Trouble in paradise as power struggle grips Maldives
AFP
AFP, COLOMBO: To honeymooners lounging on its sparkling sands, the Maldives may appear the closest thing to paradise on earth.
But away from the beaches, a gripping but vicious power struggle is playing out, which observers say has yet to run its course and in which outsiders show little inclination to intervene. The vice-president is behind bars over claims he tried to blow up his boss on his speedboat, joining the islands first democratically-elected leader.
The presidents election running mate is on the run, and the presidential spokesman was sacked last week.
Synonymous with the jet-set, the Maldives is perhaps the ideal setting for a drama with storylines fit for a Dallas-stye soap opera and a cast including George Clooneys wife Amal and rival lawyer Cherie Blair, wife of former British prime minister Tony Blair.
Largely operating behind the scenes is the patriarchal figure of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, a 77-year-old former ruler who critics say is using his half-brother, Abdulla Yameen, as a proxy president.
What we are seeing today is the return of the dictator through his half-brother, said opposition Maldivian Democratic Party spokesman Hamid Abdul Ghafoor.
Gayoom ruled with an iron fist for 30 years before losing the islands first genuine elections to MDP leader and one-time prisoner Mohammed Nasheed.
Barely three years later, climate activist Nasheed was toppled when security chiefs and judges appointed by Gayoom revolted against attempted reforms.
Since then, observers say Gayooms clan has steadily re-exerted control, flattening anyone in its way.
When Nasheed attempted a comeback in 2013, the election was twice postponed before Yameen won a controversial run-off.
Nasheed was subsequently jailed for 13 years for terrorism related to the stand-off that ended in his ouster.
Allies have also run into trouble, with Vice President Ahmed Adeeb arrested last week for treason over the speedboat explosion that left Yameen unscathed but injured the first lady. Adeebs predecessor Mohamed Jameel was sacked in July for treason while travelling in South-East Asia. He has yet to return home.
Then defence minister Mohamed Nazim was jailed in March for trying to topple the government.
Gayoom and Yameen got together to keep Nasheed out of power and they succeeded. Yameen is now moving to eliminate any potential challenge, said a Western diplomatic source.
Theres bad blood within the ruling clan, but they have united to keep others out. We have not seen the end of the purge.
