PA Leader and Mulaku constituency MP Abdulla Yamin has been released from Aarah island near capital Male’ where he was kept for safety by Maldives National Defence Force, MNDF. MNDF released Yamin this afternoon. He was taken to the island in the early morning of 14 July following violent clashes near his home between his supporters and opponents.
According to Mohamed Zuhair, Press Secretary of President Mohamed Nasheed, the President has ordered the release of the PA Leader. Zuhair further said President’s decision to release Yamin was not influenced by any pressure. The Secretary said because of the security situation in Male’, MNDF will provide protection to the PA Leader and his house.Yamin was also under house arrest earlier this month by order of the Criminal Court on a Police investigation of corruption case. But the Supreme Court ruled out the arrest saying there was no evidence to keep him under arrest.
Yamin was taken to Aarah by the MNDF following some disturbances in a huge rally held by the the ruling MDP. The disturbance resulted in a large crowd gathering near Yamin’s home and calling for his arrest when Yamin’s supporters also gathered there. This resulted in a violent clash between the two sides injuring several persons. Police had to use tear gas to disperse the gathering. Leader of main opposition DRP Ahmed Thasmeen condemned the Government for arresting opposition leaders for political motives. Speaker of the People’s Majlis Abdulla Shahid requested Ministry of Defence to allow Yamin to attend the meetings of the Majlis, but the Ministry refused to do so on security grounds. Heated arguments continued in the Majlis between Government and opposition MPs unable to deliberate on the agenda, and the Speaker decided the Majlis will not meet until Yamin attends the Majlis. All meetings of the Majlis were cancelled last week and may reconvene only from I August
President Mohamed Nasheed last week vowed to crush corruption in the country and said he will go out of the boundary to do so if it becomes necessary.
President Nasheed’s Government launched a major campaign to fight corruption after alleging opposition MPs were involved in bribing MPs to influence them to oppose bills and other matters submitted by the Government, after the en mass resignation of all ministers of President Nasheed’s cabinet on 29 June. The President announced his cabinet decided to resign because the Majlis was obstructing their work. Government vehemently condemned the opposition for amending the Finance Law to prohibit sale of public property without Majlis approval. The Government described this decision as an encroachment of the powers of the President and his administration. But the main opposition DRP and its alliance refutes the allegation and say that the Government is required to abide by law when it sells any public property, and the Government has been doing whatever they want disregarding the Constitution and other laws. They said laws are being enacted to ensure accountability and protect the assets of the country.
Billionaire businessman and MP for Maamigili Gasim Ibrahim and PA Leader Yamin were arrested for investigation in a suspected corruption case. However, they were later released by the order of the Supreme Court. Deputy Speaker of the Majlis and Yamin’s close colleague in PA, Ahmed Nazim is also under house arrest on a similar allegation. Last week arrest new warrants were issued on Nazim and ruling MDP’s MP for Thimarafushi Mohamed Mustafa, but the High Court ordered to release them.
Meanwhile friendly countries have expressed concern about the deepening political crisis in the Maldives and urged for restrain from all sides. They called on both the Government and opposition to solve the problem through dialogue. During his state visit, President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapakse also played a mediator’s role between the ruling MDP and opposition DRP and three other parties joining them. On Thursday, US Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake met with President Nasheed and told in a news conference later the crisis will be very costly to the economy of the country. He has also said Yamin should be either charged or released. British and Indian Governments are also trying to help solve the crisis
Last Tuesday, President Nasheed has called for consultations between the Government and opposition, while the opposition DRP and its alliance have also called for the same.
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