Ali Waheed: No return until President Yameen government overthrown

Self-exiled Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) chairperson Ali Waheed said that he would only return back to Maldives after President Abdulla Yameen’s government was removed from power.

Speaking during RajjeTV “Falasuruhee” program via Skype from London on Sunday night, Ali Waheed said that it couldn’t be put off until after Presidential Elections 2018, and that work would start to overthrow President Yameen if he did not “establish peace” by December 31.

He also said that the work would be done within the boundaries of law.

“We will return to Maldives. We will return after President Yameen is removed from his seat,” said Ali Waheed, who has been living in self-exile in England since May Day Protest.

Ali Waheed also said that the investigation into the explosion onboard presidential speedboat “Finifenma” was not free and fair.

Former Vice President Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed who is living in England along with Ali Waheed in self-imposed exile also spoke during the program.

He said that President Yameen wasn’t running the country constitutionally – as he had been elected to run the country by voters – but instead running the country like his own private company. He also said that President Yameen was the laziest president to have run the country to date, and that he was putting his own personal welfare before the welfare of the whole country.

He said that Maldives had seen no economic development, and that it was President Yameen’s family that was reaping the benefits.

Jameel said that he had brought various corrupt dealings within government to President Yameen’s attention while he had been serving as Vice President, but that President Yameen had taken no action against the corrupt officials.

He also shared one such incident that he claimed to have taken place, involving an island which had been given to police for their use, which now imprisoned Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Gafoor had illegally given to a businessman without any bidding process.

“When this happened, I texted President Yameen and then met him the next day. I met him and told him that it hadn’t taken place in accordance with law and asked that he put a stop to it. His response was very simple. He said that it had now gone into the hands of people who could better handle it.”