opposition Leaders Calling For A Foreign Intervention

VOA: Ex-Maldives President Calls on India, US to Intervene in New Political Crisis

The Maldives' exiled former president is calling on India and the United States to intervene in his country's political crisis.

Mohammed Nasheed issued a statement Tuesday urging India to send an envoy -- backed by its military forces -- to the tiny Indian Ocean archipelago to free imprisoned Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and court Judge Ali Hameed. Saeed and Hameed were arrested earlier Tuesday when security forces stormed the Supreme Court building in the capital, Male, just hours after President Abdulla Yameen declared a 15-day state of emergency.

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More News On The Crisis In Maldives

Maldives crisis deepens as opposition leader seeks Indian intervention -- Reuters
Maldives leader says Supreme Court order was "coup" -- ABC News/AP
Maldives president declares emergency, arrests judges -- Al Jazeera
Maldives' top judge arrested as state of emergency declared -- AFP
Maldives leader orders arrests of Supreme Court judges -- UPI
Trouble in paradise as state of emergency is declared in the Maldives -- NEWS.com.au
Maldives crisis deepens as government declares state of emergency -- The Guardian
Nasheed urges India to intervene to end Maldives crisis -- Al Jazeera
Maldives ex-President Nasheed seeks help from India and US -- BBC
Maldives seek to project calm but tourists told to stay away -- AFP
A Political Crisis Deepens in the Maldives: The Geopolitical Stakes for India and Its Options -- The Diplomat
Trouble in paradise: What's happening in the Maldives? -- AFP
The Maldives Is in Crisis After the President Declared a State of Emergency. Here's What You Should Know -- TIME

Maldives President Declares State Of Emergency For 15 Days

Reuters: Maldives declares state of emergency for 15 days

MALE (Reuters) - Maldives President Abdulla Yameen on Monday declared a state of emergency for 15 days in an escalation of a battle with the country’s Supreme Court, which his allies say is trying to bring down the government.

Yameen had earlier defied a Supreme Court ruling to release nine jailed opposition leaders.

Legal Affairs Minister Azima Shakoor announced the emergency in a televised address. Under its terms, judges will no longer be granted special privileges if they are facing arrest.

“Certain rights will be restricted (but) general movements, services and businesses will not be affected,” the president’s office said in a statement about the emergency.

“The government of Maldives wishes to also assure all Maldivians and the international community that the safety of all Maldivians and foreigners living in and visiting the Maldives, will be ensured,” it said.

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More News On The Maldives President Declaring A State Of Emergency For 15 Days

The Latest: Maldives government declares state of emergency -- AP
Maldives declares state of emergency amid political standoff -- AP
Maldives president declares state of emergency -- AFP
Maldives state of emergency declared by government -- BBC
Maldives crisis deepens as government declares state of emergency -- The Guardian
Maldives President Declares State of Emergency -- VOA
Maldives declares state of emergency as crisis deepens -- Al Jazeera
In Maldives, Pretty Islands but Ugly Politics -- New York Times

Coup Underway In Maldives?

Al Jazeera: Maldives army seals off parliament, arrests MPs

Security forces in the Maldives have sealed off the country's parliament and arrested two opposition legislators amid a deepening crisis over President Abdulla Yameen's refusal to free jailed politicians.

Soldiers in riot gear surrounded the parliament building in Male on Sunday soon after the opposition petitioned the parliament to remove the island nation's attorney general and its chief prosecutor.

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More News On The Unrest In Maldives

Maldives orders army to resist any Supreme Court impeachment order -- BBC
Maldives president says he’s willing to hold early election -- AP
Maldives Crisis: Army Seals Off Parliament, Arrest Lawmakers -- India.com
Maldives facing 'national security crisis' as top court seeks to impeach President Yameen over jailed politicians -- South China Morning Post
‘Tantamount to a coup’: Maldives military surround government buildings – reports -- RT
Maldives Supreme Court says no legal barriers in releasing opposition leaders -- Reuters
Maldives top court seeks to impeach president: attorney general -- Reuters
The Maldives: Political turmoil threatens the 'island paradise' -- Justin Rowlatt, BBC
Maldives country profile -- BBC

A State Of Emergency Is Declared In The Maldives

The Guardian: Maldives declares state of emergency

President’s decree suspends all basic rights and gives sweeping powers to security forces ahead of opposition protest rally

The president of the Maldives has declared a state of emergency, citing a threat to citizens’ safety and national security.

