Ethics Committee: Dhunya, Yumna removed from PPM Council

Ethics Committee of the divided Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has made the decision to remove daughters of the party’s leader, former Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom – Dhunya Maumoon and Yumna Maumoon – and three other members from PPM Council.

PPM currently harbors two factions; Maumoon’s faction, and the faction of President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom – each of which holds its own council meetings.

Maumoon’s faction has accused the Ethics Committee of violating rules and regulations, and has suspended it. The Ethics Committee is dominated by members of Yameen’s faction.

The committee held a meeting this Tuesday and decided to remove five members who belong to Maumoon faction’s council.

They are:

1. Dhunya Maumoon

2. Yumna Maumoon

3. Aminath Athifa Shukoor

4. Aneesa Ahmed

5. Mohamed Nadheem (Yumna’s husband)

Each of the five members were served letter’s signed by Secretary-General of PPM – appointed by Yameen’s faction – Nilandhoo MP Dr. Abdulla Khaleel, informing them of the decision to remove them from the council.

The letters states reasons for the decision as:

• Working to create division within the party, refusing to participate in party activities and lack of cooperation.

• Creating constraints for the person put in charge of running PPM by the courts.

• Absence from PPM (Yameen’s faction) council meetings.

• Participating in events held in the name of the council without its knowledge.

• Violating court verdict, even after it was upheld during all stages of appeal.

The letter sent to Yumna additionally says that she failed to involve the women’s branch of PPM in its major events, as was her obligation as President of the women’s division.

Yumna was accused of tweeting defamatory comments against the party, Yameen, and his government, and making such comments to the media.