Politicians with links to gangs obstruct any prospect of a peaceful society- Shiyam

Meedhoo MP, Ahmed Shiyam Mohamed has said that the corrupt links between gangs and leaders of political parties is obstructing any prospect of a peaceful and settled society.

Debating on the proposal of Thoddoo MP, Ali Waheed to curb the recent escalation of gang related violence in the country, in yesterday’s sitting of the Peoples’ Majlis, Shiyam said that the all of the MPs of the Majlis and all of the people have hit crisis mode. He said that it is time to take action and to make a move to curb gang violence.

Shiyam noted that it is a measure of the power and immunity of the gangs, which he believe now pose a significant threat to the nation's security.

He said that gangs are closely tied to some political parties that use them as rent-a-crowd thugs when staging demonstrations and protests.

Shiyam warned that if the problem of gang violence is not dealt with, the people will live in instability and the nation will be unstable.

Meedhoo MP furthermore said that the people are faced with a quality of life issue with many people affected by the violence that is taking place in the society.

Meanwhile, earlier last year during the opening address of Maldives Donor Conference 2010, President Mohamed Nasheed said: “I don’t care whether you are a gangster, or whether you are a senior politician controlling the gangsters – if you attack, or orchestrate attacks, this government will take appropriate legal action.”