Maldives’ Transition to Democracy Appears Increasingly Precarious

nytimes.com - MALE, Maldives — The thugs came just as the protest here in the capital was about to start. Nearly a dozen men on motorcycles drove into the crowd, forcing some people to jump to safety.

Later, the attackers sprayed gasoline on the marchers who had come out on a recent evening to demand that the former president be freed from prison. Nearby police officers did nothing because, according to independent analysts, diplomats and opposition politicians, the gang members — responsible for a growing number of murders and knife attacks — are in the pay of the Maldivian government.