A blast in a speedboat

Aides under scrutiny, two arrested over attempt on Maldivian President AbdullaYameen's life:

Dilrukshi Handunnetti reporting from Male

The breathtaking beauty of the Maldivian islands - 1192 in total - can belie its much harsher realities, ranging from assassination attempts to conspiratorial overthrows to rights violations that are concealed in their mysterious beauty.

The palm trees, the powdery white beaches and the large expanse of turquoise blue sea continue to beckon visitors. The holidaymakers still arrive in the resplendent islands but the local people tiptoe around the issue of security, fearing to say anything. But the islanders, used to political turmoil in their country, are still trying to come to terms with the reality that their President had been targeted, and a bomb had gone off - the very first, according to them - threatening the islands' peace.

International investigators have made quick progress in probing the explosion of Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen's speedboat last week with two presidential aides, both military officials, being arrested on Tuesday in connection with the assassination bid. Authorities have not pinned direct responsibility on them but as most things in the Maldives, there is much that will not be explained or even hinted at.

Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon, the daughter of former president Abdul Gayoom has publicly declared that what happened last week was already looking "extremely sinister." The authorities have also concluded that there was no question of a mistaken identity, technical defect or an accident - theories that surfaced in the immediate aftermath of the blast - insisting that an attempt had been made on the President's life on the presidential yatch.

International probes

Mohamed Shareef, Minister at the President's Office confirmed that there was a lot of support from the local and international community to ascertain the truth.

Unidentified injured people are evacuated after a blast on the Maldives President Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s speedboat in Male, Maldives Monday, September 28, 2015. Gayoom and wife Fathimath Ibrahim and several officials suffered minor injuries. The country’s international airport is on a separate island and a short boat trip is needed to reach the capital island. - Yoosuf SofwanSun Online via AP

"Other theories have been quickly ruled out by the international investigators. An attempt has been made on our President's life. We are thankful to the experts from all the countries assisting the probe and specially the Federal Bureau of Investigation," he said.

The arrested two are military officials who had access to the speedboat at the time of the blast. "It is not easy to gain access to the Presidential yatch. It is a secure mode of transport and civilians have no access," a member of the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) - founded in 2011 by Yameen's half brother and former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, said.

Just days after Amal Clooney, the British human rights lawyer reached Maldives in pursuit of justice for ousted President Mohamed Nasheed, international investigators are now working hard in the Maldivian capital, Male, to assist ongoing investigation in to the assassination bid on September 28.

The internationals include investigators from the United States, Saudi Arabia, Australia, India and Sri Lanka. Four Sri Lankans - all from the Criminal Investigation Depart (CID) - have been stationed in male since October 1.

While the President who was travelling to Male from Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (INIA) - located on the nearby island of Hulhule remained unhurt - his wife Fatimath suffered minor spinal injuries.

Two presidential aides, identified as Presidential Secretary Fathimath Mohamed Solih and personal bodyguard of the president, Abdu Nasir, have also been injured.

The first couple was returning from Haj pilgrimage.

The National Inquiry Commission, established last week to probe the blast, has already released footage of the video gathered by local journalists.

An eyewitness who spoke over the phone on the basis of anonymity said, the President was reaching Male, the capital and just as the boat approached the pier, followed: "First a loud blast, them choking smoke."

She said it was impossible to believe that "something like that had happened."

New developments

Meanwhile, several fresh security measures are being planned to project the first citizen of the island as well as other VIPs.

According to Shareef from the President's Office, new security measures are being introduced to provide better protection for Yameen as well as others, including ministers.

Inside sources said the Maldivian authorities were being guided by Sri Lanka at present on the possible formation of a sophisticated presidential security division, at the request of Male.

Authoritative sources also said that the passport of a top-ranking politician has been seized in connection with the assassination attempt, though Maldivian authorities showed great reluctance to share further information, beyond the arrests already made.

Despite the security setback, Yameen on Thursday flew to the Indian capital New Delhi to discuss several matters, ahead of Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's first visit to the Maldives after assuming office, yesterday (10). Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to visit the Maldives in March but called off his tour due to the political unrest that prevailed at the time.

Yameen dominates the headlines and there are other controversies that keep the Maldives under the microscopic gaze of the international community.

Political tension continues to build in the Maldives with activists and icons drawing attention to the contested jailing of former President Mohamed Nasheed, viewed by many as an act of political vindictiveness by Yameen.

Amal Clooney, the human rights lawyer and wife of Hollywood actor together with Jared Gender of Freedom Now, a group that campaigns for prisoners of conscience have taken the lead in defending Nasheed pro bono. Cherie Blair, wife of former British Premier Tony Blair and her Omnia Strategy law firm is poised to make strident calls before the UN on Nasheed's behalf.

Internationally, there may be little sympathy for Yameen, often seen as the quiet aggressor who strategically manipulated the political defeat of Nasheed and slapped charges of treason to disqualify the popular human rights and climate activist from running for presidency in 2018. Powerful lobbyists are now calling for his release in the absence of which, the imposition of targeted sanctions against the Maldives.

Not to be outdone, the Maldives Government too has also hired the Washington-based lobbying firm Podesta for a hefty US$50,000 for a six-month-long campaign to promote Yameen's administration in the US. As things stand right now, all eyes are on Yameen and his injured wife. Still, there is much that doesn't meet the eye.