President: Those inviting foreign intervention making a mistake

Those campaigning for foreign intervention in domestic affairs of the country are making a mistake, says President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

He made the comment during his speech at B. Thulhaadhoo this Tuesday morning.

President Yameen said no Maldivian citizen had the right to defame the country to disrupt the country’s economy; whether it be an ordinary citizen, a political party or an ex-president.

“Those who are loudly campaigning for foreign intervention in internal affairs of the country are making a mistake. They cannot do that,” said President Yameen.

He mentioned a tweet made by Dr. Ahmed Shaheed, the Minister of Foreign Affairs during Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s administration and the current UN Rapporteur. He had tweeted that the current political situation in Maldives warranted a takeover by special forces of a neighboring country.

The President said such actions were unforgettable, and should not be forgotten.

“Such invitations by well-heeled Maldivians to foreign states, to foreign ambassadors to meddle in current affairs and influence the internal affairs of Maldives is an infringement on the rights of the State of Maldives,” said President Yameen.

He said that no individual or political party or organization had the right to infringe on the rights if the State.

He said that foreign interference in the internal affairs of the country was unacceptable to Maldivians. And that it was evident from what happened during one-and-a-half years of former President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik’s administration, after the end of former President Mohamed Nasheed’s administration.

The President also said that inconvenient though it may be, it was not wrong to change parties, given a valid reason to do so.

“If the top figures in the party are of the mindset to infringe on national rights, then leaving the party is a must in order to preserve the integrity of the State of Maldives,” said President Yameen, addressing the crowd at B. Thulhaadhoo where opposition MDP holds the majority.