ISAS Briefs

The Maldives conjures up an image of paradise, with turquoise seawater lapping against the silver sands of a thousand idyllic islets! Alas, this serene picture does not portray its politics, whose volatility has not ceased to surprise observers. Even prior to formal independence from the British in 1965, a head of government, Mohamm ed Amin Didi was lynched by the public as he had fallen foul of the people. The three - decade - long rather repressive rule of President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who won six consecutive elections (all uncontested, with no chance of his losing any), saw a number of coup attempts, in 1980, 1983 and 1988. The last one required Indian support to be put down.