Azleen: Ex-Presidents not given protection so they can create turmoil

Former Presidents of the country aren’t given protection by the State so they can create chaos within the country, says Minister of Home Affairs Azleen Ahmed.

Speaking on a PSM News’ program on Monday night, Azleen said former leaders of the country should have the best interest of the country at heart and should bestow wisdom upon the nation and guide it towards the right path.

He said he was sad to see them work as political activists.

Azleen said that former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom was someone who had previously publicly declared former President Mohamed Nasheed could never do anything beneficial to the people of Maldives, but that he now stood behind Nasheed.

Azleen said what Maumoon was now doing was not beneficial to the country.

Speaking on the same program, Minister of Defense Adam Shareef Umar said former leaders would be given the protection they were due for as long as they lived within the legal jurisdiction of Maldives.

Home Minister Azleen added that neither the police nor the government would prevent anyone from holding legal, peaceful gatherings. He appealed to the public to hold peaceful gatherings in compliance with the law and in permitted locations.

He warned that legal action will be taken against individuals who broke through police barricades and entered People’s Majlis on Monday – regardless of whether they were parliamentarians or not.