Male, March 22 (newsin.asia): The Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen on Thursday lifted the State of Emergency saying that the police had made sufficient progress in the investigations into the plot to overthrow the lawfully elected government by unlawful and unconstitutional methods by some highly placed persons in the government and outside.
The State of Emergency was imposed on February 6, first for 15 days, and then extended for a further period of 30 days. The 45 day period was to end on March 22.
“The announcement of a State of Emergency was precipitated by a Constitutional Crisis created by two Justices of the Supreme Court who conspired with political actors to violate both the Constitution and standard legal norms and practices in order to illegally overthrow a lawful Government, and whose actions constituted an imminent threat to national security. The State of Emergency was annulled after a period of 45 days,” the Maldivian President’s Office said in a statement.
“The Maldives Police Service, under the guidance of the Office of the Prosecutor General, has been able to progress substantially into their investigation of corruption and other crimes relating to the Constitutional Crisis. The Prosecutor General issued a statement on 20 March 2018 outlining the charges to be filled by her Office regarding the submissions by the Maldives Police Service to date.”
“Following the actions taken under the State of Emergency, all constitutionally created independent institutions of horizontal accountability function with their full powers and authority. The three branches of the State remain independent and the checks and balances enshrined the Constitution are safeguarded.”
“Though there still exists a diminished threat to national security, because the nation can now continue without further losses incurred, and upon the advice of the Security Services and in an effort to promote normalcy, the President has decided to lift the State of Emergency.”
The State of Emergency was declared by a Presidential Decree (No. 2018/3) issued on 5 February 2018 for national security reasons. It was extended via a resolution of the Parliament on 20 February 2018 for a period of 30 days, applicable only to those under investigation for crimes relating to the Constitutional Crisis. This extension was deemed valid by a decision of the Supreme Court on 26 February 2018.”
(The featured image at the top shows Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen)