Need to shift gears to free Yameen, Abdul Raheem tells supporters
Abdul Raheem said the campaign has been shifted from camps to street action from Friday.
By
Aminath Shifleen
Abdul Raheem Abdulla, who is in charge of the PPM-PNC coalition, said on Friday that this is a difficult, "tyrannical" government to defeat, and therefore, more effort needs to be put on to free jailed former President Abdulla Yameen.
As the presidential election nears, the biggest concern of the PPM-PNC is the doubt that Yameen will be able to contest the September 9 election due to his 11-year jail sentence. The appeal against the verdict is pending in the High Court while other charges against Yameen are ongoing in the lower court.
However, Yameen's campaign has been launched across the country under the theme of 'Dhivehinge Raajje'. A campaign rally was held at Artificial Beach on Friday evening as well.
Speaking at the rally, Abdul Raheem said the campaign has been shifted from camps to street action from Friday. He said it is very difficult to defeat the government and it requires much courage and determination.
He said the streets of Male should be filled to show that they are not afraid of the government.
"Take to the streets of the city. Go to the institutions. Enter the institutions. Bring this government to a halt," he called out to the supporters.
While Abdul Raheem had made such calls in a harsh voice, senior PPM-PNC leaders and senators had arrived at the Prosecutor General’s (PG) office on Thursday over the charges against Yameen and threatened lawyers there obscenely. The action has drawn criticism towards PPM on social media.
Speaking at Friday evening's rally, Abdul Raheem pleaded with judges:
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Judges should not be the ones who achieve the government's objectives
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Judges should comply with the constitution; to act in accordance with the laws of the country without discrimination against any particular person
According to Abdul Raheem:
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The country is going in a very bad direction
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It is an unimaginably dangerous direction
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It is a conscious, deliberate decision to steer the country in that direction
The former MP said Yameen is showing courage and determination while in jail. Praising Yameen’s strength, Abdul Raheem urged the supporters to appreciate the sacrifice Yameen is making for the sake of the country.
“What a sacrifice he is making. The level of patience he is showing, what kind of determination,” he said.
"For what purpose? It is for the sake of this country, for the sake of the people, because of the love that is rising in his heart for this country”.
Abdul Raheem said:
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There are many ways for Yameen to escape from jail
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Even if he goes for medical treatment tomorrow, the government will have to allow
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However, he said Yameen was showing determination for the country rather than his own life and soul by not kneeling before the government
"So I'm saying, wherever you are, hit the max. Wherever the person is, hit the max. Go door to door, or common places, talk about President Yameen's courage and the brutality of this government," he said.
He also assured that the PPM will not follow any other party. He said the PPM would contest the election with Yameen as their candidate and asked his supporters not to lose hope.
