Tourists are being told that their holiday plans to the Maldives shouldn’t be affected by the State of Emergency introduced this week.
The 30-day country-wide curfew was put in place on Wednesday ahead of a large anti-government rally.
The Government said in an official decree that the State of Emergency is designed to ‘guarantee the safety and lives of the Maldivian citizens’ after the National Defence Force discovered a cache of arms and explosives intended to threaten national security.
State of Emergency in Maldives does not limit freedom of expression https://t.co/favLddWNPy
— MFA-Maldives (@MDVForeign) November 5, 2015
As part of the decree local law enforcement has received increased powers of arrest.
The President said certain rights and freedoms have also been temporarily suspended while the government takes ‘necessary measures’ to investigate suspected people, places and situations.
However, locals say life in the city remain normal, with shops and restaurants operating as usual and no signed of increased military activity, The Indian Express reported.
Meanwhile, tourists have been advised by The Foreign Office in the UK that there will be no restrictions on tourist movements.
The Office said tourists should be able to move around freely and holidays resorts are ‘unlikely to be significantly affected’.
So far, no tours in the island nation have been affected, however, a spokesperson for Singapore Airlines Holidays said the company is monitoring the situation closely and they currently do not have any customers staying in the capital, Malé.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has maintained its ‘exercise normal safety precautions’ for the destination, however, said Australians should follow the instructions of local authorities.
DFAT has also urged Aussie holidaymakers to avoid places to protests.
“Protests and demonstrations have frequently taken place in Malé since the arrest of former President Nasheed in February 2015.”
DFAT
“In the past, large demonstrations have led to acts of violence and arrest.”