Friday
26th Apr 2024
Dhivehi Edition
President Nasheed and Sikka.
Speaker of Parliament and Former President, President Nasheed claimed that relating the coup d'état of November 3, 1988 to First Lady Fazna Ahmed’s father, (Sikka) Ahmed Ismail Manik is defaming him.
In a Tweet, President Nasheed stated that defamation of Sikka Ahmed Ismail Manik will not be tolerated. Nasheed said that the confession statement collected from him after beating and fatally torturing him was utterly fraudulent.
Sikka was charged with withholding information threatening national security and it was not just proven through his confession. His business partner and lead orchestrator of the coup, Abdulla Luthfee, testified in court as well as investigation that Sikka Ahmed Ismail Manik knew of the planned attack.
Speaking to TMJ from jail, Luthufee said that in addition to aiding the efforts of the conspirators, Sikka had encouraged him to assassinate the President Maumoon Abdul Qayyoom that day.
Sikka Ahmed Ismail Manik’s involvement in the devastatingly dark day in Maldivian history is a well-established, irrefutable fact. However, the day has not received much recognition during Nasheed's administration, or in the current MDP administration. Sikka is President Solih’s father-in-law and President Nasheed’s relative.
Sikka Ahmed Ismail Manik was sentenced to 15 years in jail for his role in the Victory Day coup d'état. However, after spending 2 years in prison, he went to India for medical reasons, where he spent 4 years of his sentence. He was granted the Presidential Pardon upon his return and has been free ever since.
In a Tweet to mark the Victory Day, President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Qayyoom described November 3 as “the dreaded Sikka Day”