Government and opposition play blame game over Addu attacks

Government and opposition figures have continued to trade accusations this week after the attacks on the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) in Addu last weekend.

Speaking at a public ceremony today, Tourism Minister and Progressive Party of Maldives Vice President Ahmed Adeeb claimed that the opposition leadership was “torching buildings and inciting violence”, reported local media.

President’s Office Spokesperson Ibrahim Muaz has also been accused of suggesting the attacks were coordinated by the MDP, prompting an angry response from Addu’s MDP leadership.

Muaz, who was not responding to calls at the time of press, is reported in local media as saying that creating unrest is unacceptable and that damaging property is not the way to win the love of the public.

Friday’s MDP rally in Feydhoo was attacked by masked men before its headquarters in Hithadhoo were set on fire. The incidents followed a series of arson attacks on the party’s offices and the homes of its member, who have also received persistent death threats.

In a press statement on Monday (October 13), president of the MDP’s Addu City branch, Ahmed Adhuham, condemned Muaz’s allegations, calling them irresponsible and unacceptable coming from the President’s Office.

Meanwhile, MDP chairperson Ali Waheed said in a press conference today that the MDP feels the Home Ministry, alongside Maldives Police Service (MPS), is not doing enough to ensure the protection of the party after the clear threats received.

“We have received numerous threats and all of these threats have been reported to the relevant authorities however we have received a letter from the MPS stating that some of the cases relating threats against MDP have been filed without any investigation,” said Waheed.

Waheed also claimed that the attacks are being carried out by a third party which helped the government come to power but is now stronger than the government.

“I do not believe that a government – which has not been able to implement a single project benefiting the public while having majority in the parliament – would have the need to interfere and attack MDP rallies,” said Waheed.

The MDP has filed cases with independent commissions including Police Integrity Commission, the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives, and the Elections Commission.

Waheed said the party would not hesitate to involve foreign bodies if the threats were not adequately addressed by the MPS and Home Ministry.

Threats and Attacks

The MDP rally in Feydhoo last week was attacked by a group of masked individuals wielding wooden planks and rocks. 16 people were arrested before being released, with police citing a lack of evidence.

The ruling PPM was quick to condemn the attack, expressing concern that “such acts that harm political parties, public property, and lives”.

“All parties should have the opportunity to carry out political activities peacefully,” read a PPM press release.

Speaking in Fuvahmulah the day after the Addu attacks (October 11), MDP leader Mohamed Nasheed accused the PPM or senior government figures of being behind the attack. Nasheed’s residence in Addu was pelted with stones the following night.

The party’s main office in Malé was set on fire on September 25 after attacks on the two previous nights. Attempts were also made to set MDP parliament member Hamid Abdul Ghafoor’s house on fire.

MDP members and their families have received a large number of death threats from private numbers, with party spokesperson Imthiyaz Fahmy telling Minivan News last month that the threats had become too frequent to publicise adequately.

On October 5, Nasheed lodged a complaint at the UK Metropolitan Police Service regarding death threats he received while attending the Conservative Party conference.

The Inter-Parliamentary Union has previously described the government’s reaction to threats against elected officials as a test of the country’s democracy.

During a rally held last month in Malé, MDP MP and IPU member Eva Abdulla received a message threatening a suicide attack at the next MDP gathering. The message threatened to kill of MDP members, vowing to ‘fight to the last drop of blood’.

Waheed revealed at the press conference that an MDP rally will be held on October 25 at the carnival area in Malé, saying that MDP will not back down in the face of such threats.

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10 thoughts on “Government and opposition play blame game over Addu attacks”

  1. All these threats and messages are done in order to create violence in this country but Nasheed and his gangs.

    This is the same tactic that Nasheed used previously to gain public support . But now we have learn the tactics and Nasheed must find different tactics to gain public support.

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  2. Well organized fanatic extremist making a good job of plying the two major parties against each other. It’s amazing they can carry on. Without any solid evidence of who is behind, only rumors orchestrated by the vandals versing around. Is it now professional science laboratory where DNA test can be performed? With a small population like Maldives with such high criminal record per capita every person in Maldives’ should be on a DNA data base with fingerprints and DNA. sample

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  3. fanatic extremist are getting clever. Sheik Shaheem is even using his Hajj trip for photo op and now promise of building mosques WHILE
    playing the two major parties against each other.

    One day MDP and PPM will wake up and find they are sidelined together .... With all institutions taken over by radicals

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  4. If Adheeb, his government and his supporters believe that MDP and its leaders are creating "violence", why are they walking free? Why are they not under arrest? That's the real question!

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  5. It's sad when these 2 parties are working against each other. The enemy is a common one.

    Yet, no one dares to acknowledge it.

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  6. @@Hero

    Have to feel sorry for you Hero. So so pathetic. Do you have nothing of substance to say?

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  7. @Willy rasta

    What you propased is a policy state that watched all Muslims... how long until this DNA evidences can be used to arrest Muslim leader just as this injustice some by USA to Muslims set up for terrorism charge.

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  8. @hero
    Seriously man, you need to get your head examined. You have the symptoms of a brain tumor.

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  9. @Kasim what I propose here is well organized system to catch criminals’, only criminals has to worry
    Any criminals will be cord whatever fate. Yes leaders will be arrested if it is proven they have done something criminal. Your own police will keep the DNA registry. Only
    Criminals have to worry. Worries about Muslim lenders arrested by USA for terrorist charges are groundless. It’s only a psychopaths view. I presume you have some reason to worry regarding terrorism?

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