Will not allow foreign parties to interfere in internal affairs: Yameen

Presidential candidate for the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) Abdulla Yameen has pledged to defend the country from undue foreign influences and to make sure that the international community will not be able to interfere with Maldives' internal affairs.

Speaking at a campaign event in Laamu Fonadhoo last night, Yameen said that former president Mohamed Nasheed’s actions in the international arena has tarnished the respectable image of the country.

“Maldives is a very small country. Yet, however small, the country’s continued image as a respectable nation was brought to an end within [president Nasheed’s] three years, due to the way our government handled the communications,” Yameen said.

He said that Maldives was facing increasing foreign pressure due to the former government's tone on the international stage, and that it had led to foreign parties to eventually question the legitimacy of the change of power in February last year. This was not a question posed by the Maldivian people, he said, but rather the international community.

“Contrary to Maldivians deciding what is best for Maldives, we were disturbed by others in so many different ways. They questioned whether the change of power was legitimate. Maldivians did not ask this question. The question was asked from different parts of the world, from different countries and organizations,” Yameen said.

Referring to the Commission of National Inquiry that looked into the legitimacy of the change of power, Yameen said that foreign parties had heavily influenced the composition of the commission, and that it was composed with complete disregard to voice of the people.

He said that Maldives’ international position was weakened during the past five years to an extent where foreign parties could call upon the Maldives to change its day of independence.

“They can now call for immediate elections. They can now call on us to change our National Day. They can now call on us to change our Independence Day. This is the extent to which we have allowed foreign parties [to influence domestic affairs]” Yameen said.

Speaking at the PPM Fonadhoo event last night, Yameen promised to strike a balance in foreign relations, where he will maintain strong ties with other countries, but at the same time, make it clear that he will not allow them to meddle in internal affairs.