Reference: 09/08/2014

3 August 2014

Condemnation of death-threats against MPs and call on PPM government to desist from sheltering radical suspects.

The Maldivian Democratic Party condemns in the strongest terms the continuing death-threats being made against MPs by anonymous persons in vain but serious attempts to intimidate members of the main political party in opposition.

On 02 August 2014, text messages threatening to kill the recipients were sent from devices using unlisted telephone numbers to MDP MPs Maria Didi, Rozeyna Adam, Eva Abdullah Ali Azim, Parliamentary Group Leader Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and former Speaker Abdulla Shahid. It is notable that these messages were simultaneously aimed also at all (the three) women in the party’s parliamentary group.

The threats were followed by another message citing as not a sin the yet unsolved machete killing of religious scholar Dr. Afraasheem Ali (in Male’ on 02 October 2012).

The Maldivian Democratic Party calls on the Maldives Police Service and the present PPM government to expedite investigations into these threats of violence, intimidation and murder. These acts of terror are blatant violations of Islamic Sharia, the Maldives Constitution and laws.

The MDP reiterates its concern that while it is common knowledge that the Maldives Police Service has the technical capability to identify suspects using unlisted numbers, the PPM government continues to shelter radical suspects and is yet to name or arrest a single suspect accused of having issued such threats in previous cases lodged by the MDP.

The Maldivian Democratic Party views with alarm and serious concern that these ominous threats were being issued the same week when two people were stabbed to death in separate incidents signifying an escalation of gang related violent incidents in the capital city and other islands. A man was stabbed to death in Thulusdhoo island on 31 July 2014, and another man was stabbed in Male’ the same night. In addition, other incidences of violence and stabbings continued in Male on 01 August 2014, and two more people were stabbed on 02 August 2014.

The Maldivian Democratic Party notes with concern that the present climate of fear in Male’ and several islands began to escalate following Home Minister Umar Naseer’s constitutional powers as the Minister in charge of Police being reduced on 24 July 2014 by his former political rival President Yaameen Abdul Gayoom.

The standoff between both men were made apparent when Umar Naseer accused Yaameen Abdul Gayoom during the Presidential elections of 2013, of connections to violent gangs, drugs traffickers and meeting a suspect (prior to the murder) accused in the brutal killing of Dr. Afraasheem Ali.

The present increase in unsolved violent crimes augments the Maldivian Democratic Party’s stand that the current government lacked a popular mandate and authority thus rendering it illegitimate as well as ineffective in expediting criminal investigations.

Home Minister Umar Naseer had in the run up to Presidential elections wielded truncheons with supporters at a number of protests and called upon a mob to use 50 ladders to impel themselves into the general headquarters of the security services. A judicial case is ongoing on these matters, allegedly instigated by the rival PPM faction.

The present escalation of violent crimes and threats of violence vindicates the Maldivian Democratic Party’s allegations of a “coup d’état” on 07 February 2012, and that the coup’s illegitimate influences had continued on to install the current regime in power.

It is a long standing matter of alarm that sections of the MNDF and Police were coerced to be politically biased, even radicalized by rival factions of the current PPM regime linked to the former dictatorship.

The Maldivian Democratic Party reiterates calls for urgent action from all concerned authorities against radical elements, who were also alleged to have infiltrated into Police and national security services as participants of the coup, enacting subsequent unlawful and unconstitutional interferences in the presidential and parliamentary elections.

The Maldivian Democratic Party condemns in the strongest terms the cowardly and anonymous threats of violence against the party’s members and appeals to all well-wishers and concerned authorities to prevail over the current PPM government in Maldives to desist from sheltering radical suspects who are threatening violence and murder of MPs and members of the main opposition political party.

ENDS