MDP blames Indian High Commissioner for coup

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has said that the former President Mohamed Nasheed was ousted by conducting a coup, and that the mastermind behind this coup is Indian High Commissioner to Maldives D.M. Mulay.

MDP Interim Chairperson said in an interview to India’s Open Magazine that Mulay accompanied Nasheed during his official visits to India while he was President. Mulay wished to allow a company which was his ally to conduct business in Maldives, but was denied this chance, following which he began collaborating with former opposition parties, said Moosa, speaking on behalf of Nasheed.

Moosa went on to say that Mulay had been repeatedly requested to relay to the Indian government the events relating to the transfer of power, but he had refused to cooperate. Moosa accused Mulay of having close ties with opposition groups since 2011.

He also alleged that $25m was spent on the coup, and said that some of the money came from PPM Parliamentary Group Leader Abdullah Yameen. He said the Indian High Commissioner’s conduct was inappropriate, and alleged him of having met with the ‘coup leaders’ at Paradise Island Resort two days prior to the coup.

Moosa said that Mulay has close relations with businessmen in Maldives, and that the money for the coup was brought into the country as traveler’s cheques via the Indian High Commission.

Nasheed’s Defence Advisor Ameen Faisal also told Open Magazine that Mulay cooperated with the opposition leaders to assist the coup on 7 February.

Indian External Affairs told Open Magazine that the stories reported in Indian magazines on Mulay are untrue, and said that Nasheed had promised to correct these stories. Open Magazine however noted that the recording of Nasheed’s allies’ stories is in their possession, and that Nasheed had not refuted these stories.

Nasheed first said that the coup on 7 February was conducted by the Vice President. Few days later he said that former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom was behind the coup, and now, he is accusing the Indian High Commissioner of participating in it as well.

It has not yet been possible to obtain Mulay’s comment on the allegations made by MDP.