Friday
26th Apr 2024
Dhivehi Edition
President Yameen. Photo: TMJ
Opposition Presidential candidate, Abdullah Yameen has claimed that it was the security provided by Maldives Police Service (MPS) that is bolstering this administration.
He made this statement when a journalist made the claim that the administration of Ibrahim Mohamed Solih was bolstered up by public relations spending. The journalist also asked if President Yameen planned to amp up his own public relations if he got elected into office.
In response, the former President refuted this. He said this administration was bolstered up by revoking public’s rights on public expression, nepotism, and brutal use of Police force.
He questioned what was the national security risk posed by a young female protester.
Calling out this administration’s hypocrisy, President Yameen questioned the double standards on public protests.
“These are the people who claim to be bastions of democracy. We’re trying to have a peaceful protest, trying to inform public,”President Abdullah Yameen
He asked whether if PPM had tried to breach Muleeaage gates or Maafushi jail. Those who had done that in the past, he said, were currently heading the government.
The opposition’s protests, he said, had one goal – to hold the government accountable, as the sole opposition in the country. President Yameen said that this government had consistently proven they were not capable of listening to dissenting views, resorting to monitoring PPM offices round the clock.
“So this is not PR value, this is use of undue force. It’s a sign of weakness, a sign of fear. It’s acceptance they have nothing, there’s no government, no energy,”
President Abdullah Yameen
He referred to the May Day protest held during his administration, noting that freedom of assembly was granted then. This administration, he said, did not have guts to allow a protest of that magnitude. The protests held then directly attacked his administration and challenged his leadership, and yet it was still allowed to go on, he said.
The opposition’s protests, he said, had one goal – to hold the government accountable, as the sole opposition in the country. President Yameen said that this government had consistently proven they were not capable of listening to dissenting views, resorting to monitoring PPM offices round the clock.
“So this is not PR value, this is use of undue force. It’s a sign of weakness, a sign of fear. It’s acceptance they have nothing, there’s no government, no energy,”
President Abdullah Yameen
He referred to the May Day protest held during his administration, noting that freedom of assembly was granted then. This administration, he said, did not have guts to allow a protest of that magnitude. The protests held then directly attacked his administration and challenged his leadership, and yet it was still allowed to go on, he said.