The government needs to let this go: Ali Waheed

Ali Waheed, member of MDP Parliamentary Group and Thoddoo Zone has said that there is no need for a confrontation between mass protestors and current government MDP on 23 December.

“These two groups going out on the streets on 23 December will lead to violence that will leave behind scars for a long time to come. It is that dangerous. Before this takes place, we need to assure both parties that there is nothing threatening Islam in the Maldives,” Ali Waheed said. “I do not support MDP’s preparations to confront the mass protestors. I neither agree with this nor voted for it. The incident with the monument idol even, as I believe, did not go as it should have.”

Ali Waheed, who is also the head of the National Defence Committee, said in an interview with Sun today that the protests which took place last Saturday supporting freedom of religion, should not have been allowed. He will ensure that a thorough investigation is carried out with regard to this.

“I assure you, any organization, police, or anybody who was involved in those protests will be questioned. I will personally look into this. Such actions cannot take place in the Maldives. I will also check flights from Israel being allowed to land in Maldives, these issues are worrying,” he told Sun.

He further said that no political party wants to address the issue of some Maldivians becoming non-muslims or atheists, and the solution does not lie in a confrontation between MDP and opposing parties and NGOs. If this happens, he said, “the one to suffer will be our country.”

“I believe the government needs to be more flexible with many things, especially things that do not negatively affect them in any way. An example is the incident with the monument. Being flexible while in power is not losing in any sense. Removal of the idol monuments, or anything that the people of the Maldives find worrying, is the best thing to do,” he said. “Similarly, opposition and religious leaders creating the scene for a confrontation, is not the idea of politics. Personal issues between these leaders should not threaten the country. The mess created after this violence, the damage to people’s homes and valuables, who will take responsibility for that? The government? Will Abdulla Mohamed of Madhanee I’thihad and Imran of Adhalath Party take responsibility for the damage to our country?”