Political storm in the Maldives

An alleged coup in the island nation is leading to political instability.

In the Maldives, a political crisis has resulted in a takeover by the vice president, as well as street protests and alleged acts of police brutality towards supporters of ex-president Mohamed Nasheed.

In this episode of The Stream we speak to Abdul Ghafoor Mohammed, Ambassador of the Republic of Maldives to the US, and Farahanaz Faizal (@FarahDidi), former Maldivian High Commissioner to the UK.

What was behind the alleged coup and what does it mean for the future of democracy in the Maldives? Send us your thoughts and comments on Facebook or Twitter using hashtag #AJStream.

View the story "Political storm in the Maldives" on StorifyPolitical storm in the MaldivesAn alleged coup in the island nation is leading to political instability.Storified by The Stream · Mon, Feb 13 2012 13:18:06Nasheed greets supporters after Friday prayers in the Muslim-majority island nation. He resigned from the presidency on February 7 and claims he was forced from his office at gunpoint.FlickrA tweet from former Maldivian High Commissioner to the UK Farahanaz Faizal.I've resigned as high commissioner. I refuse to serve a regime that overthrew the democratically elected govt of Maldives in a coup d'etatFarah FaizalThough he said Nasheed stepped down voluntarily, President Mohamed Waheed told a US diplomat he would be willing to submit to an inquiry of the circumstances surrounding the transition of power. Minivan News reported that since being sworn in, Waheed made seven new appointments to the cabinet, some of which were supporters of former dictator Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.FlickrThis video reportedly shows soldiers defecting to join the police mutiny on February 7, the day Nasheed resigned. Soldiers march to join police mutinyhaveeruvideosThis video from February 7 allegedly shows Nasheed arguing with military personnel right before he announced his resignation. In the video he says: "Please do something, please do something, you guys....get out there...the whole of Maldives is being destroyed, by your inaction."
President Nasheed's last moments as President 7th Feb 2012 early morninggondikokko1According to Freedom Watch Maldives, this video shows Nasheed running from the military right before his arrest on February 8.
Mohamed Nasheed just before his capture. Running from Military Junta 2/8/2012FreedomWatchMVVideo of Nasheed's arrest:
Raees Nasheed & Maria Aniyaa ah kuri aniyaRaajjeTelevisionVideo of a police crackdown on supporters of Nasheed's party, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

Brutal crackdown on MDP protesthaveeruvideosSupporters of the leadership transition said Nasheed had become increasingly authoritarian and did not adhere to conservative Islamic practices. Preceding his resignation, anti-Nasheed demonstrators protested his decision to arrest the nation's top criminal court judge, who was a supporter of Gayoom. Despite this, many came out in support of Nasheed. Below, a pro-Nasheed protest on February 11:
FlickrGayoom's Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) held its first rally February 13 after Nasheed had stepped down.PPM holds first rally after government changehaveeruvideosMore 150,000 ppl voted to select their president in 2008. Just 150 dissatisfied security personel overthrew that by force. #mvcoupAminath Hudha RashadFootage of Maldivian police and army ransacking the MDP headquarters as opposition supporters look on.
Maldives Police & Army ransacking MDP harugemvprotestMDP chairman Reeko Moosage's interview from his hospital bed after he was allegedly beaten by police.
Reeko Moosage Interview - Sifaina fuluhun moosa ah kuri aniyaRaajjeTelevisionEnglish transcript of the interview:Mark Lynas » ‘They said, “we want to kill you… you will die today”Transcript of Interview with Reeko Moosa Manik MP, Interim Chairperson of the Maldivian Democratic Party, given from his hospital bed, af...Freedom Watch Maldives posted this video that allegedly shows MDP parliamentary member being beaten by police.
Maldivian police beat unarmed man senselessly following the Maldivian coup of 2012FreedomWatchMVWe believe this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOuULe4nkSU is the beating of MP Ibrahim Rasheed (Bondey) via @mashafeeg #maldivescoup http://pic.twitter.com/rmhXekxPFreedom Watch MV

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Political storm in the Maldives

Political storm in the Maldives

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