Ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has warned not to engage in any unlawful activity in Male’ on Friday, as authorities would not hesitate to take legal action if required.
At a press conference, the ruling party’s Vice-President Abdul Raheem Abdullah said that opposition leaders Mohamed Nasheed and Qasim Ibrahim are calling the public to gather in the capital on Friday, February 16. He urged all citizens to disregard the opposition’s call and warned that it was another ploy to get people in trouble, which will end up as a repeat of February 8, 2012. He was referring to the unrest on that date back in 2012, following former president Mohamed Nasheed’s decision to resign from office.
He also accused the leader of Jumhoory Party Qasim of trying to create unrest after the alleged coup orchestrated by the opposition failed. He urged the public not to act on the oppositions' call to assemble in Male, as the government would take all necessary precautions to maintain peace and harmony.
He urged the public to keep in mind the plight of people who had previously taken part in such gatherings mastered by the opposition, as some of them are still serving jail sentences.
The government is under heavy criticism for not implementing the apex court ruling on February 1, and declaring state of emergency. Former president Maumoon and two Supreme Court justices were arrested after the state of emergency. The opposition has accused president Yameen of declaring the state of emergency to intimidate and arrest people at will.
Sign In