Maldives govt denies obstructing Yameen's new party formation after outrage
Former Minister Mohammed Maleeh Jamal, who is in charge of the formation of the PNF, slammed the statement issued by the President's Office.
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By
Shahudha Mohamed
The government has responded to allegations about hindering the formation of former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom's party, the People's National Front (PNF), saying that the government has not disrupted the meeting and that the Social Centre had been arranged to hold the event.
Ghiyasuddin School, which was supposed to hold the PNF formation meeting, was cordoned off by the police on Wednesday evening when people started assembling for the meeting. This led to protests and the police used pepper spray on those gathered there.
The opposition criticised the government for disrupting the PNF meeting, alleging that it was on the direct orders of President Mohammed Muizzu.
Police said the rally was stopped at the request of Ghiyasuddin School. Thus:
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Police said PNF had been informed of the cancellation of the agreement to hold the rally on Wednesday afternoon
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When PNF would not respect the school’s wishes, it had asked the police through the Ministry of Education to stop the rally
The President's Office issued a statement on Wednesday evening in response to allegations against the government, sayin will not interfere with any political activity conducted in accordance with the law. The social center was arranged for the PNF formation meeting, according to th President’s Office.
The President's Office said the reason for not allowing the meeting at PNF's Ghiyasuddin School was:
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Ghiyasuddin School refused to hold the rally and police assisted in maintaining security at the school
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It is very difficult for schools at this time to allocate school halls for any activities as they are preparing to reopen next Sunday after two weeks of holidays and it is the end of the year examination period
"Therefore, in order to address the problem of availability of any school hall in Male and to enable the political party founders to carry on with their activities in this very evening, the government had made arrangements for the formation meeting of the political party to be held in the main hall of the Social Centre, and informed them of it voluntarily," the President's Office said in a statement.
Former Minister Mohammed Maleeh Jamal, who is in charge of the formation of the PNF, has slammed the statement issued by the President's Office.
"The PNF rally was obstructed, led by Dr. Muizzu tonight. I condemn it," he said.
"The PNF rally is being held in the surf point since any government venue had not been arranged. [President's Office Minister] Haleel is lying about the government arranging a venue”.
