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I second that.

Bumpin

Nasheed was a thorn in the side of developed countries who don't want to do anything about climate change.

I'm sure Invictus is pleased.

So... what does that mean you opinion on the coup is?

Is it a bad thing?

Thucy, I answered your troll. Not my fault if you can't read.

I didn't hear your opinion on whether the coup is a good or bad thing, legal, justified, a coup at all, effects, causes.

I just heard your opinion on the effect of Nasheed's presidency, and I agree with that.

Because of your distaste for Invictus this comment: "I'm sure Invictus is pleased."

Would seem to imply that you do not favor the coup. But you never know, it's a pretty vague implication going off not much more than a personal distaste you're known to have.

Nasheed was forcibly deposed for trying to crack down on Islamist extremists who incite hate and corrupt judges who let them do it with impunity. Nasheed seemed like an independent enough politician, and has done great things on climate change.

Putin33: Do you know more about how it happened? You only touched on why. (I know this is a new question.)

How? Well it involved several steps.

Opposition had been building for a while by Islamists who claimed Nasheed's policies were unIslamic. For example there was a Pakistani pavillion which celebrated Pakistan's diverse religious history, this was deemed unacceptable. Opposition figures claimed Nasheed was a puppet of Christians and Jews. Nasheed arrested one of the leaders for making such claims. A judge promptly released the detainee. Nasheed then arrested the judge, this led to intense protests, including protests by police. Nasheed directly and personally confronted the police about their protests, threatening them with punishment unless they stopped. He complained to the military, asking them to intervene. Instead, the military came out and announced that Nasheed will "resign" and cleared a path for him to go to the President's office, where they escorted him and supervised his signing the resignation letter.

Now, it could be that Nasheed is lying about being forced at gunpoint to resign. But at any rate it's clear his stepping down is a blow to Maldives.

Evidently Nasheed also arrested a popular colonel in the army - Mohammed Nazim, which probably is why the military had no sympathy for him.

This whole episode sounds really similar to what happened to Musharraf.

Yeah OK I agree Putin, nice.

However don't you think the "Nasheed is un-Islamic" thing is more of just a cover to erode Nasheed's popular support (still apparently large), and the real motivation of the conspirators was loyalty to Gayoom and, one could imagine, a longing to be in control of state coffers again?

i.e. more about corruption, nepotism, power grabbing, than the Muslim thing, the Muslim thing just being a way to get popular opinion behind the usurpers?

I'm more inclined to believe that, not that the Islamic explanation is impossible, it just seems to come out of nowhere.

PS come on Putin I'm not trolling you lol. Yeah I poked some fun at you in the OP but come on that's our relationship right? Love ya.

You should take it as a compliment that I specifically seek out your views on international issues I'm watching - you're a unique voice.

Putin33: Musharraf? Are you suggesting that you sympathize with Musharraf?

I don't know what to feel about Musharraf (although this Zardari government has been awful), but the cases seem similar. Musharraf was eventually ousted for his suspension of a judge who was accused of corruption and being overly political. Interestingly, Chaudhry also has a reputation for releasing suspected terrorists.And actually, Musharraf didn't even sack Chaudhry as Nasheed did Abdulla Mohamed, but temporarily suspended him while the latter was under investigation, so his ouster was for more mild behavior than Nasheed's.

For the record, I'm not pleased.

Putin33: You don't know how you feel about Musharraf? Ha ha ha. OK, whatever. I see how you might draw a parallel to the process of losing power, though.