Maldives In Brief : "We can topple this government,” warns Yamin
Arrested Parliamentarian Abdulla Yamin, who was set free Sunday by the Supreme Court has now said that the opposition alliance has the ability topple the Nasheed administration.
Yamin told a joint opposition coalition rally that President Nasheed’s “present concern is opposition efforts to change the government, legally,” Miadhu reported.
The coalition’s efforts have resulted in a revolution and the “past 10 days has seen nothing but dictatorship, undermining constitution” bringing the characters of opposition figures to disrepute.
He alleged the government of selling public assets in a haphazard manner and also influencing the country’s judiciary.
On Sunday, the Supreme Court has ordered the immediate release of MPs Qasim Ibrahim and Abdulla Yamin, overturning a high court ruling to keep them under house arrest for 15 days.
Yamin and Gasim who are also high-profile businessmen were detained pending an investigation into alleged corruption, bribery and treason, Minivan News reported.
A legal team led by former Attorneys General Azima Shukoor and Dr Hassan Saeed, representing the MPs, appealed the High Court decision last week on the grounds that the arrest was unlawful as Gasim was taken to the police station “to clarify something,” it said.
Sunday’s ruling invalidates both the Criminal Court order to keep the MPs under house arrest for three days and the High Court ruling to extend the period to 15 days.
Chief Justice Abdullah Saeed said there was no room to uphold the lower court rulings granting the police authority to arrest the MPs, it added.
Opposition DQP to go to SC over appointing cabinet
The Opposition Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP) will go to the Supreme Court over the appointment of the cabinet without parliamentary approval.
According to the Constitution, President Mohamed Nasheed has seven days to get the approval from Parliament after appointing the new cabinet, and the deadline lapsed yesterday.
DQP Secretary General Abdulla Ameen told a news conference that the new cabinet does not enjoy the support of the people, Miadhu reported.
President Nasheed’s cabinet that resigned en masse was re-instated last week pending Parliamentary approval.
I will serve people even if govt. deprives my wealth – Qasim
Opposition Republican Party Leader and Parliamentarian Qasim Ibrahim said he will continue to serve the people even if the government deprives him of his wealth.
The business tycoon who owns many tourist resorts in the country told an opposition rally after he was released by the Supreme Court on Sunday: “If President Nasheed wishes, he can take my wealth and I urge him to do it urgently. However, I will still be at the service of Maldives people.”
Citing to a local saying that if a person is once lost in sea, he will never fear it again, and Qasim said his situation today is the same.
“I have been there and done that. And
I have no more fear,” Miadhu reported quoting Qasim.
Qasim also recalled his “hard efforts” to bring Nasheed to presidency. He backed
Nasheed in the run-off presidential election in 2008 against Gayoom.
He also said that Dr. Hassan Saeed from the opposition DQP also worked very hard to bring the current government to power.