Nasheed rallies for Yameen’s release
Nasheed said the Democrats would participate in the movement to free Yameen.
By
Ahmed Sadhoof Moosa
Former President Mohamed Nasheed of The Democrats on Tuesday called for the release of former President Abdulla Yameen, who is serving an 11-year prison sentence for bribery and money laundering in connection with the MMPRC corruption scandal.
The Democrats are campaigning for the upcoming presidential election in Fuvahmulah.
Democrats held a rally at the Milo Stadium in the island on Tuesday evening.
Speaking at the rally, the speaker of parliament and former MDP president Nasheed called for the release of Yameen with his supporters chanting with him.
“President Yameen should be released right now,” Nasheed said.
“President Yameen –”, Nasheed called, and his supporters completed the sentence by shouting “–Release him”.
Nasheed said his new party, The Democrats would participate in the movement to free Yameen.
“We will also participate in the protest. We will be on the streets with you. We will also go to talk to international bodies. Various international lawyers will come to Maldives and advocate [in Yameen's case], and with God’s will, we will have him released," he said.
Nasheed said it was not fair that Yameen should be in jail alone in the MMPRC corruption scandal.
"You know, there are 270 people involved in the MMPRC theft. However, if only one of them [Yameen] is taken away and arrested for five years, then we cannot accept that as justice," Nasheed said.
Recalling his past days in jail, Nasheed said he knew very well how to get people out of jail. He also humorously assured that this was a technique he had perfected during his tenure with MDP.
Nasheed then assured his "fellow PPM members" that Yameen would not be in jail for long.
Nasheed said that there are a lot of people who say that he was the one to bring President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to power. Then, even louder, he boomed that he would be the one to remove President Solih from power as well.
"I will tell my former friend that he has lived wrongfully for the last five years, to get away early and go home," he said, accompanied by the cheering of supporters.
