updated by: Ramiz
Reference No: 113/11/2012
16 November 2012
MDP strongly condemns politically motivated arrests of senior politicians and calls for their immediate release.
The Maldivian Democratic Party strongly condemns politically motivated arrests of senior politicians in the early hours of Friday, 16 November and calls for their immediate release.
Among the arrested are former President Mohamed Nasheed’s Special Envoy Mr Ibrahim Hussain Zaki and Press Secretary Mr Mohamed Zuhair, Member of Parliament and MDP spokesperson, Hon. Hamid Abdul Ghafoor (MDP) and Member of Parliament Hon. Abdulla Jabir (Jumhooree Party, JP). They were arrested on charges of alleged alcohol consumption.
The MDP and JP, have openly declared their support for a motion submitted in the Parliament to make all no confidence motions a secret vote and the voting for the motion is tabled for Tuesday, 20 November. The MDP recently submitted a no confidence motion against Dr. Mohamed Waheed, which is yet to be tabled.
Hon. Zaki, former SAARC Secretary General and a senior statesman, last week, openly criticized the government on mishandling the issue of GMR contract and diplomatic relations with the Government of India. He also spoke in detail on the attempted coup of November 3, 1988. Additionally, he recently criticized the MNDF Generals for their role in the February 7 coup d’etat.
The arrests also come after Dr. Waheed attacked the Parliament on Thursday, saying, “All MPs do is waste their time arguing and obstructing government.” He also said work had begun in the parliament to impeach him because he criticized the Parliament.
“These are politically motivated arrests. This is an attempt by Dr. Waheed to intimidate the MDP and JP ahead of the vote on Tuesday. We call on their immediate release,” said Ali Shiyam, MDP Deputy Chairperson.
“We have received unconfirmed reports that they are still kept in the island, handcuffed and none of them have been transferred to an official detention facility,” Shiyam added.
ENDS
Ali Shiyam
Deputy Chairperson, MDP
Mobile: +960771327
Tel: +9603340044
