Azleen: People plan coups in secrecy, they don’t talk about it

Minister of Home Affairs, Azleen Ahmed has said that anyone planning a coup in any country plans it in secrecy, and that the opposition was talking of a coup to overthrow the Maldivian government merely to create fear and instability within the country.

Speaking during the press conference held at President’s Office on Sunday afternoon on behalf of Social Council, Azleen said that talk of a coup isn’t reported in media until after it takes effect, and that threatening the Maldivian government did not make any sense.

He said that the opposition leaders were threatening a coup while hidden in some other country because they did not have any confidence they could win the Presidential Elections in 2018.

“A coup isn’t carried out so openly. So it shows this has no credibility. This is not true. This is to create fear among the people,” said Azleen.

He said that it was President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s administration that had been answerable to institutions within such a short period of time.

Meanwhile, Vice President Abdulla Jihad said during the press conference that he was not aware of any coup being planned to overthrow the government.

Jihad said that the government cannot be overthrown in any coup, and the only way the government can be changed is through a vote.

He said that talk of a coup was simply fear mongering planned by the opposition.

“I am not aware the government is in the brink of being overthrown. A government cannot be so easily overthrown. The government can only be changes through a vote,” said Jihad.

He also denied allegations that he met with reporters from Al-Jazeera during his recent visit to United Arab Emirates.