President Mohamed Nasheed met last night with four of the country’s opposition parties, in a meeting arranged by US Ambassador Patricia Butenis to try and resolve the current deadlock between the executive and the legislature.
The US Ambassador recently attended the July 4 Independence Day celebrations at the Holiday Inn in Male’, organised by the Embassy. During the event, President Nasheed addressed Speaker of the Majlis Abdulla Shahid, saying he “is an honest man. We may have issues but I would like to work with him.”
Last night, representatives from the People’s Alliance (PA),Dhivehi Quamee Party (DQP), Jumhooree Party (JP), along with Deputy Speaker Ahmed Nazim and leader of the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) Ahmed Thasmeen Ali, met the president in a private meeting.
The President attended the meeting alone “and kept his own minutes”, a senior government official said.
Spokesperson for the US Embassy in Colombo, Jeffery Anderson, later confirmed that Ambassador Butenis arranged the meeting “between the President and the main opposition party”, but provided no further information.
Foreign embassies and international bodies have been eyeing the Maldives nervously ever since Nasheed accepted resignation letters from his cabinet in front of the media last week, fearing his actions could signal a reversion of the country’s nascent democracy.
Political Advisor for the President Hassan Afeef has confirmed the meeting took place, but would not discuss further details.
The President reportedly met DRP MP and Parliamentary Speaker Abdulla Shahid on an earlier occasion. Shahid said he did not attend last night’s meeting, and Thasmeen was not responding to calls at time of press.
Press Secretary for the President, Mohamed Zuhair, meanwhile claimed that “a new cabinet” will be established once the government has overcome the problems it faced.
“The cabinet resigned after accusing parliament of having a spirit of altering votes in exchange for money, and felt they were obstructed in their duties by the Majlis,” he said.
Under Secretary for the President’s Office, Ibrahim Rasheed, said that “corruption cannot be solved by discussing it with people who have already committed it.”
He also said that the government was “ready to discus and solve the issues” and called on the political parties to cooperate with the government in its effort to eliminate corruption.
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US must have told the opposition that if they do not co-operate they will show them "what shock and awe" is......
I think we must handover Maldives to the US government to run under a PPP agreement for 100 years. Problem solved. We all can have a ball.
Anni did not have even his vice president with him in the negociations. This shows how weak the President has become. Mr. President.. Please resign and let capable people rule. You belong in a wild and windy opposition, not in an government. Let Rock the streets Mr. Nasheed.
Very true Shafeeg. Anni belongs to the street, not in a government. vakarugey kujjeh viyya. But tell me honestly - who is there to lead this country now? Yamin? Gasim? Hassan Saeed? Kutti? One thing I know for sure is that I'm not going to vote these ppl even if I have to vote for this failed Anni again.
Today it's the US.
Tomorrow it's the biggest thug of them all - Rajapakse! F****** terrorist!
Why don't we invite Mugabe and the likes too?
Who else whould you like to invite? Hosni Mubarek of Egypt? Sure, he will ask the Police to put every single opposition member in a cell.
I think if we can reclaim all our leased resorts from its current owners and re-lease them to a foreign party, all the Maldivians can live happily and enjoy endless. Nobody has to work at all rest of the life. In this way we will only need a very small government and even smaller parliament. Maybe no political party at all...
ANNI - Is it true that you asked even M.W.H.Manik to sign his resignation letter and submit like other cabinet ministers?
Is it true that he came back saying "BOTH of us should sign on a joint resignation letter?" Kekeke!
US never succeed in negotiations of anything, but they can bomb, if Anni ask them.
rajapakse is an expert in breaking opposition leaders, this time President nasheed will get expert advice from the Great Rajapakse. where's the opposition leader fonseka? maldivian media's should ask him this question?
i wonder if Umar Naseer thinks Maldives is going to be another Jewish settlement soon... i agree @Rushdee, i am never gonna vote for anybody else except for Anni given the present political batcrap going on in this country.
who are these people holding talks behind closed doors. playing with our country. making deals. people wake up. politicians are politicians. i don't care if its anni or gasim.
anni..... The true patriot, who have the guts to face these corrupt opposition leaders! What a president we have? I love your presidency anni. All the best
I wonder what did the US threat with to the opposition? Surely they have gone quiet after these meetings !!!