Maumoon: We’re seeing the downfall of a modern democracy

President of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and the former President of the Maldives, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has said that what we are seeing now is the downfall of his work to bring a modern democracy to the country.

In a statement issued today, the PPM President said that some of the bills and amendments passed by the Parliament go against the Constitution he ratified in 2008.

The former President of Maldives said that the Anti-Defamation bill which was passed through the Parliament and ratified last week constricts the freedom of expression granted by Article 27 of the Constitution and the freedom of press granted by Article 28. And the amendment to the Law of Public Gathering constricts the freedom of public gathering granted to every citizen under Article 32 of the Constitution.

Maumoon said that what we see today is against which the Progressive Party of Maldives was formed.

Referring to the fundamental regulations of PPM, Maumoon said that the Party must work to ensure the rights of the people granted by the Constitution and to ensure that the laws and regulations of the country are implemented and respected by the people.

President Mumoon said that the MPs of PPM are repeatedly advised not to support some of the bills and amendments that are being passed which are against the Maldivian Constitution and the regulations of the Party that while PPM has the majority at the Parliament with the PPM Coalition. And Maumoon thanked the MPs who voted against such bills for their service to the country.

The former President of the country requested that the MPs who obeyed his orders to be taken as an example and work sincerely on behalf of the people and the country in the future.