Government will not respond to breaking of windows: President

President Mohamed Nasheed has said that the government will listen if a large number of people express their opinion on an issue. It will however not respond if they take to the streets and break windows using poles and sticks.

The President was speaking at a ceremony held in Gan to provide information regarding the development projects planned for Th. and L. atolls.

The President said that no Maldivian government can be overthrown by holding protests, and if anybody knows this, it should be MDP.

“Neither the government nor the citizens will respond to the about-one-hundred people who take to the streets every night,” the President said.

The President said that criticizing and expressing opinions are necessary for the country’s development. However, broadcasting programs which encourage unrest on TV 24 hours a day will not cause the government to respond to these criticisms.

He also said that the government carries out several huge projects worth billions of rufiyaa. The actions of opposition parties regarding these projects are not to the benefit of Maldivian citizens.

“The democracy we are trying to develop in the Maldives will function if several political parties are active simultaneously. Their manifestos have to be presented to the public, who will decide which one is best for them. That party will then rule for five years,” President Nasheed said. “Realising after three years the value of what they lost, and trying to get back in power– these motives will not help us in the country’s development.”

The President said that last year alone, the government spent Rf 1.6 billion on the construction of new buildings. The government’s plan is to spend its money for the benefit of the public, and will continue to work for the country’s development.

Speaking about changes to the country’s systems following the introduction of democracy, he mentioned the holding of presidential elections, election of new Parliament members and council members. He questioned if any changes were made to the judicial system, and if any new people were appointed to the courts. He assured the establishment of justice in the country as per the wishes of the Maldivian people.

The President repeated in last night’s speech that he will not hold elections without the establishment of justice in the courts.

He said that with the introduction of a decentralized system, his wish is to have a constitutional government. He said that the second most important element of a constitutional government is the judicial system, and that this element has to function properly.