Former Maldivian president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has made a serious accusation against his elder half-brother, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, a former president himself.
According to Mr. Yameen Abdul Gayoom, his elder half brother was one of the primary conspirators behind the alleged coup attempt on 1st February 2018.
The Maldivian apex court on the said date ordered for the immediate release of nine political leaders of the then opposition.
Additionally, the court further ordered the reinstatement of 12 lawmakers who had lost their parliamentary seats over floor crossing.
Following the Supreme Court's order, President Yameen Abdul Gayoom swiftly declared a state of emergency in the Maldives, for the second time during his presidency, and ordered law enforcement authorities to make several arrests.
The first among these arrests included Gayoom's half-brother, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.
Almost four years after the incident, the former president had disclosed details of the harrowing circumstances in 2018 at the inaugural ceremony for the campaign efforts to elect members to women's empowerment committee of PPM in Male' City.
"I did not have him arrested because he [Maumoon] infringed any of my rights, I had him arrested because he had grossly violated the rights of the state, he had attempted to oust the government by exploiting the apex court, and had been one of the masterminds of the attempt, which forced my hands to do as such," Yameen said.
Furthermore, the former president arrested his half-brother after the National Security Committee had advised for said plan of action.
After explaining details of the events that led to the state of emergency, Yameen Abdul Gayoom claimed that he will not care for blood relations if the perpetrators infringe the rights of public and state.
Meanwhile, Yameen Abdul Gayoom has claimed that the incumbent government has been abusing their powers by exploiting the police and security forces to curtail the opposition's efforts to hold the state accountable for its various acts of misconduct.
He had linked the incident to the contemporary political landscape, by warning one of his relatives, Mr. Abdulla Shamaal, who is a Major General in the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF).
The former president had urged the Major General to be wary of the possible future outcomes, noting that the status quo may not remain.
Moreover, Yameen Abdul Gayoom had urged the Major General not to take heed of the executive's illicit orders and declarations.
Furthermore, Gayoom had criticized the incumbent president for his recent decision of restricting opposition movement by passing a declaration that ordered security forces to curtail anti-India campaigns.
Gayoom noted that the president was acting outside of his presidential rights by passing the declaration, while adding that opposition's movements can be constrained by means of restricting the freedom of speech through parliament legislature.
However, the former president noted that should the parliament in its vested power amend legislature to constrain the freedom of speech to curtail opposition efforts, he would comply regardless of his own emotions.
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