Male, February 20 (newsin.asia): As per the amended rules of the Maldivian State of Emergency, as approved by parliament on Tuesday, the existing restrictions will apply only to those who have allegedly indulged in illegal activities and the alleged plot to overthrow the established government, the Presidential Office said in a release.
Clarifying the position further, a source in the Presidential Office said that the State of Emergency regulations “shall not apply to otherwise law abiding residents of , or visitors to, the Maldives.”
He further said: “The attempted judicial coup has far reaching implications for the judiciary and Maldivian democracy. As investigations into those responsible are on-going, and as police are making fast strides in acquiring evidence and in understanding the full depth of the coup, the State of Emergency has been extended for thirty more days. But this would apply only to those allegedly complicit in the attempted coup.”
He underlined the fact that “ the rights and liberties of ordinary citizens are not affected and they have full enjoyment of the tights guaranteed by law.”
In fact the Presidential Secretariat’s statement points out that “there will be no curfew, and general movements ,services and businesses, will not be affected.”
Giving the sequence of events leading to the adoption of the amended resolution on the extension of the State of Emergency, the President’s Office said that on Monday the National Security Committee of Parliament had recommended that the House accept the amendments proposed by the President as well as those proposed by it.
Thereafter, parliament voted to remove all restrictions on Art 100, which refers to the Removal of the President and the Vice President; Art 101 which refers to the Vote of Confidence in a member of the cabinet; Art 113 on the Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court; and Art 228 on the Removal from Office of the Prosecutor General.
Parliament voted the continuation of the State of Emergency for another 30 days but added that the restrictions envisaged would apply only to those who are allegedly involved in illegal activities and those involved in the plot to over thrown the government.
Parliament also agreed to refer Section 38 of the Parliamentary Rules of Procedure which deals with matters requiring compliance by the public (like the State of Emergency regulations).
That will clarify whether, to get a matter like State of Emergency passed, a majority of members present and voting would do or whether it should get the support of the majority of the total membership of the House.
(The featured image at the top shows the Maldivian parliament in session)