Abdulla Yameen’s decree, which came into effect at midday local time (0700 GMT), suspends all basic rights and gives the security forces sweeping powers to arrest suspects before a major anti-government rally planned later this week.

The main opposition Maldivian Democratic party (MDP), whose leader Mohamed Nasheed is in jail following his conviction earlier this year under anti-terror laws, has organised the protest.

More News On Maldives Declaring A State Of Emergency

Maldives declares 30-day emergency -- BBC
Maldives declares state of emergency as turmoil deepens -- Reuters
Maldives president declares state of emergency after assassination plot uncovered -- AP
Maldives Declares State of Emergency -- VOA
State of emergency declared in the Maldives due to 'threat to national security' following 'assassination attempt' on the president -- Daily Mail
Maldives declares state of emergency ahead of protest rally -- Al Jazeera

Maldives Vice President Charged With Treason And Attempting To Assassinate The President

Wall Street Journal: Maldives Vice President Arrested

Ahmed Adheeb detained in connection with what authorities say was an assassination attempt on the president last month.

Maldives police detained the country’s vice president in connection with an explosion aboard a boat carrying the Indian Ocean archipelago’s president last month, authorities said.

The detention Saturday of Ahmed Adheeb Abdul Ghafoor as he was returning to Maldives from an official visit to China was the latest twist in the unsettled politics of the tiny country, best known for its beachfront luxury hotels.

Ismail Ali, a Maldives police spokesman, said Mr. Adheeb, 33 years old, was suspected of “involvement in the bomb blast” on Sept. 28 that wounded the country’s first lady and two others. President Yameen Abdul Gayoom was unhurt.

More News On Maldives' Vice President Being Charged With Treason And Attempting To Assassinate The President

Maldives police arrest vice president Ahmed Adeeb over plot to assassinate president -- ABC News (Australia)
Maldives vice president arrested in connection to explosion on president's speedboat -- AP
Maldives Vice-President Adeeb arrested over 'bomb plot' -- BBC
Maldives vice president arrested over alleged assassination plot -- France 24
Vice President Of Maldives Arrested Over Alleged Plot To Kill President -- NPR
Maldives vice-president arrested on treason charges -- The Telegraph
Maldives vice-president charged over alleged plot to kill president -- The Guardian
Maldives arrests Vice President over bomb -- SKY News
Maldives Vice President Ahmed Adeeb Arrested For 'High Treason' Over Alleged Plot To Assassinate President -- IBTimes
Maldives treason charges add to political turbulence -- BBC

A Chinese Military Base In The Indian Ocean?

Want China Times: Maldives constitutional amendment opens door for Chinese military base

The Maldives has amended its national constitution to allow foreign ownership of land, which may pave the way for China to build a military base on the archipelago.

The Indian Express reported that the amendment, which was submitted by the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives and passed through parliament on Wednesday, will allow foreigners who invest more than US$1 billion to purchase land within a specified project site. At least 70% of the area of the completed project must be reclaimed land.

Previously, the Maldives constitution prohibited foreign ownership of land but allowed for leases of up to 99 years.

The Maldives government stated that the amendment was necessary to reduce the country's reliance on tourism and "transform" the economy by allowing for large-scale foreign investments and "mega projects."

WNU Editor: Everyone is denying that such a plan is in the works .... and they are probably right. But there is going to be a day when China will start to establish military bases and alliances around the world at a level far greater than what they are doing right now .... and on that day we .... 'we' being the West .... better take note.

Protests Break Out In Maldives Over Cancellation Of Presidential Elections

Maldives Capital Tense As Protests Erupt Over Cancelled Presidential Elections -- Xinhuanet

MALE, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Maldives capital was tense on Friday as thousands of people gathered before the Supreme Court demanding that postponed presidential elections be held as scheduled on Saturday.

The Supreme Court on Monday indefinitely postponed a second round vote that would have decided Maldives next president.

The delay was triggered by a case lodged by tycoon Gasim Ibrahim of the Jumhoory Party (JP) who alleged that the first round of voting on 7 September should be cancelled because of large scale vote rigging.

Nearly 2,000 supporters together with ousted President Mohammad Nasheed filled the street leading to the Supreme Court but was stopped meters from their destination by about 150 riot police and army.

