Soldiers have to consider if the commander-in-chief will force their hand: Defence Minister Nazim

Minister of Defence and National Security Mohamed Nazim has said that the military must be thoughtful of who comes to power for the next five years and that they have to consider whether their new commander-in-chief is a person who might run after the them with a baton.

Speaking at the 121st anniversary event of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) last night, Defence Minister Nazim urged all soldiers to force themselves to evaluate the character of their choice of candidate, before casting their vote.

“We are facing a very feverous period in the presidential elections. Although the Constitution and the military law prohibits soldiers from taking part in politics, soldiers too have the right to vote, a right entitled to all Maldivians above the age of eighteen. I believe that soldiers and their families should exercise this right with due consideration. Since they’re voting to elect their commander-in-chief, soldiers have to ask themselves before they cast their vote, consider the character of the person for whom they’re voting. You have to consider if the commander-in-chief has the audacity to act patiently during difficult circumstances, or if he will run after the soldiers with a baton,” Nazim said.

Continuing his remarks, Defence Minister Nazim said that the Maldives military has a long and respectable history and that the person who takes over the institution must to hold certain characters.

“Thus, I would like to advice all soldiers and their families to carefully consider who is best suited for the role of commander-in-chief, before you cast your vote. I have no doubt that if you lose this opportunity, the country might have to face much dire times,” Nazim said.

Defence Minister said that the MNDF institution has to learn certain lessons from the past and that as a person who had served the institution for 23 years, the day of the change of government is his strongest memory, which is unlikely to soon fade away.

He said that on the day of the change of government, he went to Bandaarakoshi (main military headquarters) with the intention to try and aid the nation, feeling that he simply could not sit idly after watching the pictures he saw on TV. He said that he would have ended up in jail, had gone differently.

MNDF awarded plaques of appreciation for the different parties that aided the institution in different ways during the past year.