CHAPTER - II

Maldives: A Physical, Economic,

Social And Political Profile

31
 Maldives: A Physical, Economic, Social and Political Profile

Introduction

Maldives is one of the small atoll island states facing severe environmental
problems with regard to global warming and the ill effects of sea-level rise. It also has
the problem of environmental degradation due to its huge tourism industry. Maldives
faces the imminent threat of being inundated in the next fifty years because of global
warming and the resulting sea-level rise. Its vulnerability has been witnessed glaringly
in the wake of the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004, which has caused severe damage to
its ecology and economy. Maldives has a very narrow economic base and that creates
economic problems. It has long been under an authoritarian rule and its political
stability is now under turbulence. This chapter deals with the nature of Maldivian
geographic features and its vulnerability: the problems of global warming, sea-level
rise, the impact of the tsunami and the tourism industry are discussed with emphasis
on its environmental security. The chapter discusses the Maldivian demographic
features and its fragile ecology to highlight their impact on the livelihood of the
people and its environment. This chapter apart from looking into the macro-economic
performance of Maldives with regard to balance of payments and the prominent
sectors of economy, it will also look into the political conditions, status of Islam and
military in Maldives.

PHYSICAL FEATURES

The Maldivian archipelago consists of 1192 coral islands grouped in a chain of

ring-shaped reefs. This reef structure, typical of Maldives, is called an atoll. The
English word atoll itself is derived from the Maldivian or Dhivehi word for it –
atholhu (Oxford English Dictionary, 2010). The country is formed of twenty-six
atolls, stretching 750 km across the Indian Ocean, with the northernmost island at
7°06"N and the southernmost island just crossing the Equator at 04°42"S. Maldives is
situated in the strategic location along major sea lines of communication in the Indian
Ocean and has a coastline of 644 km. An atoll encloses a central lagoon with a flat,
sandy bottom at a relatively shallow depth of 40-100 metres. The outer reef, which
forms many of the islands, is often broken by deep channels that allow oceanic water
to flow into and out of the central lagoon. The locals have mastered the art of

32
Jawaharlal Nehru University
 Maldives: A Physical, Economic, Social and Political Profile

navigating these channels efficiently. Protective reefs safeguard the islands from the
elements. However, the islands are susceptible to erosion.

Composed of live coral reefs and sand bars, these atolls are situated atop a
submarine ridge 960 km long, which rises abruptly from the depths of the Indian
Ocean and runs north-south. Only near the southern end of the natural coral barricade
do two open passages permit safe ship navigation from one side of the Indian Ocean
to the other through the territorial waters of Maldives. Most atolls consist of a large,
ring-shaped coral reef supporting numerous small islands (Webb 1998: 7).

Six inches deep humus forms the top layer of the soil. Sandstone of about 60
cm is found below and after it sand is accompanied with fresh water. Salinity of the
soil along the beach restricts the growth to few plants. Normally, shrubs and small
hedges occupy the area. More inwards, banyan, mangroves and other lush vegetation
are found. Coconut palms are found almost everywhere and have contributed
significantly to the local lifestyle, even earning the status of national tree. While
vegetation in the islands is limited, it is supplemented by the riches of the sea;
varieties of corals, abundant colourful fish and other organisms make the Maldives
“the home of the children of the sea”.

Of the 1192 atoll islands only 200 are inhabited by local Maldivian people; 88
have been developed as tourist resorts; the rest are uninhabited. Inhabited islands are
either tourist resorts or inhabited by locals. A government rule stipulates that there can
be no combination of the two. In 2010 the twenty-one administrative divisions were
grouped under seven provinces, with each province comprising two or more atolls
(with the exception of the Medhu-Dhekunu Province, made up of solely Huvadhu
Atoll). The seven new provinces correspond to the historic divisions of Uthuru
Boduthiladhunmathi, Dhekunu Boduthiladhunmathi, Uthuru Medhu-Raajje, Medhu-
Raajje, Dhekunu Medhu-Raajje, Huvadhu (or Uthuru Suvadinmathi) and
Addumulakatholhu (or Dhekunu Suvadinmathi). But this attempt to bring
decentralisation for the first time since 1517 CE was defeated in Parliament and in
2011, the President passed legislation and put in place the system of National
Administration, where the same provinces are called as National Administrative
Divisions, operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs, to which the atoll councils

33
Jawaharlal Nehru University
 Maldives: A Physical, Economic, Social and Political Profile

report. These National Administrations act as an extension of the central government

based in Malé, for the convenience of dealing with regional affairs.

