Nasheed says govt making same mistakes behind his fall from power

Former President Mohamed Nasheed said on Monday that the fall of MDP’s first government he led was caused by mistakes made in the spirit of vengeance and the incumbent government is making similar mistakes and the result will be the fall of this government as well.

Nasheed's government changed on February 7, 2012 when he resigned under pressure following a series of protests. Although Nasheed later said it was a coup, a Commonwealth-backed enquiry commission concluded that it was not.

Nasheed has always admitted at various forums in the past that mistakes were made during the administration.

Nasheed, who is also the speaker of the parliament, made the remarks in response to a statement made by Kulhudhuffushi North MP Yasir Abdul Latheef, who belongs to his ‘Fikuregge Dhirun' faction in MDP, on a WhatsApp group for the parliament. Yasir was not satisfied following reports that the ‘Viyavathi Raajje' seminar to be held in HDh. Kulhudhuffushi would be shifted to Hanimaadhoo in the atoll.

Along with a screenshot of the story published in Kulhudhuffushi Online, Yasir said that the government has started punishing the people of the island.

"I also think you should shift the eligible voters to another island," Yasir said.

Nasheed, who had the backing of Yasir and city mayor Ahmed Atif, received most of the votes from the two polling booths set up in Kulhudhuffushi in January’s presidential primary of MDP. However, there was a difference of six votes between President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Nasheed.

Responding to Yasir's concerns, Nasheed said that the government is acting in a vengeful spirit and it is only President Solih who is suffering from it. Nasheed also pointed out that there is a belief in the country's politics that vengeance can bring about change and progress.

"Governments have been destroyed completely believing that they can diffuse situations in that manner. That's how the last six months of my tenure as president had been," he said.

"We've got to understand now. Don't let this upset you, Yasir. They are tying the noose themselves."

After Nasheed's defeat in MDP primaries, he has been doing his best to ensure that President Solih will not be elected for a second term. Instead of supporting President Solih, Nasheed's 'Fikuregge Dhirun' faction has decided to work with Jumhooree Party(JP) presidential candidate Gasim Ibrahim to come up with a manifesto.