hithadhoo4
MDP MEMBERS attack DRP meeting: MDP leaders slink away in disarray.
Aishath Zeena, S.Atoll Correspondent reporting from Hithadhoo
S.Hithadhoo, Maldives, 13th January 2006, 2:00 AM (olhuala.com) – Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) members attacked Hithadhoo residents leaving the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) rally held at Muhibbudhdheen School premises with rocks, clubs and other weapons. During the DRP meeting, MDP backed thugs were seen throwing stones from outside the school compound. The DRP rally came to an end at about 12 AM, before the MDP meeting ended.
MDP activists were seen running into the MDP meeting hall to inform the leadership that the DRP event has come to a close. Seconds later, a violent mob wielding clubs, hurling rocks and stones came out of the same hall.
DRP members did not back down to MDP intimidation. As a result the MDP leadership including Ibrahim Zaki, the MDP Vice President and several others fled the scene and went into hiding.
Earlier, at the MDP meeting, Zaki was the main instigator, driving the crowd into a frenzy of bloodlust by making false accusations against the Maldives Police Services (MPS) with regard to the incidents of Fares-Maathoda. An informer who was present at the MDP event told olhuala.com “Zaki told everyone present to take action if they wanted freedom. He [Zaki] went on to say that, it was their [those present at the MDP meetinig] national duty to teach the DRP dogs a lesson”.
As the situation developed, DRP supporters confronted the two headmasters of the Atoll Education Centre, demanding answers for their duplicity in granting the MDP access to use the centre after denying DRP the same access, claiming that the building was being renovated.
The MDP’s meeting advertised to begin at 9 PM did not start until well after 10 PM. Less than 300 turned up at the MDP event, and the remaining seats were filled with underage school children, in direct defiance of laws. The laws governing party politics in the Maldives prohibits school children or those under the age of 21 to become a member of any party.
“Tonight’s events has seen the MDP jump out of the frying pan, straight into the fire” Abdul Latheef, an eyewitness at the scene, told olhuala.com. Latheef went on to say “The MDP is in deep trouble with the law either way. If the MDP claims that those who came out of their meeting [and attacked Hithadhoo residents and DRP members], were not members of the MDP, it would mean that the meeting held by the MDP was in fact a public rally. This means that the MDP was breeching the Law that states that seven days notice must be given to the authorities before holding a public rally by any political party. If the MDP claims that it was a meeting held only for members, they will be acknowledging that it was their members who turned violent. If it was a closed, members-only meeting, what were school children doing there?”.
Rilwan Anwar, a DRP member who was present at the scene said “I am sure that the DRP and all other political parties will call on the commissioner of elections to investigate this matter further, it is high time that the MDP were reprimanded for their continued lack of respect for rules and regulations”.
Reports are emerging from Male’ that the MDP is trying to gather mobs near the well known tea house, mercury light - in light of their abject failure in Addu, a defeat they will try to play down by drawing attention away from the events in Addu. It is reported that around 50 youths gathered in male' just after 1 AM. Although they have not yet dispersed, it is reported that their numbers are dwindling with interest waning. It is thought that with all the big guns in Addu, the MDP does not have even 100 supporters willing to obey Ibrahim Ismail (Ibra) who has been silent and has remained out of the limelight tonight,
Addu has been re-conquered by a courageous group of DRP loyalists. It is thought that the masses will never again be cowed or intimidated by MDP threats.
Click to read full article
Aishath Zeena, S.Atoll Correspondent reporting from Hithadhoo
S.Hithadhoo, Maldives, 13th January 2006, 2:00 AM (olhuala.com) – Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) members attacked Hithadhoo residents leaving the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) rally held at Muhibbudhdheen School premises with rocks, clubs and other weapons. During the DRP meeting, MDP backed thugs were seen throwing stones from outside the school compound. The DRP rally came to an end at about 12 AM, before the MDP meeting ended.
MDP activists were seen running into the MDP meeting hall to inform the leadership that the DRP event has come to a close. Seconds later, a violent mob wielding clubs, hurling rocks and stones came out of the same hall.
DRP members did not back down to MDP intimidation. As a result the MDP leadership including Ibrahim Zaki, the MDP Vice President and several others fled the scene and went into hiding.
Earlier, at the MDP meeting, Zaki was the main instigator, driving the crowd into a frenzy of bloodlust by making false accusations against the Maldives Police Services (MPS) with regard to the incidents of Fares-Maathoda. An informer who was present at the MDP event told olhuala.com “Zaki told everyone present to take action if they wanted freedom. He [Zaki] went on to say that, it was their [those present at the MDP meetinig] national duty to teach the DRP dogs a lesson”.
As the situation developed, DRP supporters confronted the two headmasters of the Atoll Education Centre, demanding answers for their duplicity in granting the MDP access to use the centre after denying DRP the same access, claiming that the building was being renovated.
The MDP’s meeting advertised to begin at 9 PM did not start until well after 10 PM. Less than 300 turned up at the MDP event, and the remaining seats were filled with underage school children, in direct defiance of laws. The laws governing party politics in the Maldives prohibits school children or those under the age of 21 to become a member of any party.
“Tonight’s events has seen the MDP jump out of the frying pan, straight into the fire” Abdul Latheef, an eyewitness at the scene, told olhuala.com. Latheef went on to say “The MDP is in deep trouble with the law either way. If the MDP claims that those who came out of their meeting [and attacked Hithadhoo residents and DRP members], were not members of the MDP, it would mean that the meeting held by the MDP was in fact a public rally. This means that the MDP was breeching the Law that states that seven days notice must be given to the authorities before holding a public rally by any political party. If the MDP claims that it was a meeting held only for members, they will be acknowledging that it was their members who turned violent. If it was a closed, members-only meeting, what were school children doing there?”.
Rilwan Anwar, a DRP member who was present at the scene said “I am sure that the DRP and all other political parties will call on the commissioner of elections to investigate this matter further, it is high time that the MDP were reprimanded for their continued lack of respect for rules and regulations”.
Reports are emerging from Male’ that the MDP is trying to gather mobs near the well known tea house, mercury light - in light of their abject failure in Addu, a defeat they will try to play down by drawing attention away from the events in Addu. It is reported that around 50 youths gathered in male' just after 1 AM. Although they have not yet dispersed, it is reported that their numbers are dwindling with interest waning. It is thought that with all the big guns in Addu, the MDP does not have even 100 supporters willing to obey Ibrahim Ismail (Ibra) who has been silent and has remained out of the limelight tonight,
Addu has been re-conquered by a courageous group of DRP loyalists. It is thought that the masses will never again be cowed or intimidated by MDP threats.
Click to read full article