Understanding Maldives Coup Role of Indian Government failed to act before or after Coup

Understanding Maldives Coup Role of Indian Government failed to act before or after Coup

The Maldives is a chain of nearly 1,200 islands in the Indian Ocean and Fewer than 200 of those islands are inhabited.

Islam is the official religion of the Maldives and open practice of any other religion is forbidden and liable to prosecution.

Article 2 of the revised constitution says that the republic "is based on the principles of Islam." Article nine says that "a non-Muslim may not become a citizen";

Article ten says that "no law contrary to any principle of Islam can be applied".




Article nineteen states that "citizens are free to participate in or carry out any activity that is not expressly prohibited by sharia [Islamic law] or by the law."

Maldive Islands, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean formed by a double chain of twenty-six atolls oriented north-south off India's Lakshadweep Islands, between Minicoy Island and Chagos Archipelago.
It stands in the Laccadive Sea, about 700 kilometres (430 mi) south-west of Sri Lanka and 400 kilometres (250 mi) south-west of India.

In 17th C Maldives was controlled by Dutch.
In 19th C Maldives was controlled by British.
On 16 December 1887, the Sultan of the Maldives signed a contract with the British Governor of Ceylon turning the Maldives into a British protected state, losing her sovereignty in matters of foreign policy.
The British government promised military protection and non-interference in local administration in exchange for an annual tribute.

In year 1965 Maldives got the full independence.
Male is the capital of Maldives.
Maldives is the smallest Asian country in both population and land area.

Maumoon Abdul Gayoom began his 30-year role as President in 1978, winning six consecutive elections without opposition

A series of coup attempts (in 1980, 1983, and 1988) by Nasir supporters and business interests tried to topple the government without success.

the 1988 coup attempt involved a roughly 200-person mercenary force of the PLOTE Tamil militant group who seized the airport and caused Gayoom to flee from house to house until the intervention of 1600 Indian troops airlifted into Malé restored order.

The November 1988 coup was headed by Muhammadu Ibrahim Lutfee, a small businessman. On the night of 3 November 1988, the Indian Air Force airlifted a parachute battalion group from Agra and flew them over 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) to the Maldives.

The Indian paratroopers landed at Hulule and secured the airfield and restored the government rule at Malé within hours.
The brief, bloodless operation, labelled Operation Cactus, also involved the Indian Navy.

That time Rajiv Gandhi took the fast, speedy, intelligent decision and acted like a big brother for the Maldives.

That time in year 1988 Internationally no one said that what PM Rajiv Gandhi did was wrong.
It was political move showing the capacity of Indian Arm Forces.

Thus Indian Government helped the neighboring Maldives and protected it in year 1988 and in 2012 Coup happened and Indian Government did nothing

For 30 years, from 1978 until 2008, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom served as president.
In 2008 a new constitution was approved and the first direct presidential elections occurred, which were won by Mohamed Nasheed and Dr. Mohammed Waheed Hassan (as Vice-President) in the second round.

The 2009 parliamentary election saw the Maldivian Democratic Party of President Nasheed receive the most votes with 30.81%, gaining 26 seats,
however the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party with 24.62% of the vote received the most seats (28).

On 16 January 2012 the Maldives military, on orders from President Nasheed, arrested Judge Abdulla Mohamed, the chief justice of the Maldives Criminal Court, on charges he was blocking prosecution of corruption and human rights cases against allies of former president Gayoom.

This sparked protests against Nasheed's government by opposition supporters,
On 7 February members of the police and army joined the opposition protesters, who then seized offices of the national TV station.

The Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) is a combined security force responsible for defending the security and sovereignty of the Maldives, having the primary task of being responsible for attending to all internal and external security needs of the Maldives, including the protection of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Fire & Rescue Service boats

The MNDF component branches are the Coast Guard, the Fire & Rescue Service, Infantry Services, Defense Institute for Training & Education (Training Command), and Support Services.

The police and military took Nasheed into custody, and gave him the choice of stepping down, or to face repercussions. Nasheed resigned

Nasheed's vice president, Mohamed Waheed, was sworn in as president immediately.

Now Nasheed has demanded fresh elections?



What was Indian Government doing when coup happened in a small Iceland nation Maldives?

As India did nothing other countries got the chance to be friend with the Maldives.

United Kingdom, the United States, the European Union and the United Nations have rushed to the Maldives and planning to help Maldives.


U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake met with new President Mohammed Waheed Hassan to gather facts about recent coup in the Maldives.
It’s expected that he will meet with former President Mohamed Nasheed and other leaders also.

United Nations special envoy Oscar Fernandez-Taranco is also in Male

Now Indian Government has sent M Ganapathi, Secretary (West) in the External Affairs Ministry to Male.


China and Pakistan both have not acted its surprising.

We must remember Maldives is an Islamic nation and easy target for the people like Taliban.

Today Sri lanka and Nepal both nations are not as friendly as they used to be in past.

Now what if China befriends with Maldives and start to protect them or any other nation befriends with Maldives.

Starting a war in other country is not easy but Indian Government failed to take proper steps after or before the Coup.

Now Other nations found the door open to Maldives to interfere which may damage India in future.



Reality views by sm

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Tags – Maldives Coup