Ex-Home Minister: Elections influence by foreign powers at a point where sovereignty is lost

Former Home Minister Umar Naseer has alleged that the influence of foreign powers and the financial push of these powers in domestic elections of Maldivian political parties has reached a point where the independence and sovereignty of the nation were lost. 

Umar Naseer was speaking at the inauguration of the reform movement named Dhivehi National Action (DNA). The movement has been joined by a number of experienced political figures. Umar, speaking at the inauguration highlighted the issues faced in the Maldives since the introduction of the multi-party system.

Umar said that five Presidents had governed the nation during the last five years, but had faced the same problems that have gone unresolved. 

“Foreigners are working in jobs where Maldivians are supposed, working Maldivians are on the streets, begging and collecting trash. These foreigners are establishing shops on the corners of the streets and conducting business that Maldivians are supposed to. Foreign military personnel has deployed themselves to four different areas of the nation along with their military vessels. It has been years since Maldivians have been living in Male’ City, congested in small rooms, where they cook, eat, sleep and study. Gangs and drugs are rife on the streets,” said Umar Naseer. 

Umar alleged that if this continued for 20 years, the sovereignty and independence of the Maldives would be lost and Maldivians would be segregated. 

Umar said it had been thought that the introduction of multi-party systems 16 years ago would reduce corruption and that political parties would resolve the hardships faced by the people, and see the governance of constructive straightforward leadership.

“But, we have only seen the integrity of the state lost, the doors of the vault lost. We thought that victory would be attained for truth and that the lies would be revealed with the freedom of expression. However, the skills of fabrication have been improvised, and these lies and the vile arguments of the parliament and on TV, the harassment of the religion has reached the sitting rooms of residences,” said Umar.  

He also noted that the public had seen people accused of rape on safaris get protected, Ministers accused of attempted rape of employees depart from the country, and that equal justice is enforced for everyone. 

He also alleged that foreign influence and financial powers had eroded the sovereignty and independence of the nation with their influence in elections. 

“Major foreign powers have influenced the competitive elections of political parties with their financial powers, to the point where the independence of the nation is lost. They have increased their military personnel, their vessels have also been increased, areas, where they are deployed, have also increased. The Islamic character of the nation has been ruined, Maldivians have been showcased to the world as terrorists,” said Umar. 

He said that the whole nation was called to change the direction the country was traveling in. He also said that no new pledges could be made by the existing tested politicians and that the public had no new hope for these politicians. 

Umar then stated that the newly formed DNA was a national movement that would restructure the state, and was comprised of an intellectual, earnest, truthful, and honorable team of experienced figures for which the country longed for.

He said that the movement was started to change the entire nation and that the next presidential election was an opportunity to do so. He stopped short of stating that the movement would contest the election by saying that a decision would be made when the time comes.

Former Foreign Minister: We have become a beggar state!

Former Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon who is also a member of the movement, speaking at last night’s inauguration criticized the government that the Maldives had become a beggar state dependent on foreign aid.

“We should be ashamed of the foreign policy of the nation. We have been an independent state for thousands of years. We have a proud history. The Maldives has now become enslaved. The independence obtained in 1965 does not exist anymore. The government has forgotten about the convention signed on July 26 of that year,” said Dunya.

Dunya immensely criticized the fact that the Maldives was dependent on foreign aid, especially towards one nation more than any other.

“We have become beggars with other nations, especially one specific nation. Instead of standing up on our feet, increasing our own prosperity, we have become people who are always seeking aid,” said Dunya.

She said that no nation would provide assistance without wanting something in return and that any nation that provided aid would always have a lot of requests.

Further speaking, she also said that no military personnel of any nation should ever be present in the Maldives and that the nation should not be stuck between conflicts happening elsewhere in the world.

Other political figures involved in the DNA,  apart from Dunya and Umar include former president of MDP Dr. Ibrahim Didi, Former MNDF captain Ali Ihusaan, former Prosecutor-General Ahmed Muizzu, former Press Secretary of the President’s Office Massood Imaad, former State Minister of the Home Ministry Ahmed Saleem and former deputy chairman of the Elections Commission Ahmed Fayaz Hassan.