The Republic of Maldives is not the smallest nation in the world, in either size
or population (apart from Vatican City which has only 800 people; Nauru is the
smallest nation of the world in terms of population with 10,000 people), but it is
unique in having the sea forming 99.6 per cent of its “territory”. Maldives is made up
of twenty six atolls having numerous islands on each atolls varying in sizes.

The twenty-six atolls of Maldives1 (from north to south) are:

1. Ihavandhippolhu

2. Thiladhunmathi

3. Maamakunudhoo

4. Etthingili Alifushi

5. Maalhosmadulu Uthuruburi (North Maalhosmadhulu)

6. Fasdhūetherē (Fasdhūtherē)

7. Maalhosmadulu Dhekunuburi (South Maalhosmadulu)

8. Goidhu or Goifulhafehendhu

9. Faadhippolhu

10. Kaashidhu

11. Gahaafaru (Gaafaru)

12. Male'atholhu Uthutuburi (North Male)

13. Male'atholhu Dhekunuburi (South Male)

14. Thoddu

15. Rasdhu

16. Ari

1
These atolls are also having their local names and they are used interchangeably. Eg. Addu Atoll is
also called as Seenu Atoll.

34
Jawaharlal Nehru University
 Maldives: A Physical, Economic, Social and Political Profile

17. Felidhe

18. Vattaru (Falhu)

19. Mulaku

20. Nilandhe Atholhu Uthuruburi (North Nilandhe)

21. Nilandhe Atholhu Dhekunuburi (South Nilandhe)

22. Kolhumadulu

23. Haddhunmathi

24. Huvadhu

25. Fuvahmulah

26. Addu

For administrative purposes, the government has organised these atolls into
twenty-one administrative divisions, with Malé, the capital island and Addu City in
Seenu Atoll forming a separate administrative unit, which comes under the seven
national administrative divisions. The islands make up less than 2 per cent of the total
area of the country that is 90,000 sq km. Maldives’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ)
extends over an area of 859,000 sq km. The islands vary in size from 0.5 sq km to
several square kilometres. Although some larger atolls are approximately 50 km long
from north to south, and 30 km wide from east to west, no individual island is longer
than 8 km. Huvdhoo, the largest atoll, measures 79 km north-south, embracing an area
of about 2900 sq km, consisting of 230 islands. Gan, one of the inhabited islands of
Haddhunmathi or Laamu Atoll, is the longest island of the Maldives measuring 7800
metres. (This island should not be confused with Gan in Addu Atoll, where the British
had their military base till 1976.) The islands are low-lying, with an average elevation
of 1.6 metres above mean sea level. Maximum height above sea level within the
Maldives is around 3 metres; in excess of 80 per cent of the land area of 300 sq km is
less than 1 metre above the mean high tide level. The highest point of elevation is on
Vilingili Island in the Addu Atoll and measures 2.4 metres. By this measure, Maldives
is the flattest country in the world, i.e. it has the lowest high-point of any country in
the world. Few of the islands have land area in excess of 1 sq km. Only 33 inhabited

35
Jawaharlal Nehru University
 Maldives: A Physical, Economic, Social and Political Profile

islands have land area more than 1 sq km; 67 islands have fewer than 500 inhabitants,
while 144 have fewer than 1000 inhabitants (Ministry of Planning and National
Development 2006). Maldives has no rivers and no land-based building materials. Its
maritime area consists of a contiguous zone of 24 nautical miles (44.4 km), EEZ of
200 nautical miles (370.4 km) and territorial sea with 12 nautical miles (22.2 km).

