Muizz says foreign troops for civilian purposes also unacceptable

Opposition PPM-PNC candidate Dr Mohamed Muizz on Tuesday urged the people to think about the leaders who feel that the presence of foreign troops in Maldives even for civilian purposes is not an issue, when voting in the upcoming presidential elections.

Muizz speaking at a rally in K. Kaashidhoo said that Indian troops will not be able to stay in Maldives in their government.

"There is not a single thing in our country that is satisfactory today. We have to keep in mind that the political leaders' perception that it is not a problem if the soldiers are only in plain clothes [and] that it is not a problem is something that I cannot accept. So you need to remember this when you go to vote," Muizzu said, without naming rival MDP's presidential candidate, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, but referring to him.

"If the people allow this government to continue this [foreign] policy, we will not have the freedom we have now."

In the Sangu TV presidential debate on Saturday, the president said there were no foreign troops in Maldives for military purposes. Foreign troops have always visited Maldives for various trainings and non-military activities, he said.

Muizz referred to the president’s remarks from the debate, and criticised the government's foreign policy.

“What we are seeing around us, our foreign policy is that we do not have our independence [and] our boundary around us, we are losing our sovereignty,” Muizz said.

"This country must be governed by people who accept the decision of the people and govern the way the people want. [And] people who believe that the country should belong to its people."

Muizz, who is campaigning under the slogan 'Dhivehinge Raajje', urged the people to take all these factors into consideration and vote with a national mindset.

"It is if we want to save the country. We can bring development to our country. However, when we try to bring development like that, there is nothing left to do without our identity and nationalism," he added.