US calls for end to State of Emergency in Maldives

The United States State Department has called for an end to the State of Emergency in Maldives.

In a statement by the US State Department on Tuesday, States Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert said the US was disappointed with the decision to extend the State of Emergency in Maldives by 30 more days.

The 30-day extension requested by President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom was granted by the People’s Majlis during an extraordinary sitting held last Tuesday evening.

The sitting was boycotted by opposition lawmakers, and passed with the vote of 38 pro-government lawmakers present during the sitting.

The US has called on the Maldivian government to end the State of Emergency and uphold the rule of law.

“The United States continues to call on President Yameen to end the state of emergency, uphold the rule of law, permit the full and proper functioning of the Parliament and the judiciary, restore constitutionally guaranteed rights of the people of Maldives,” read the statement by Nauert.

The US also called on the Maldivian government to respect the country’s international human rights obligations and commitments.

Meanwhile, opposition lawmakers allege the vote taken to grant the 30-day extension is a direct violation of Article 87 (b) of the Constitution.

Article 87 (b) of the Constitution dictates that more than half of the Majlis needs to be present when a decision which affects the people is made by the Majlis.

The current Majlis has 85 lawmakers. And at least 43 lawmakers need to be present when a decision, as stated in Article 87 (b), is made.

But the Speaker of the Majlis, Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed stated before the voting on Tuesday evening that a State of Emergency does not fall into the list of situations affecting the public stated in Article 38 of the People’s Majlis Regulation.