Those who call to overthrow government through street protests have committed a crime: Gayoom

Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has said that it is against the constitution to call to overthrow the government through street protests, and that those who have done so have committed a crime.

Gayoom made this remark while speaking at a ceremony at the office of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) for Councillors of three islands to sign to join PPM.

Gayoom said that action should be taken against those who call to overthrow the government through street protests.

“So that’s a very bad thing to say. From the moment they said those things, they became criminals. Action should be taken against people who say that they will do things against the law,” he said.

The Interim President of PPM which holds several posts in the current government of President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik, said that it is not lawful in any country to change the government through street protests.

“It is against the law [to say that the government will be overthrown through street protests]. It should not be allowed, people who say such things commit a crime by doing so. We all have to respect the constitution. Our constitution obligates every Maldivian to accept the constitution, to respect the constitution. The constitution does not say anything about changing the government through street protests,” Gayoom said while speaking at the ceremony which was also attended by PPM Interim Vice President Umar Naseer and Abdul Raheem Abdullah.

Gayoom said that Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) says that their government was changed through street protests to mislead the public, and affirmed that MDP’s government was not changed in that manner.

“On 7 February, the government wasn’t changed through street protests. You’re confused about this too, or you’re trying to confuse others. On that day, then-President [Mohamed Nasheed] resigned voluntarily. He wasn’t arrested and tied up and taken somewhere and forced to do that,” Gayoom said.

Gayoom challenged those who have called to change the government through street protests, and said that the government cannot be changed in this manner.

“It would not be possible [to change the government through street protests]. How can they do that? They won’t have the means or any such opportunity,” Gayoom said with a laugh.