MDP rejects government

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has rejected the government’s invitation to hold discussions on Usfasgandu issue, by saying that they should not have to discuss the matter with the Housing Minister.

Housing Minister Dr Mohamed Muiz had sent to letter to MDP earlier today, inviting them to hold discussions on this issue.

Dr Muiz said that MDP replied to their letter, however the content of this letter was unclear. When called on the phone, MDP had replied that they did not wish to meet with the Minister.

“The letter had no indication of who it was from, but we accepted it anyway. But it was not clear what they had said in the letter, and when we called them, they said that they should not have to meet me in relation to this issue. I think this is very bad conduct in a democratic environment. This is the reply I receive when I approach them to hold discussions,” Muiz said.

MDP Spokesperson Imthiyaz Fahmy said that MDP had indicated in the letter that Usfasgandu was given to MDP by City Council, thus any discussion regarding the issue should be held with City Council.

“We sent a one-sentence letter. We wrote ‘Usfasgandu was given to MDP by Male’ City Council’. That means we communicated with City Council, so if they want, they can discuss the issue with City Council,” Inthi said.

City Council has been informed to transfer Usfasgandu to Housing Ministry, but their failure to do so prompted the Police to request for a court order to take over the area. However Criminal Court rejected this request, and the Police said that they are assessing the next step to take in relation to this matter.

City Council has said that handing over Usfasgandu to MDP for political activities is not a violation of their agreement with the government, and that the Council will soon commence development of the area. Usfasgandu is leased to MDP for political activities until the end of June 2012.

MDP first put up camps at Lonuziyaaraiy kolhu following the fall of President Nasheed’s government on 7 February. The Police raided and dismantled the camps on 19 March.