Each atoll of Maldives has approximately five to ten inhabited islands; the
uninhibited islands number approximately twenty to sixty. Several atolls consist of
one large, isolated island surrounded by a steep coral beach: Fua-Mulaka, situated in
the middle of the equatorial channel, is a notable example. The atolls vary in shape
from circular, oval and elliptical to pear-shaped, and lagoon waters vary in depth from
40 to 60 metres. Lagoons contain micro-atolls, faros, patch reefs and knolls. Most are
open to the Indian Ocean although a few are almost closed, and channels through the
atoll margin are in some cases as deep as the lagoon itself. The main channel
separating the eastern and western chain of islands is generally between 250 and 300
metres deep. The islands are built of sediments and they vary in shape and size from
small sandbanks to elongated strip islands. Many have storm ridges at the seaward
edges with swampy depressions in the centre (Godfrey 1996: 5). These unique
features make transportation cumbersome, combined with very little frequency of
boats between different atolls/islands. It takes days to travel from any part of the
nation to the capital city of Malé, which is centrally located. The duration of travel
differs according to the distance from the capital city (see Appendix 13), combined
with the availability of return boats on same day as they are very limited.

Maldives receives adequate rainfall and there is very slight local variation in
the rainfall received. The average annual rainfall of approximately 1980 mm is evenly
distributed throughout the year. However, monthly variations in rainfall are
significant, ranging from less than 1 mm in February to 250 mm in May (see Figure
2.1 and also Appendix 14). The Maldives has a tropical warm and humid climate. The
weather is dominated by two monsoon periods: the South-West monsoon from April
to November and the North-East monsoon from December to March, when the winds
blow predominantly from either of these two directions. The South-West monsoon
brings strong winds and storms. In May 1991, violent monsoon winds created tidal

36
Jawaharlal Nehru University
 Maldives: A Physical, Economic, Social and Political Profile

waves that damaged thousands of houses and piers, flooded arable land with seawater,
and uprooted thousands of fruit trees. The damage caused was estimated at US$30
million (FAO 2007). Daily temperatures vary little throughout the year. The annual
mean temperature is 28°C, with a maximum average of 32°C and a minimum of
25°C. Relative humidity ranges from 73 per cent to 85 per cent.

Figure 2.1. Sunshine and Rainfall, by Month, 2007

Land in Maldives is generally scarce and only around 10 per cent of the land,
about 2600 hectares, is suitable for agriculture. Soils are highly alkaline, generally
young and thin, being no more than 20 cm deep, and containing substantial quantities
of parent material, coral rock and sand. Deficiency in nitrogen, potash, and iron
severely limits agricultural potential. In wetter depressions a thick clay layer is
present at around 10 to 15 cm depth. The vegetation comprises groves of breadfruit
trees and coconut palms towering above dense scrub, shrubs and flowers. The land is
cultivated with taro, anabas, coconuts and other fruit. Only the lush island of Fua
Mulaka produces fruits such as oranges and pineapples, partly because its terrain is
higher than most other islands, leaving the groundwater less subject to seawater
intrusion. Freshwater floats in a layer, or “lens”, above the seawater that permeates
the limestone and coral sands of the islands. These lenses are shrinking rapidly on
Malé and in tourist resorts. Mango trees already have been reported dying on Malé
because of saltwater intrusion. Most of the atolls depend on groundwater or rainwater

37
Jawaharlal Nehru University
 Maldives: A Physical, Economic, Social and Political Profile

for portable water. Maldives is a relatively homogenous country with respect to

religion (Islam) and language (Dhivehi) (Shaljan 2004: 3).

POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHY

The current population of Maldives is 325,998, a considerable increase over

the number reported in the last decade (see Table 4.2 in Chapter 4). The Maldives has
been at the crossroads for sea traders for many centuries and the origin of the people
of the country is of mixed race. Though much is not known of the early history of the
island people, the language and some archaeological finds of Buddhist relics
unearthed by H.C.P. Bell (Bell 1940) indicate that the early settlers were from the
southern Indian subcontinent and Buddhist Sinhalese from Sri Lanka. Now the
Maldivians are entirely Muslim after the conversion of its King to Islam in 1153 CE.
According to article 9(d) of the constitution, only a Muslim can be a citizen of the
country.

The population of Maldives is large in relation to the land area and the
population growth rate is among the highest in the world. The geographic distribution
of the population is unequal. Of the inhabited islands 90 have fewer than 500 people,
72 have between 500 and 1000 inhabitants, 38 have between 1000 and 5000 and only
3 have more than 5000 inhabitants. More than 28.5 per cent of the people live on the
island capital of Malé, which has an area of 1.77 sq km (Ministry of Planning and
National Development 2006). The rapid growth in Malé’s population is associated
with the bulk of development activities that has centred on North and South Malé atoll
as a consequence of the locations of the capital, the international airport, the port of
Malé and the tourist resort islands. The rate of population increase in Malé was
boosted by the closure of the Gan airbase in 1976, and the birth of the Maldivian
tourism industry centred on the Malé International Airport at Hulhule. About 71.5 per
cent of the population is dispersed widely over the other inhabited islands, with an
increasing proportion of people living in larger atolls over the years. Maldives has few
towns besides the capital Malé. The population growth is a serious problem in
Maldives, given its lack of resources and space for accommodation. Higher
population also poses problems for the country’s food supply. Rice, the staple food, is

38
Jawaharlal Nehru University
 Maldives: A Physical, Economic, Social and Political Profile

imported. The high rate of growth of population is due to a reduction in the crude
death rate that has resulted from improvements in primary healthcare.
Figures 2.2-2.5 and Tables 2.1 and 2.2 present various aspects of the
Maldives’ demographic profile.
Figure 2.2. Islands with highest population density
(population per hectare)

Figure 2.3. Composition of population by age groups

39
Jawaharlal Nehru University
 Maldives: A Physical, Economic, Social and Political Profile

Figure 2.4. Number of inhabited islands by size of population 2000 and 2006

Table 2.1. Number of inhabited islands by population size for the years 1985,
1990, 1995, 2000 and 2006

No. of Adminstrative units ( islands )

Population Size 1985 1990 1995 2000 2006
202 202 201 200 196
Less than 100 2 1 1 0 5
100-199 17 13 11 11 12
200-299 29 20 10 15 18
300-399 39 30 26 22 18
400-499 30 25 27 28 22
500-599 19 24 23 19 18
600-699 13 19 16 14 12
700-799 10 14 16 12 11
800-899 6 7 9 13 12
900-999 12 8 11 8 5
1000-1999 17 31 38 42 47
2000-4999 6 7 9 12 12
5000-9999 1 2 3 3 3
10,000 + 1 1 1 1 1

Sources: 25 years of Statistics, 2010.

Statistical Yearbook of Maldives 2008.
Ministry of Planning and National Development

40
Jawaharlal Nehru University
 Maldives: A Physical, Economic, Social and Political Profile

Figure 2.5. Sex ratio of population by locality

Source: Ministry of Planning and National Development

Table 2.2. Sex ratio of population by locality 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2006

