President: Will never forget the day 4 people brought the State to its knees

The people of Maldives are still in despair, the day some three, four people brought the State to its knees will not be forgotten, says President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

Speaking at a function held for the female members of the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), at the Y2018 Campaign Office last Wednesday night, President Yameen said the day Maldives was saved from the actions of fellow citizens of the Maldives should be written more boldly in the history of Maldives than the terrorist attack on November 3, 1988.

“We don’t know the consequences of the actions some of our own people attempted to perpetrate. We reached the shores of safety with the grace of Almighty Allah. We should remain forever thankful for this blessing,” said President Yameen.

The four people who President Yameen referred to are Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed, Supreme Court Judge Ali Hameed, Judicial Administrator Hassan Saeed, and the President’s half-brother – former Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.

All four people have been detained on charges of attempting to overthrow the government.

President Yameen said the day should not be forgotten, even on death bed, and that he celebrates the strength exercised by the country’s security forces with happiness.

“I, even now, note the strength exercised by the security forces. I thank each officer individually for their courage, patriotism and sacrifice. The people who saved the State from that are the Maldivian police and military,” said President Yameen.

Maldives was thrown into political turmoil with the surprise Supreme Court order on February 1 for the immediate release and retrial of nine political leaders sentenced to prison, and the immediate reinstatement of 12 parliamentarians.

Following the Supreme Court order, the opposition organized rallies in the streets of Male’ City, demanding the Attorney General Mohamed Anil, Prosecutor General Aishath Bisham, the police, and the military enforce the court order.

President Yameen later declared the Supreme Court order unconstitutional, and declared a State of Emergency in Maldives for 15 days, on February 6.

The military raided the Supreme Court compound within hours the declaration was announced, and arrested Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and Supreme Court Judge Ali Hameed. Maumoon was arrested from his residence M. Endherimaage, and Judicial Administrator Hassan Saeed and Maumoon’s son-in-law Mohamed Nadheem were also arrested.

The Supreme Court later annulled its order for the release of nine political leaders.