Ministry: Allegations against Chief of Defense Force are false

Ministry of Defense has refuted allegations being made against Chief of Defense Force, Major General Ahmed Shiyam.

Shiyam reportedly went into People’s Majlis in late night hours in plain clothes before the no-confidence vote was taken on Speaker Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed the next day.

Allegations are being made on social media websites linking Shiyam’s visit to complaints of issues with the parliament’s electronic voting system by lawmakers on the day of the vote, last Monday.

Ministry of Defense issued a statement this Tuesday, in which the authority refuted the allegations.

The statement said that the Chief of Defense Force was the head of planning and managing military operations, and that it was the Chief of Defense Force’s legal responsibility to oversee how officers carry out their duties, establish rules and procedures, issue orders, and take various measures necessary.

The ministry said Shiyam therefore had the legal authority to entire any site which’s security is managed by the military, anytime he wished.

“We therefore inform the beloved people of Maldives that allegations being spread in social media regarding Shiyam by ignorant parties are completely false and has no basis,” read the statement.

The no-confidence vote against Maseeh was carried out using a roll-call vote instead of e-voting.

It created an uproar within the People’s Majlis with lawmakers from Maldivian Democratic Party, Jumhoory Party, and the faction within ruling Progressive Party of Maldives loyal to former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom protesting a roll-call vote was irregular in the circumstance.

13 of the protesting lawmakers were named, and were either forcibly removed from the Majlis by Maldives National Defense Force officers or walked out on their own accord when the officers intervened.