Two petrol bombs landed inside ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Haruge (headquarters) around midnight last night, January 7. MDP activists allege that the culprits were paid recruits of opposition Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM).
Police were called to the scene where they spoke to activists then inside the headquarters. Police officials today said the incident was minor, involving a few “bottles with petrol”, and that there was no confrontation.
No arrests have been made, and there is no investigation.
MDP activist Mohamed Areef described the incident to Minivan News.
“Some activists were just sitting near the wall of the haaruge, talking and playing chess. Then one bomb landed from over the wall, and I ran. Next another bomb was thrown just inches from my head.”
Areef said one man had sustained burns to his ankle, but that the injury was minor.
Areef noted that opposition PPM had held a gathering on January 5, and he was “quite sure [the attack] was planned by PPM. The party probably paid some people to do it.”
According to Areef, MDP will not retaliate.
PPM Spokesperson Ahmed Mahlouf denied that the party had any involvement in the matter.
“We have no interest in taking MDP Haruge, and we definitely do not support violence as a way of addressing issues,” he said.
Mahlouf added that the party had not held discussions regarding MDP “for two, three days”, and had no reason to launch petrol bombs into the ruling party’s headquarters.
“We are shocked to hear the news, and to hear that the blame has been put on us,” he said.
The incident follows several weeks of political controversy over demands made during a religious protest on December 23, in which PPM members and leaders joined six other opposition parties and religious NGOs in a call for stronger Islamic policies at the government level.
In response to these demands, the government ordered that all resort spas be closed and announced it was considering a ban on pork and alcohol. The first resorts to experience these effects were those owned by Jumhooree Party Leader and MP Gasim Ibrahim, the owner of Villa Hotels. Gasim subsequently sued the government over the matter.
Meanwhile, PPM argued that the demands against the sale of alcohol did not refer to the 100-plus resorts currently operating in the Maldives. However, going along with the high-stakes game of chicken the party announced that it would support the government’s suggestion to ban pork and alcohol provided “it has the courage” to do so.
Last week, the government requested a “consultative opinion” from the Supreme Court over the legality of selling pork and alcohol in a nation whose constitution is based on Islamic Sharia. Twenty-four hours later the government announced it was lifting the ban on spa operations in order to protect business interests while the court deliberates the matter.
The Judicial branch of the Maldives has been widely labelled as a remnant of the former regime, which appointed all of the current judges. A majority of the judges have little or no legal training, and have not been educated beyond grade seven. This year, MDP activists requested international support over the “increasingly blatant collusion between politicians loyal to the former autocratic President, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, and senior members of the judiciary – most of whom were appointed by Gayoom during his thirty years of power.”
Speaking at a press conference last week, President Mohamed Nasheed credited the spa controversy for having “woke the nation from its slumber and sparked a healthy national debate about the future direction of the country”.
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Don't look too far it Maumoon's children.
Its former presidents son Faris Maumoon.
get ready butt heads. Our piss is more explosive than your petrol. Mr. Gayoom. How come when former president is away from Male' its peace and when he comes there is so much violence. If you want violence we are ready too. you should know who we are?
Umaru Naseer, we are free, and we are at your service. Just a friendly message.
Look how responsible and sensible are our political parties. They are still playing these blame games on each other like kids. None of our politcal parties and its members know how to deal even a simple situation like gentlemen and intellectuals.. how can all these people lead a country. So uncivilized.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsj4pUkeQBA shaheems video part one
This must be done by MDP activists.
This article neatly fits into the definition of defamation.
Right after a reference to the Supreme Court, Minivan claims that the majority of judges have not received formal schooling beyond 7th grade.
Last I heard the majority of judges on the Supreme Court bench are all postgraduates from respected Universities across the world. If the MDP (which sponsors Minivan) wishes to destroy and defame every institution in the Maldives then what democracy can we ever have.
Institution strengthening is what we need. Not wild revolutionary idealism and conflict through refusal to engage in dialogue. Please note that the US government is closely monitoring actions taken by the Maldivian executive. It is not longer a secret that international community has an extremely low opinion of the ruling party as much as most of the opposition.
This must have been done by MDP itself. The party has turned out to be a huge disappointment for those who worked hard for the principles it once stood for.
Blame it on the monuments!
Mahloof and Nihan pays to gangs for such brutality and I know it personally after listening to voice conference call by them.
My dear Muslim brothers and non-fornicating sisters. These incidents, are nothing but evidence of Jews trying to divide us, for when we stand united, we are the strongest. They know this, and they are trying to divide us, and I fear that they have succeeded. The Jews are laughing at you right now.
This is why I call upon all the readers, to immediately join the Adhaalath Party. Forms will be available on our website. Surely, we are the only party with pious men and women minus Shaheem, who is indeed a transgressor!
we are having enough drama in politics, why add violence and terrorism to it.
Why dies minivan publish these stupid hate comments from this idiot who calls himself sheikh imran abdullah? theres a cure to this kind of stupidity, sheikh. Try ramming a thumb into your rear end and licking it twice, that is every mornin and and before going to bed.
Obviously a Jew.
Who else would throw a bottle? Has anyone ever seen a Muslim throw a bottle? Anyone?
And we know that there are only Muslims and Jews in the world. We also know that Muslims don't throw bottles.
Quite simple, really.
"we definitely do not support violence as a way of addressing issues,”
SERIOUSLY??? LMAO!!!!