Political leaders take to twitter to mark February 7th

Political leaders have taken to social media to mark three years since the resignation of President Mohamed Nasheed in 2012.

While former President and leader of the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) Maumoon Abdul Gayoom wished all “patriotic Maldivians” a “Happy 7th February”, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) leader Nasheed posted the lyrics of a melancholic Dhivehi ballad.

Nasheed’s message contained the lyrics to a song which describes the “many tears shed that day” – originally written about the death of a couple from Galolhu Penzeemaage, killed when their Dhoni capsized near Malé in the 1980s.

He has made no other official comments regarding the day of his departure from office.

Nasheed resigned on February 7, 2012, after mutinying security forces joined anti-government protesters, demonstrating against the arrest of Criminal Court Chief Judge Abdulla Mohamed – for which Nasheed still faces criminal charges.

The protests’ leaders included key opposition figures from PPM, Jumhooree Party (JP), Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party, and the religious conservative Adhaalath Party.

Current Minister of Home Affairs Umar Naseer – who stood in the front lines of opposition protests against Nasheed’s presidency – said yesterday that the date was a “proud day for Maldives, Islam and the constitution”, thanking everyone who stood against the country’s fourth president.

Naseer this weekend announced his exit from JP after the party joined the MDP in an agreement to defending the Constitution – receiving public praise from Gayoom for his decision.

Meanwhile, other protagonists in the events surrounding Nasheed’s resignation struck a more conciliatory tone, with Adhaalath Party President Sheikh Imran Abdulla saying “the nation cannot move forwards without forgiving and building friendships”.

Sheikh Imran described the events of February 7 and 8, 2012 as “dangerous and sad”.

After supporting Gasim in the first round of the 2013 presidential elections and President Abdulla Yameen in the run-off, Adhaalath is considered an unofficial coalition partner in the government, with the party assigned the Ministry of Islamic Affairs.

Nasheed has recently used the events leading up to and following his departure from office to suggest that the current government has lost legitimacy following the JP’s withdrawal from the governing coalition.

He has cited the Commission of National Inquiry (CoNI) report, which concluded that change of government was “legal and constitutional”, and the events of February 6-7 “were, in large measure, reactions to the actions of President Nasheed”.

“[I]t is evident that President Nasheed lost the support of the coalition supporting the MDP which had brought him to power and it is an irrefutable fact that MDP never enjoyed a clear majority in the Parliament,” read the Commonwealth-assisted report.

Even without the support of the JP’s 13 MPs, the ruling PPM currently enjoys a clear majority in the People’s Majlis, controlling 49 seats alongside the its ally, the Maldivian Development Alliance.

Nasheed stated last week that, with the CoNI report arguing that the transfer of power on February 7 was made in accordance with the law: “Yameen, we are also going to change your government in that very path deemed legal”.


Related to this story

Maldives government changes in dramatic scenes after police elements join opposition protest

MDP alleges 117 cases filed against February 8 2012 protesters “politically motivated”

Gasim defiant as opposition sign agreement to defend Constitution

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4 thoughts on “Political leaders take to twitter to mark February 7th”

  1. Would be good if one of these 'political leaders' self appoint himself as the virtual president of Maldives. All his twitter followers can be his subjects and he can have a virtual Republic. It would not make much of a difference from the real one.

    In anycase, there is need to create MORE than one slot for the post of Presidency, virtual or otherwise..

    Thank God for Twitter.

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  2. 7 February is a historical day.

    What about the deception of the 11th century? The forceful conversion and intimidation by the then kings on the whole of Maldives.

    A sad day, period.

    But once the trap is sprung, there is no way out. The leaders would do their best to keep people ignorant. Ignorance feeds the religion. Mullahs get paid to keep the people scared out of their wits.

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  3. 7th Feb, was the day that we all should remember. That was the day we got independent from the dictator Nasheed.

    Nasheed is a threat to the democracy in Maldives and he is a threat to the national security too.

    He is the man who is continuously damaging our economy and social fabric.

    He need to be made answerable to the crimes that he had committed during his 3 years of dictatorship.

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  4. Hero and his ilk go on and on about social fabric and economy and even crimes.

    But you ask them exactly what crimes, and they freeze - their brainwashing is imperfect.

    After all, it is a good thing the heroin traffickers' economy was damaged. Nasheed was just too soft to attack the enemy directly.

    I believe this will change, however - and Maldives will be free from the PPM and their heroin gangs. If war is what will take, then so be it.

    PS: A society that permits judges to sexually abuse children in court deserves obliteration.

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