India should be worried over Maldives turmoil: Expert

Feb 09, 2012 |

Agencies

Male

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India 'should be worried' over the quick-paced developments in the Maldives that saw the president quit and violence spread across the country, said an expert here.

"Definitely, India should be worried," said Anand Kumar of the Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA).

Mohamed Nasheed stepped down as president on Tuesday following weeks of protests. Violence erupted in capital Male after Nasheed took to the streets along with thousands of his supporters.

The family of the former ex-president has reportedly fled the violence-torn country to Sri Lanka.

"It's safer for them there than in the Maldives," Mohamed Nasheed said at his family home, where he was awaiting the arrival of police after a local court reportedly issued a warrant for his arrest.

In Sri Lanka, President Mahinda Rajapakse spoke with Nasheed's wife on Wednesday evening after her arrival, Rajapakse's spokesman said.

The police and army attacked the protesters who were shouting slogans against newly sworn-in President Mohamed Waheed. The violence spread to other atolls in the country of nearly 1,200 islands.

It looks like the Maldives is heading 'for a civil war...(which means) lots of trouble for us as well', Kumar said.

Kumar said it seems a greater design has made Nasheed resign.

"Direct interference by India is ruled out. The situation is different from 1988 when there was a request from Male and outsiders were involved," said Kumar.

In November 1988, the Indian armed forces went into the archipelago nation on the request of then president Maumoom Abdul Gayoom, who faced a coup by mercenaries of the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam.

Kumar suggested India's 'indirect, behind the scene' assistance to the Maldives.

He added that it is not a failure for India, 'but more of a mishandling of the situation by Nasheed'.

'Rest of my life in jail'

Nasheed has claimed he was forced from office in a coup, said he expected to be arrested on Thursday as protests and violence escalated in the holiday paradise.

Nasheed said a court order had been issued for his detention and he anticipated being sent to jail.

"They have issued a warrant to arrest me now and said that I will be the first former president to spend the rest of his life in jail," he said.

"I hope the international community will take note and do something right now."

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