Maldives: Six months after the 'coup'

Can the Maldives work towards political reconciliation?

Six months after an alleged coup led to the resignation of President Mohamed Nasheed, the new government has announced that elections won't be held until July 2013. In response, the opposition has renewed protests in the capital of Malé. While officials say they are working towards stabilising the country, the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party claims that the government is being influenced by “radical Islam” that would threaten the fledgling democracy.

In this episode of The Stream, we speak to Mohamed Nasheed, former president of the Maldives; Dhiyana Saeed, Minister for Gender, Family and Human Rights; and Nilanthi Samaranayake, a South Asia analyst with the think-tank CNA.

What do you think? What is the political future for the Maldives? How have delayed elections impacted the country? Send us your thoughts and comments on Facebook or Twitter using #AJStream.

View the story "Maldives: Six months after the 'coup'" on StorifyMaldives: Six months after the 'coup'Can the Maldives work towards political reconciliation? Storified by The Stream · Wed, Jul 18 2012 11:54:13As part of a bid to increase tourism in the country, the Maldives launched a new social media campaign using the slogan, "the sunny side of life". The government put out videos like this one, and asked Maldivians to join in promoting their country.
Maldives The Sunny Side Of Life 1maldiveswtmBut anti-government activists used the opportunity to highlight allegations of police brutality related to protests that followed the country's transfer of power in February.
RT @YaarNu: #SUNNYSIDEOFLIFE WHILE YOU WATCHED THE DAY GO BY ON THE HAMMOCK , THIS LADY HERE WAS ATTACKED ON THE WAY TO WORK http://pic.twitter.com/9D1Tw2umRozaina AdamRT @chuckay: #SUNNYSIDEOFLIFE WHILE YOU SLEPT UNDEWATER FOR USD 6000.00 A NIGHT, THIS MAN WAS FIGHTING FOR HIS DEAR LIFE http://pic.twitter.com/JFgfSZTnRankamanaRT @fathuns: #SunnySideofLife what bliss!! What torture!! http://pic.twitter.com/3Fil15iDHamid Abdul GhafoorRT @projectionist: saw post-arrest torture by nss, a barricade on fire & heard an explosion when nss charged. #sunnysideoflife #tonight http://pic.twitter.com/ggpdHytxIbbeThankU Coup Government of Maldives for #sunnySideOfLife event. We'll make sure to pass your acts of brutality to Twittersphere.Waddey Maldives #SunnySideOfLife where the tourism dollar is coverted to tear gas n rubber bullets instead of health or education.Abdul Majid#SunnySideOfLife: Ah Maldives! Those white sandy beaches where torture happened everyday for 30 years. Stopped for 3 and now its back. VISITAdduHaanee AzadugeThe government is facing major protests from citizens angry over what they see as a coup. Until November 2008, the country was ruled for 30 years by the dictatorship of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. Years of protests led to a democratic government, in which pro-democracy activist Mohamed Nasheed became president. But economic issues, ideological clashes with religious conservatives, and Nasheed's order to have the military arrest a senior judge spurred protests that turned into what some call a coup.
undefinedMaldivestodayNasheed resigned on February 7 and then-Vice President Mohamed Waheed has since taken power. The country's Commission of National Inquiry is in the process of investigating the transfer of power.RT @Elite_tea: Today's reality of the #SunnySideOfLife #Maldives #mvcoup #mvprotest http://pic.twitter.com/81iWn6TEiSmaiL SoviLeEarlier this year, Nasheed said the coup allowed for Islamists to gain power in the country. He said that they are gaining greater influence, and could cause radicalisation. Islam is the official religion of the Maldives.
#Maldives government says its citizens may practice religions other than #Islam "freely - in private."CCPR Centre#SunnysideofCoup Freedom Watch Maldives • Is a Maldivian who decides to give up Islam still a Maldivian citizen? http://fwmv.tumblr.com/post/14261071003/is-a-maldivian-who-decides-to-give-up-islam-still-aAhmed HanyffSupporters of Nasheed and his Maldivian Democratic Party have been organising protests against the current government, calling for early elections. Protesters accuse the police of using harsh measures, including tear gas and rubber bullets, to control the crowds.
Police were shouting “face us face us, we will hunt you down”This is the police that protects and serve!sharaffPolice and protesters clash at Chaandhanee Magu junctionhaveeruvideosPolice attack on MDP Protester http://pic.twitter.com/jcsTSNCEMDP NewsClashes at MDP Usfasgandu protesthaveeruvideosAllegations of police brutality include an assault on the former president. In this video, Nasheed was allegedly pepper sprayed by police during a protest at the capital.
President Nasheed pepper sprayedhaveeruvideosMaldivians, however, are not unanimously in support of protests or Nasheed.
@AJStream , Nasheed violated the constitution by dead bolting Supreme Court during his regime! Where was the democracy he advocated?Asima Latheef@AJStream @MohamedNasheed publicly said he would favour his supporters and discriminate citizen with other political affiliations #askhimBuggy Husain@AJStream please ask Ex-prez of Maldives Mr. Nasheed why he is keep saying different things abt his resignation & purpose of it #MaldivesShiham Waheed@AJStream Nasheed, in power u betrayed #MDPs advocacy! Why should #Maldivians believe that u will walk the talk in a remote 2nd chance?Abdulla Mausoom@AJStream @MohamedNasheed why did you distribute the country's wealth to your friends and families as if it was yours?MawdThis week, the government formally filed charges against Nasheed for ordering the arrest of the Chief Justice of the Criminal Court. Brigadier General Ibrihim Mohamed Didi and Ali Hussain Didi, the country's ambassador to the European Union, both resigned from the Waheed government. These aren't the first high level resignations from Maldivian officials. Soon after Nasheed's resignation, the Maldivian ambassador to the United Nations, announced his resignation live on The Stream.
Maldives Ambassador to the UN resigns on Al Jazeera's The Streamajstream

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Maldives: Six months after the 'coup'

Maldives: Six months after the 'coup'

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