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More News On Protests Breaking Out In The Maldives Over The Cancellation Of Presidential Elections

Maldives cancels presidential run-off election -- Reuters
Supporters of Maldives' presidential election front-runner protest postponement of runoff -- FOX News/AP
Confusion over Maldives election as officials clash -- FOX News/AFP
Maldives security forces ordered to enforce postponement of election -- South China Morning Post
No presidential run-off in Maldives tomorrow after SC order -- Business Standard/Press Trust India
Maldives polls on hold, despite initial election panel bravado -- The Hindu

Crisis In Maldives Escalating

Image: Political unrest boiled over in Male after a judge’s arrest. The New York Times

Former Maldives President Demands Elections -- Voice of America

Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed is demanding early elections and threatening street protests, as the political crisis in the Indian Ocean nation escalates.

Nasheed's call came after he attended Friday prayers in the capital, Male, under heavy security. He has mainly remained at his home, alleging he was forced from office Tuesday in a coup. The Maldives' first democratically-elected leader has vowed to remain in the country despite the fact that a warrant for his arrest has been issued.

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More News On the Crisis In The Maldives

Maldives crisis: New leader rejects snap election calls -- BBC
Maldives crisis: Defiant ex-leader Nasheed leads rally -- BBC
Maldives’ Former Leader Calls for Early Elections -- New York Times
Maldives ex-president demands election, warns of protests -- Reuters
Former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed demands fresh elections -- National Post/Reuters
Maldives former president given boost by thousands taking to streets in Malé -- The Guardian
Former Maldives leader criticizes US for recognizing new president -- Washington Post/AP
Ex-Leader of Maldives Faces Criminal Charges 2 Days After Stepping Down -- New York Times
Maldives crisis: Nasheed remains defiant, India sends envoy -- Hindustan Times/Press Trust of India
India sends special envoy to Maldives as crisis deepens -- Times of India
Rising Islamism Set Stage for Maldives Coup -- Wall Street Journal
Q&A: Maldives crisis -- BBC

Maldives Tense After 'Coup'

Maldives President Says He Was Forced To Resign At Gunpoint -- The Guardian

Despite claims by replacement that transition was peaceful, Mohammed Nasheed says 'there were guns all around me'.

Mohammed Nasheed, the ousted president of the Maldives and an internationally respected campaigner against global warning, has claimed he was forced to give up his office at gunpoint, raising the prospect of a fierce struggle for power in the island nation.

The 43-year-old pro-democracy activist resigned on Tuesday under pressure from the nation's military after a mutiny by police officers and clashes between demonstrators in the capital, Male.

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More News On The Maldives

Maldives ex-president Mohamed Nasheed was 'forced out' -- BBC
Ex-Maldives leader forced out 'at gunpoint' -- ABC News (Australia)
Ex-Maldives president: They forced me to resign at gunpoint -- The Telegraph
New Maldives leader Waheed Hassan denies coup claim -- BBC
New Maldives leader stresses "no coup" in paradise isles -- Reuters
Maldives new president wants to meet Manmohan Singh -- Times of India
Maldives ex-leaders' allies riot through streets -- AP
Maldives police fire tear gas to break up protests -- Reuters
Former Maldives president calls for his successor to step down -- CNN
The Maldives' nascent democracy faces an uncertain future -- Maryam Omidi, The Guardian

Maldives President Forced To Resign After Weeks Of Unrest

Maldives President Quits After Mutiny On Paradise -- Yahoo News/Reuters

MALE (Reuters) - President Mohamed Nasheed of the Maldives, widely credited with bringing democracy to the hideaway resort islands, resigned on Tuesday after weeks of opposition protests erupted into a police mutiny and what an aide said amounted to a coup.

Nasheed, the Maldives' first democratically elected president, handed power over the Indian Ocean archipelago to Vice-President Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik, explaining that continuing in office would result in his having to use force against the people.

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More News On The Resignation Of Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed

Maldives’ vice president takes oath as president after protests oust Mohamed Nasheed -- Washington Post/AP
Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed resigns amid unrest -- BBC
Maldives President Quits Amid Protests -- New York Times
Maldives' VP Hassan Takes Oath as President -- Time
Police revolt topples Maldives president -- CNN
Maldives leader quits -- Sydney Morning Herald
Protests lead to Maldives President Nasheed's resignation -- The Hindu
Maldives President resigns after police mutiny -- The Telegraph
Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed quits after police mutiny; India 'closely monitoring events' -- Times of India
Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed forced to resign -- The Australian
Maldives president out after weeks of unrest -- Sydney Morning Herald
Call for Maldives president's detention -- News24
In pictures: Maldives unrest as president quits -- BBC
Profile: Mohamed Nasheed -- The Guardian