DRP accused of controlling police days after being accused of undermining them

Chairman of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Moosa ‘Reeko’ Manik last night claimed that the police were firmly under the control of the Dhivehi Rayithuge Party (DRP) leader Ahmed Thasmeen Ali, reports Haveeru.

Speaking at Usfasgandu, Moosa alleged that both the Defence Minister Mohamed Nazim and the Commissioner of Police Abdulla Riyaz are members of the DRP.

“I am warning Thasmeen, even if it’s the [MDP] party’s chairperson, former chairperson or even a member of the party, we will start viewing DRP in another light if they are dragged to the Police station every second day for no apparent reason,” Moosa is reported to have said.

The speech followed the police’s questioning of MDP MP Mariya Didi on Tuesday relating to event which occurred after the police raided the MDP protest camp at Usfasgandu  on May 29.

“We have the courage to stand up to all the political parties,” he said.

Conversely, Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP) MP Riyaz Rasheed announced on Tuesday that the DRP was trying to undermine confidence in the police and the military

After blaming DRP MPs for allowing the MDPs proposal to discuss police brutality in the Majlis, Riyaz said that the DQP’s alliance with the DRP “no longer exists”.

Lat night, Moosa also claimed that both India and Sri Lanka were looking into the circumstances surrounding the resignation of former President Mohamed Nasheed who last week received the backing of more than 65 percent of his party’s members to become their presidential candidate in the next election.