Locality 1985 1990 1995 2000 2006

Country 107.94 105.25 103.69 103.23 102.68
Malé 129.63 120.7 115.49 108.59 100.56
Atolls 101.43 100.36 99.93 101.28 103.82
Haa Alifu 92.59 92.25 91.25 88.21 87.85
Haa Dhal 87.23 85.79 88.67 88.76 85.91
Shaviyani 93.18 91.71 91.23 90.67 89.55
Noonu 90.35 87.24 88.77 85.47 84.57
Raa 98.86 98.89 96.05 96.31 93.65
Baa 105.49 100.52 102.98 108.28 107.99
Lahaviyani 95.49 112.75 97.64 108.83 106.15
Kaafu 128.51 227.72 211.33 227.04 239.74
Alifu - 136.1 134.09 132.34 136.33
Ari Atoll 99.27 - - -
ADh - 99.96 119.94 129.43 129.06
Vaavu 121.64 134.39 113.21 127.37 121.82
Meemu 97.73 100.1 99.14 96.67 105.59
Faafu 89.42 84.6 92.28 101.95 94.37
Dhaalu 97.24 96.86 98.71 102.28 107.82
Thaa 94.21 92.09 96.32 93.98 98.57
Laamu 98.05 101.44 96.52 101.71 106.12
Gaafu 99.8 98.45 97.54 99.93 102.65
GDh 90.44 92.94 94.99 92.92 96.03
Gnaviyani 86.35 91.3 88.08 85.24 87.2
Seenu 88.66 83.9 84.96 80.7 87.28
Source: Statistical yearbook of Maldives 2008.
http://planning.gov.mv/yearbook2008/yearbook/3_population/3.5.htm

41
Jawaharlal Nehru University
 Maldives: A Physical, Economic, Social and Political Profile

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Economic life in the Maldives was dominated in the past by subsistence

agriculture and fishing, with some exchange of marine and other products for rice and
other necessities. Rapid social and economic development is of recent origin, with
living standards having increased very substantially since the late 1970s. The
impressive annual growth in the economy since the latter part of the 1970s,
particularly after the opening up of its economy in 1989, has been due largely to the
increased receipts from tourism and fishing as well as government investment in
infrastructure (see Figure 4.2 and Table 4.3). The Maldives has a typical small-island
economy limited by natural and human resources, an acute shortage of raw materials,
heavy imports of most requirements and an ever-increasing demand on government
revenue to cater for the basic needs of an expanding population. Despite all these
problems, its economic performance has been impressive in recent years. The
economic progress recorded in Maldives has been considered the highest (16.2 per
cent in 2004) among the countries of SAARC (ADB 2011). But ever since the
tsunami of 2004, it has witnessed some setbacks to its economy, from which it
recovered gradually before being hit again by the global economic meltdown in 2008.

Fishing has always been a central activity in Maldivian society and the
fisheries sector provides around 80 per cent of the country’s export income. Fishing
has been expanded through mechanisation of the traditional fishing fleet, fuel
distribution systems and fish collection facilities. Tuna fishery is based on trawling
and pole-and-line fishing from mechanised “dhoni”, thus producing a “dolphin-
friendly” product. Fishing boats operate primarily within about 120 km of the atolls.
Collector boats and mother vessels purchase the fish, consolidate and freeze the
supply and deliver it to the plants for further processing (Ministry of Fisheries and
Marine Resources 2006).

Tourism is the highest source of foreign exchange earnings. The number of

annual tourist arrivals now exceeds the total local population (see Table 4.11). At
present there are 92 resorts, mostly on small islands. Resorts are established on
uninhabited islands leased to resort developers – local businessmen, foreign operators
or joint ventures – for a 25-year period (see Table 2.3 and Figures 2.6, 2.7). Resort

42
Jawaharlal Nehru University
 Maldives: A Physical, Economic, Social and Political Profile

development relies heavily on imported equipment, facilities, foodstuffs and skilled

labour; about 3000 Maldivians are employed in this particular sector of tourism
development. Till 2008, over 61 per cent of the tourists came from Europe, mainly
Germany and Italy (Tourism Year Book 2009), but now there is a steady increase in
the number of Chinese tourist arrivals with a downfall in European tourists due to the
global economic slowdown.

Tables 2.4 and 2.5 highlight the main aspects of the Maldives economy.

Table 2.3. Resorts by type of lease-holder and management, 2006-2007

2006 2007
Lease Lease
Holder Joint Holder Joint
Operator Total Local Foreign Venture Total Local Foreign Venture
Total 89 42 30 17 92 44 31 17
Local 68 42 20 6 70 44 20 6
Foreign 7 0 7 0 8 0 8 0
Joint Venture 14 0 3 11 14 0 3 11
Source: Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, 2008. Republic of Maldives.

