Government representatives on Sunday met with the delegation from the United Nations to discuss the current state of affairs in the Maldives.
During the sit-down, the ministerial committee had declared its full cooperation to address all inquiries and concerns raised by the UN delegation, stating that the visitors would have full access to state institutions and all entities not affected by the ongoing state of emergency.
According to the President’s Office, the discussion had focused on the landmark ruling of the Supreme Court on February 1 to release political prisoners and reinstate unseated legislators, and the aftermath of the verdict which saw the declaration of emergency and a crackdown to arrest several prominent political and state figures for alleged corruption and attempt to stage a coup.
The Office cited the ministerial committee as assuring the UN delegation that President Abdulla Yameen had declared the emergency as an urgent last resort, based upon the counsel of the National Security Council, “to protect the checks and balances in the Constitution” which were compromised by the “exhibited judicial overreach” of the apex court.
The committee further assured the UN that the government was upholding the rule of law in the Maldives. However, the state officials had raised concerns over “reckless statements” by foreign stakeholders, and accused opposition parties of deliberately propagating false information on the current state of affairs in the nation.
Meanwhile, the UN delegation also plans to meet with representatives of the opposition regarding the political situation of the Maldives.
The ministerial committee meeting the UN visitors was headed by education minister Dr. Aishath Shiham. The committee comprised of youth minister Iruthisham Adam, environment minister Thoriq Ibrahim, health minister Abdulla Nazim, and housing minister Mohamed Muizzu. The Maldives’ foreign secretary, Ahmed Sareer, had also led a technical team to support the ministerial committee in the meeting.
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