terroristsikkablastsannie
Godfather Sikka berates ‘failure’ Annie
Ismail Rifau, Political Correspondent
Male’, Maldives, 10th February 2006 (www.olhuala.com) – The Maldivian Democratic Party’s (MDP) godfather Sikka Ahmed Ismail Manik has blasted MDP Chairman and nephew Mohamed Nasheed Annie for his blundering attempts at bringing down the government. This is reportedly the reason for Annie overthrowing elected leader Ibrahim Ismail Ibra and taking over the whole party.
Annie was also given an ultimatum to get his act together and achieve results within a few weeks during the phone conversation from Batharamulla, Sri Lanka in the morning of Monday 6th February. Sikka also said he had ‘other options’ he was willing to employ in effecting the change of government. This is a chilling declaration as Sikka is a convicted mass murderer found guilty on nineteen counts of murder for his part in the terrorist attack of third November 1988.
Although sentenced to death by the High Court, President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom granted him a stay of execution and his sentence was commuted to a life term. However he was released after several years in jail. He lives in Sri Lanka now.
Sikka is reported to have told Annie: “Ibra has made himself and our ‘party’ the laughing stock of the Maldives and the whole world. You have been making claims of bringing down the government in two or three months ever since 2003; this is plainly ridiculous and you have put yourself in a position where no one believes anything you say.”
Uncharacteristically, Annie is said to have remained speechless throughout the whole tirade. Immediately following the call he set to work in dismantling Ibra’s grip on the leadership. Ibra now remains a figurehead, as do the shadow cabinet and the national executive committee of the party. Annie now openly dictates party policy.
Sikka is said to be especially unhappy about the management of the failed MDP demonstration of January 24th. Sources close to the family had revealed that Sikka planned a concurrent demonstration in Sri Lanka. Some members of his family who live in self-imposed exile had even made travel arrangements to return to the Maldives on the 25th; by which time the government would have fallen, Annie had assured Sikka.
Annie who has never been able to hold down any single job for more than a few months is deeply indebted to Sikka for sponsoring Annie’s lavish lifestyle overseas. Annie is also supported by his wife and father-in-law who has acquired millions of Maldivians’ money after swindling the state-owned ‘Bodu Istoaru” over 30 years ago.
Sikka who has had an undying lust for political power and the ‘millionaire lifestyle’ currently resides at his expensive Kollupitiya Colombo home during the week, and spends weekends at his retreat in the affluent neighborhood of Baththaramulla. In 1974, along with Annie’s father Abdul Sattar, Sikka hired hitman Abdulla Luthfee (the same Luthfee Sikka used for the 1988 terrorist attack) to assassinate the then Maldives President Ibrahim Nasir.
Sikka’s added pressure, along with the drying up of foreign finances has stretched the MDP to breaking point. Observers expect the party to disintegrate shortly with only a tiny, powerless element left as a remnant. However, they do not underestimate the capacity of Sikka to mount a lethal repeat of the carnage of 1988.
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Ismail Rifau, Political Correspondent
Male’, Maldives, 10th February 2006 (www.olhuala.com) – The Maldivian Democratic Party’s (MDP) godfather Sikka Ahmed Ismail Manik has blasted MDP Chairman and nephew Mohamed Nasheed Annie for his blundering attempts at bringing down the government. This is reportedly the reason for Annie overthrowing elected leader Ibrahim Ismail Ibra and taking over the whole party.
Annie was also given an ultimatum to get his act together and achieve results within a few weeks during the phone conversation from Batharamulla, Sri Lanka in the morning of Monday 6th February. Sikka also said he had ‘other options’ he was willing to employ in effecting the change of government. This is a chilling declaration as Sikka is a convicted mass murderer found guilty on nineteen counts of murder for his part in the terrorist attack of third November 1988.
Although sentenced to death by the High Court, President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom granted him a stay of execution and his sentence was commuted to a life term. However he was released after several years in jail. He lives in Sri Lanka now.
Sikka is reported to have told Annie: “Ibra has made himself and our ‘party’ the laughing stock of the Maldives and the whole world. You have been making claims of bringing down the government in two or three months ever since 2003; this is plainly ridiculous and you have put yourself in a position where no one believes anything you say.”
Uncharacteristically, Annie is said to have remained speechless throughout the whole tirade. Immediately following the call he set to work in dismantling Ibra’s grip on the leadership. Ibra now remains a figurehead, as do the shadow cabinet and the national executive committee of the party. Annie now openly dictates party policy.
Sikka is said to be especially unhappy about the management of the failed MDP demonstration of January 24th. Sources close to the family had revealed that Sikka planned a concurrent demonstration in Sri Lanka. Some members of his family who live in self-imposed exile had even made travel arrangements to return to the Maldives on the 25th; by which time the government would have fallen, Annie had assured Sikka.
Annie who has never been able to hold down any single job for more than a few months is deeply indebted to Sikka for sponsoring Annie’s lavish lifestyle overseas. Annie is also supported by his wife and father-in-law who has acquired millions of Maldivians’ money after swindling the state-owned ‘Bodu Istoaru” over 30 years ago.
Sikka who has had an undying lust for political power and the ‘millionaire lifestyle’ currently resides at his expensive Kollupitiya Colombo home during the week, and spends weekends at his retreat in the affluent neighborhood of Baththaramulla. In 1974, along with Annie’s father Abdul Sattar, Sikka hired hitman Abdulla Luthfee (the same Luthfee Sikka used for the 1988 terrorist attack) to assassinate the then Maldives President Ibrahim Nasir.
Sikka’s added pressure, along with the drying up of foreign finances has stretched the MDP to breaking point. Observers expect the party to disintegrate shortly with only a tiny, powerless element left as a remnant. However, they do not underestimate the capacity of Sikka to mount a lethal repeat of the carnage of 1988.
Click to read full story