Figure 2.6. Resorts by type of leaseholders and operators/management, 2007

Source: Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, 2008. Republic of Maldives.

43
Jawaharlal Nehru University
 Maldives: A Physical, Economic, Social and Political Profile

Figure 2.7. Percentage share of resorts, by type of operator/management, 2007

Source: Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, 2008. Republic of Maldives.

44
Jawaharlal Nehru University
 Maldives: A Physical, Economic, Social and Political Profile

Table 2.4. Total revenue and expenditure of government budget by source, 2006-2008
(in million Rf) (Madivian Rufiyaa 12 = US$1)

2008
2007 (Budget
Particulars 2006 (provisional) Est.)
Total Revenue * 7,095.50 9,576.90 11,900.30
Revenue accounted in monetary terms 5,496.20 6,909.30 9,218.50
Revenue 5,328.30 6,716.10 9,081.00
Monetary grants 74.2 96.5 55
Fund accounts 78.1 86.1 72.5
Loan accounts 15.6 10.6 10
Loan disbursement for development projects 806.1 1,581.00 1,924.30
Grants for development projects 793.2 1,086.60 757.5
Overall Surplus / deficit (-) # -250.1 116.2 -100
(Including grants & loans)
Total Expenditure ^ 7,345.60 9,460.70 12,000.30
Total Budget 7,345.60 9,460.70 12,000.30
General budget 5,626.70 6,661.70 9,169.10
Monetary grants 60.7 59.9 60
Expenditure from fund accounts 56.4 65.3 70
Expenditure from Loan accounts 2.5 6.2 7.5
Gov. Contribution to Political Parties - - 11.9
Development expenditure of projects financed from foreign
loans 806.1 1,581.00 1,924.30
Development expenditure of projects financed from foreign
grants 793.2 1,086.60 757.5
* Total revenue is equal to revenue and grants plus disbursements in the other tables.

# Overall deficit in this table is equal to overall deficit (including grants) plus disbursements in other
tables .

^ Total expenditure is equal to expenditure plus loan repayments in other tables.

Source: Ministry of Finance and Treasury.

45
Jawaharlal Nehru University
 Maldives: A Physical, Economic, Social and Political Profile

Table 2.5. Balance of payments, 2005-2007 (in million US dollars)

Items 2005 2006 2007 (Est)

9.6.2008
A. Current Account -273 -302 -424.5
Balance on goods -493.8 -590.1 -736.8
Goods: credit 161.6 225.2 228
Domestic exports f.o.b. 103.5 135.1 107.8
Other 58.1 90.2 120.2
Goods: debit -655.5 -815.3 -964.7
Imports f.o.b. -655.5 -815.3 -964.7
Balance on services 109.8 320.7 357.6
Services: credit 322.9 551.9 627.7
Travel 286.6 512.4 586.3
Services: debit -213.1 -231.2 -270.1
Balance on income -31 -40.8 -41.3
Income: credit 10.9 15.6 21.7
Income: debit -41.8 -56.3 -63.1
Balance on current transfers 142 8.2 -4
Current transfers: credit * 211.5 91.3 98.7
Current transfers: debit -69.5 -83.2 -102.7
B. Capital Account 0 0 0
C. Financial Account 263.8 294.2 445.1
Direct Investment (net) 9.5 13.9 15
Direct investment in Maldives 9.5 13.9 15
Other Investment (net) 254.3 280.3 430.2
Other investment assets 162.2 113 183.4
Banks 32.2 -20.9 -14.3
Other sectors 130 133.9 197.7
Other investment liabilities 92.1 167.3 246.8
Monetary authorities 6.3 0 0
General government 18.6 42.2 39.2
o/w Loans 18.6 42.2 39.2
Disbursements 42.5 62.8 63.2
Amortisations -23.9 -20.7 -24
Banks 67.2 125.2 207.6
Other sectors 0 0 0
D. Net Errors and Omissions (sum of A, B, C & E) -8 52.9 56.2
Overall balance (A+B+C+D) -17.3 45.1 76.9
E. Reserves and Related Items 17.3 -45.1 -76.9
Reserve assets 17.3 -45.1 -76.9
Borrowing from IMF 6.2 0 0
Memorandum Items
Goods and Services -384 -269.4 -379.2
Exports of Goods & Services (XGS) 484.5 777.1 855.6
Current Account as a % of GDP 36.4 33 40.1
* 2005 includes US$152 million as grants and US$ 70.6 million
as insurance claims received for resorts that were damaged by the tsunami.
Source: Maldives Monetary Authority.

