Today (the 19th of March 2012) MDP (Maldivian Democratic Party) once again tried to disrupt the President's efforts to deliver his address to the opening session of the Majlis as required by the Constitution. The Speaker of the Majlis, Abdulla Shahid had to take decisive action and ‘name’ and have removed ten MDP Members of Parliament from the chamber floor for wilful disruption to the proceedings and use of abusive language in their attempt to interrupt the President's address.
Speaking about the disturbances in Male’ and in the Majilis today the Attorney General Aishath Azima Shakoor said:
“Today we have witnessed unprecedented scenes of violence, vandalism and arson in our capital Male’. This is not legitimate political protest - this is criminality pure and simple."
Demonstrators led by the MDP - the political party headed by former President Mohamed Nasheed, attacked the local TV station VTV studio, with rocks and iron bars causing damage amounting to approximately 1.5 million Rufiyaa to the building and equipment. Sympathizers of the MDP also torched the Auction Shop area in Male’, with an area about 5000 sq ft. razed to the ground.
Riot control Police arrested sixty four people in connection with these outbreaks of violence. Eight law enforcement officers were injured. One officer has such severe head injuries that he is being evacuated to Sri Lanka for urgent treatment.
At the same time many of those who we might hope would act as role models for our citizens - some of our Members of Parliament have once again exhibited behaviour that is more akin to childish tantrums in a nursery school.
"This cannot continue. Our country and our citizens deserve better. That is why President Waheed refused to be intimidated and would not allow these so called ‘champions of democracy’ to prevent him, for the second time, from carrying out his constitutional duty in delivering his opening address to the People’s Majlis thus allowing it to operate.
We know that those representatives from the Commonwealth and other international agencies who are in the Maldives at present will want to join us in censuring today’s events. But equally important is that all those with political influence call upon former President Nasheed specifically to condemn the behaviour of his supporters without qualification.”