Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture Dr. Mohamed Shainee has called on all political parties to refrain from elevating violence in the nation and let ballot boxes decide our leader through a free and fair Presidential election.
Speaking about the current political situation in Maldives on Maldives Today TV programme aired on PSM News, Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture Dr. Mohamed Shainee stated that the political mess Maldives is currently witnessing has been created by the opposition alliance. He credited President Yameen and his strategic approach as the factors that nullified all tactics utilized by the opposition. Minister Shainee highlighted that the plot executed by the opposition involved deep rooted corruption and cited that that such acts never bring about any good to the nation.
Expressing regret over the role of some players of the Maldivian judiciary, Minister Dr. Shainee said that in backing the actions of the opposition, the judiciary attempted to exert undue influence over factors outside the jurisdiction of the judiciary. Dr. Shainee, who is also the Chair of the all-party talks cited that while outrageous comments made by former President Mohamed Nasheed to the international media has made Maldives a trending topic, such acts have not prompted any foreign pressure on the government. On this note, the Minister emphasized the negative impact of such acts on the Maldivian economy; which is heavily dependent on foreign investments. He urged all parties to refrain from such acts.
"Unfortunately Maldivians and who has been ex president, when they call upon military intervention to the country then it becomes a major talking point but under international norms there is no way this happen because there is not a situation where there should be a military intervention," Minister Shainee said.
Shedding light on preparations for the upcoming presidential elections, Dr. Shainee highlighted that President Yameen has officially launched his campaign at the beginning of this month amidst the political crisis. The Minister emphasized that it is high time that all political parties to set aside violence and let the ballot boxes decide who would be President, through a free and fair election.
"I think the presidential election preparation should be happening with the opposition as well and I hope this is not the preparation by the opposition. I mean calling for violence, trying to disrupt the harmony in the country. This is not the way forward. It should be through the ballot boxes that we decide who the next president is," Minister Shainee added.
President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom declared State of Emergency in Maldives on 5th of February for a 15-day period. Following the declaration Minister Dr. Shainee along with some other cabinet's ministers visited foreign nations as envoys of President Yameen to provide updates on the current situation of the nation.