MDP misled people about Maumoon's service: Yameen

Opposition leader, former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has said that former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who was jailed during his tenure, was a devoted political leader, but during the last term of Maumoon’s 30-year-long rule, MDP was misleading the people.

During his ongoing visit to Noonu atoll as the opposition presidential candidate, Yameen said that MDP’s declarations at the time and what they are doing now does not meet.

Maumoon, the then president of PPM, had worked to bring his half-brother Yameen to power in 2013, but he was later expelled from the party and jailed on charges of attempting to overthrow the government after Yameen became president. The relationship between the two brothers remain strained to date. 

At a meeting in Miladhoo, Yameen criticised MDP's comments during Maumoon’s regime, claiming that they were working to "bring democracy". 

Acknowledging that Miladhoo was a largely MDP supporting island within a multi-party political system, Yameen said that many people, including the MDP supporters in the island had accepted what MDP had said at the time. Now, when the party finally came to power, what was said at that time is no longer being followed, said Yameen. 

"President Maumoon is a devoted leader, there's no doubt about it. But needing change is part of human nature. At that time, MDP was showing fault within the government, saying we have no progress in the future and that democracy is the best way. They called on the people to raise their voices to protect the rights of the people," Yameen said.

Yameen, who even served as trade minister in Maumoon's regime, said the government faced difficulties back then due to the statements being made by those who were involved in the revolution at the time.

"Then Evan Naseem's death happened. The shooting incident took place in Maafushi Prison. It was a tough time. But what I am trying to do here is to take you back to that time, so that you remember the vows and promises and criticism that was voiced back then, the same words that the people of Miladhoo must have believed as well," Yameen said.

He said that the people of Miladhoo and others who believed in it at that time are now seeing the "real face" of MDP.

"Today, their reality has been revealed. You don't need to look any more. Today they [MDP] are exposed, completely exposed," Yameen said.

Yameen then relayed the story of Abdulla Rasheed, president of the island’s PPM steering committee, who died after being arrested during a police drug operation in Hoadedhdhoo. Yameen believes that it was not a natural death.

"A human being can die, [But] we can't believe this was a natural death. In other words, neither my fellow  party-men, nor do I believe it is a natural death," Yameen said.

"How was their [MDP] stand at that time? Everyone who died back then was accused of being killed by president Maumoon. The responsibility for those [according to MDP],  should be taken by Maumoon. A large number of people had gathered and protested regarding it, loud and aggressively at the time."

He said those who came out on the streets to raise their voices, propagating a superior party system to end Maumoon's old-fashioned rule talked about democracy and misled the people a lot. He said they had advocated that there should be freedom of speech and assembly. However, he pointed out that today all these things are being obstructed by the present government, the same people.

"What I am saying is that they should maintain the example they have portrayed to the people; should learn to uniform it and apply it in one way. Now that they have come to power, the armed forces are also good. The police are good too. It's good to be tortured. Gatherings are also prohibited. It's also forbidden to raise your voice," said Yameen, who had severely restricted those rights during his own tenure.

"It is permissible to speak in any way in the parliament. They don't believe in the existence of a religion or race or nation. This is the truth of the party, what is happening now. Now, there are no people in the country who believe in the party's narrative."

Violence in Maafushi prison escalated after soldiers tortured and killed Evan Naseem. Five more people were killed and several others were injured when the army opened fire at the inmates that tried to leave after destroying the jail.

Many people, especially the youth, took to the streets in Male and started burning several places as well. This was when the soldiers came out.

It was an incident where the country realised that it wanted a change. Later, anti-Maumoon elements formed MDP in Sri Lanka and organised an opposition force recognised by the international community. In 2004, Maumoon announced an agenda to make Maldivian politics more open.

It was during this stage that a new constitution was drafted and the country's first free election was held in 2008. According to Yameen, if a person dies in police custody, it is always blamed on the police.

The freedom of assembly guaranteed by the new constitution was curtailed by the 18th parliament, which supported Yameen. At that time, MDP had objected to it. They also promised to change the freedoms curtailed by the law once they came to power. However, four years into the second MDP government, it is still impossible to gather except in the carnival area after obtaining permission as was done during Yameen's rule.

Yameen said that religious leaders are also making political lies. He was referring to the remarks made by the current Home Minister Imran Abdulla at a massive rally in Male city on 1 May, 2015. He had accused Yameen of being involved in the death of Dr. Afrasheem Ali.

Yameen said that when such allegations were levelled against him, the government, where Imran was a minister, could not take it into courts and prove it.