MNDF denies Nasheed

The Maldives National Defence Forces (MNDF) has denied allegations by former President Mohamed Nasheed, who has claimed that the armed forces proposed the use of live fire on the 7th of this month in order to defend his presidency.

Nasheed addressed a crowd of his supporters at the northern atolls of the country last night, saying that “the armed forces asked me to give permission to use live fire in order to suppress the protests of the people and police against me”. He said that he “did not give that permission because he did not want the people to get hurt for his sake”.

Denying the claims of Nasheed in a Statement issued today, the MNDF said that Nasheed was lying, and making an accusation against the MNDF without any basis whatsoever.

“Nasheed, who knows the rules and regulations followed at the MNDF for opening ammunitions store and using live fire, has spoken against the truth of the matter”, read the Statement.

MNDF Statement said that Commanders of the armed forces did not, by virtue of the rules, need permission from the President-cum-Commander-in-Chief or the Minister of Defence. The MNDF has a line of Command that operates in such situations wholly independent from the President and the Minister of Defence, and no permission needs to be sought before ammunitions store is opened and live fire used to control situations, according to the Statement. It also said that “a situation did not arrive in which live fire had to be used, on the 7th of this month, and MNDF never considered the use of live fire”.

MNDF said that the institution works to protect any incumbent constitutional, and lawful government in place, and that it would always work to protect the religion of Islam, the Maldivian nation, and the people.

MNDF Statement also said that Nasheed was trying to obstruct the fulfillment of MNDF’s duties, and to create hatred and mistrust in the hearts of the people against the armed forces.

“Nasheed’s statements are against the truth, and it is directed at gaining the approval of some people who follow a particular political position. Nasheed’s actions are unbecoming of a former President and former Commander-in-Chief of the MNDF. We request him to think seriously before making such statements again”, read the Statement.