AG's no-confidence motion shows opposition lost electoral hope, MDP MPs say
South Galolhu MP Mikail said he had faith in the AG because even Nasheed himself had said in the past that Riffath was an honest person.
By
Mariyam Umna Ismail
MDP lawmakers have said on Monday that the no-confidence motion against Attorney General (AG) Ibrahim Riffath in connection with the delimitation of the territorial waters between the Maldives and Chagos in the south has been submitted to the parliament by those who know that President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih will win the upcoming presidential elections.
The no-confidence motion against Riffath was submitted to the parliament with the signatures of 13 lawmakers belonging to the opposition PPM-PNC, MNP, Jumhooree Party (JP), and speaker Mohamed Nasheed's Fikuregge Dhirun faction.
After the 10-minute opportunity given to the AG in Monday's sitting to respond to the motion, the members representing MDP spoke in defence of the government.
Ihavandhoo MP Mohamed Shifau said that he does not believe that any Maldivian has lost faith in President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's government or any of his ministers. Pointing out this, he said the people will bear witness that there has been "no other interest that will take precedence over the interests of the people of the country".
He said the AG's no-confidence motion was moved in parliament as the opposition could not digest the government’s success.
Addu Meedhoo MP Rozaina Adam also said that the no-confidence motion was submitted by a group of people who could not "digest" the success of President Solih's administration.
Galolhu South MP Mikail Ahmed Naseem pointed out that the loose coalition of opposition parties that was pursuing the case made statements that did not make sense. He pointed out that while some members of the same coalition believed that Maldives' sovereignty would prevail over Chagos, some members of the same coalition opposed it.
He said he had faith in the AG because even Nasheed himself had said in the past that Riffath was an honest person.
In the opportunity given to the MPs who signed the no-confidence motion, they targeted the AG with questions. Some of the questions asked by some of the members were:
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Guraidhoo MP Ghassan Maumoon – With ITLOS decision, did we lose a part of the country's territory as is set out in the constitution?
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Faresmathoda MP Hussain Mohamed Latheef – Did President Solih write a letter to the prime minister of Mauritius as per the advice of the AG?
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Maafannu Central MP Ibrahim Rasheed – Did the defence and fisheries ministries inform the AG in writing or verbally that Maldivian fishermen were not fishing in the waters claimed to have have been lost?
Though he did not turn up for Wednesday's meeting, where the no-confidence motion was first on the agenda, Riffath had sent a written reply, but the AG attended Monday’s sitting and defended himself.
The sitting, however, was cut short as MPs exchanged in heated debates, with some claiming that Riffath had failed to answer their questions.
