United States disappointed in President Yameen over state of emergency

The United States government has expressed concern over the President’s Office declaring a state of emergency in the Maldives on Monday night.

President Abdulla Yameen contentiously declared a state of emergency on Sunday night, and while critics were challenging its legality he ordered the arrests of Supreme Court justices and a former president.

The statement from the United States’ department of state expresses concern over a number of factors in the Yameen administration.

“President Yameen has systematically alienated his coalition, jailed or exiled every major opposition political figure…revised laws to erode human rights, especially freedom of expression, and weakened the institutions of government by firing any officials who refuse orders that run contrary to Maldivian law and its constitution” the statement from Spokesperson Heather Naeurt read.

Monday night's statement comes in the wake of an encouraging but firm message from the US government's National Security Council in Washington.

The United Kingdom, Australia, and even Canada have joined this chorus of concern, with Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson of the British government calling on Yameen to fully enforce the Supreme Court ruling and peacefully end the state of emergency.

Both the US and China, a nation Maldives signed over a dozen landmark agreements within last year, some of them heavily controversial, have issued travel advisories on the Maldives.

While the United States is asking their citizens be cautious and refrain from gathering in areas of unrest and protests, the Chinese government has asked that their citizens avoid going to the Maldives entirely. India has also warned their citizens against traveling to Maldives, advising to 'defer all non-essential travel to Male’ and other Atolls'.