Dunya: Tourist resorts remain completely secure

Minister of Foreign Affairs Dunya Maumoon has said that despite the state of emergency, airports, transport hubs, and tourist resorts in the Maldives remain completely secure.

In a statement dated 4 November 2015, Dunya said, “Today’s measures are a pre-emptive and precautionary action by the government in light of several significant security threats that have emerged in the last week. Airports, transport hubs, and tourist resorts remain completely secure; and we have received no evidence to suggest otherwise.”

Foreign Ministry said that the purpose of the measures announced on Wednesday was to ensure that security forces are given all possible assistance in their mission to investigate and detain individuals or groups who seek to create instability or subvert the democratic institutions of the country.

“The purpose of today’s announcement is to send a clear message. Those who seek to cause harm and unrest through violence – whether their aims are political, religious or otherwise – have no place in our country. We are a young, vibrant democracy and will do all we can to uphold those values.”

On Wednesday, Minister of Home Affairs Umar Naseer said that the declaration of state of emergency would affect tourism, but the consequences of an incident such as an explosion in the absence of emergency would be much worse.

The Presidential Decree declaring state of emergency says that this followed the discovery of dangerous weapons and explosive devices in two locations in Maldives after joint operations carried out by Maldives Police Service and the Maldives National Defence Force, following the explosion on the president’s boat ‘Finifenmaa’ on 28 September 2015; as well as the subsequent discovery of a cache of arms.

Security forces also have definitive information of plans by some individuals to use these explosives and weapons that would endanger the lives of the citizens of the Maldives and threaten the national security.

The Presidential Decree has been sent to the parliament, in accordance with Article 257 of the Constitution.

Article 257, which refers to the submission of declaration to the parliament, states that the declaration of a state of emergency shall be submitted to the parliament within forty eight hours. If the parliament is not in session at the time of the declaration, it shall be recalled within fourteen days, inclusive of holidays, and the declaration of a state of emergency submitted to the parliament for approval.

The parliament may approve the declaration in whole or in part.

Despite the state of emergency, no curfew has been announced.