No need for President to participate in the Protest: Mustafa

There is no need for President Mohamed Nasheed to participate in the protest, as there are enough members of MDP willing to do so whenever the need arises, Member of Parliament for Thimarafushi Mr Mohamed Mustafa has said.

Talking about an sms sent by him to other members of the parliament on this issue, he said that The President taking part in MDP’s protest against the mass protest scheduled to take place on 23 December, would bring a bad name not just to MDP but Maldivians as a whole. The reason behind The President’s wish to participate in the protest is a few leaders of MDP encouraging him to do so.

“There is no need for The President to participate in the protest. Aren’t we ready to protest whenever there is a need for it? Why should The President join? He is The President of The Maldives, not President of MDP,” Mustafa said.

Mustafa, a member of MDP who often criticises the government, said that Maldivians are well aware of the person behind this, and that the announcement about The President participating in the protest was made by this person.

The announcement was made by Reeko Moosa Manik, temporary Chairperson of MDP, at their meeting held last Thursday evening.

Mustafa further said that MDP should not protest against the mass protest planned for this Friday, and that police will intervene and stop any violence caused on that day.

He said that the organisers of this protest are not aiming to overthrow the government, and pointed out that the purpose of this protest is for the people participating to inform The President and international organisations of their views on the protection of Islam in the country.

“I believe that MDP does not need to participate in this protest. This protest is to call for the protection of Islam in the country. If we go to the streets with guns and swords, the people will not accept it,” Mustafa said.