46
Jawaharlal Nehru University
 Maldives: A Physical, Economic, Social and Political Profile

POLITICS, ISLAM AND MILITARY

Maldives has been in the grip of political turmoil and transition for some years
now. Opposition to President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s thirty years of authoritarian
rule exploded into mass demonstrations for democratic reform from 2003 onwards,
which the government sought to crush with a heavy hand. The Maldives has since
adopted a new constitution in August 2008, held multi-party presidential and
parliamentary elections – which Gayoom lost eventually in 2008 – and set up an
independent judiciary, a commission for human rights and other reforms.

But the new democratic setup has thrown up serious challenges particularly in
the realm of religious extremism. Historically, religion has been an important part of
the daily lives of Maldivians, but the Islam followed here was flexible. Maldivian
Islam is suffused with local cultural practices and faith in Islam has coexisted with
belief in spirits – djinns. Alongside praying to Allah, Maldivians used to turn to magic
and spells for protection against evil spirits.

Traditionally, women did not veil their faces or cover their heads and men did
not grow a beard. Interaction between men and women was allowed and arranged
marriages, practised in most Islamic societies, was not the norm here. That is now
changing. A new form of Islam has taken root. Signs of conservatism are more
evident on the streets of the capital Malé today than they were even a few years ago.
This researcher was told in an interview that wearing a veil is an offence under a law
enacted during the Gayoom regime, but the number of burqa-wearing women has
been increasing steadily, as that of bearded men in their half pants, who follow a
particular sect of Islam called Wahhabism, a particular orientation within Salafism, an
orientation some consider ultra-conservative and heretical. Maldives is one among the
four countries, including Saudi Arabia, Mauritania and Iran, that do not allow a place
of worship for other religions. Historically, religion has been an important part of the
daily lives of Maldivians, but the Islam followed here was never rigid. Maldivian
Islam is suffused with local cultural practices and faith in Islam has co-existed with
the belief in spirits – djinns (Ramachandran, 2009).

Maldives according to the new constitution is having the Presidential form of

government. The ministers are appointed by the President and should get the approval

47
Jawaharlal Nehru University
 Maldives: A Physical, Economic, Social and Political Profile

of the legislative assembly. If the President resigns, the Vice-President takes over for
the rest of the tenure. The new president can appoint a new cabinet and get the
approval of the legislature. The president can remove the ministers on proved charges
of corruption and misuse of office, but he cannot remove the vice-president on his
own. Political parties were allowed to register only in 2005, when the multi-party
system was introduced.

The National Security Service used to be the nomenclature entrusted with both
policing and defending the nation. The Maldives Police Service (MPS) was formed in
2004 out of NSS for internal policing and Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF)
as the defence force. The MNDF has the primary task of being responsible for
attending to all internal and external security needs of the Maldives, including the
protection of the EEZ and the maintenance of peace and security. The President is the
supreme commander of the force. The Maldivian Coast Guard is the naval arm of the
MNDF. The MPS works under the Ministry of Home Affairs and the MNDF under
the Ministry of Defence and National Security.

Conclusion

Maldives is a nation with inherent vulnerabilities on many fronts. This greatly

affects its security in the realms of environment, economy and socio-political security.
The next three chapters will look into these aspects of inherent vulnerabilities and
insecurity of Maldives and the two chapters thereafter will deal with national policies
and international cooperation in overcoming these insecurities.

48
Jawaharlal Nehru University