Mohamed Hussein Shareef
MALE, Maldives — Dhivehi Raiyyithunge Party (DRP) official Spokesperson and member of the DRP Youth Wing Mohamed “Mundhu” Hussein Shareef spoke at the Maumoon 2008 Campaign’s serial 1630 Press Conference at the which is televised live on DhiTV and streamed live on maumoon2008.net.
Hussein Shareef revealed that the Maumoon 2008 Campaign has lodged complaints regarding alleged Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Presidential Campaign Manager James McGrath at the Maldives Police Services (MPS), Elections Commission (EC) and the Department of Immigration and Emigration (DIE).
He commented on opposition protests against the Maumoon 2008 Campaign tour which, according to him, have increased in recent days. He warned that the Maumoon 2008 Campaign will report protests held illegally.
He clarified the Campaign’s stand on MDP allegations of embezzlement against President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom who is also the DRP’s Presidential candidate for the 2008 elections.
Illegal Alien
Hussein Shareef said at the press conference that the DRP has lodged complaints at the MPS, EC and DIE against Australian national James McGrath who is currently in the Maldives on a tourist visa.
Hussein Shareef had said at an earlier press conference that McGrath has been working as manager of the MDP’s “Other Maldives” campaign in violation of visa regulations. He had also accused the former employee of the British Conservative Party of interfering in Maldives’ internal affairs in violation of international conventions.
According to an article printed on the BBC News UK website in June 2008, 34-year-old James McGrath is an Australian national who has worked for the British Conservative Party for 7 years. He was appointed director of political strategy at City Hall under Johnson’s mayorship. McGrath resigned following allegations of racism in connection with remarks that he had made to reporter Marc Wadsworth of the-latest.com website. McGrath had responded to a question regarding British-Caribbeans threatening to leave the country en masse if a right-wing Conservative such as Johnson is elected mayor by saying “well let them (Caribbeans) go if they don’t like it here (Britain)”.
“Fireball Democracy”
Hussein Shareef condemned the protests against the Maumoon 2008 Campaign tour which he said have increased in frequency and magnitude in the past two days.
Hussein Shareef revealed that Deputy Media Coordinator of the Maumoon 2008 Campaign Ali Waheed was physically attacked at Maavah island in Laamu Atoll today. He said that DRP supporters at the scene had to restrain the attackers to prevent Waheed from suffering further harm. He also noted that the attackers were dressed in yellow.
He said that DRP supporters and senior officials have been confronted by rabbles dressed mostly in red and yellow. He said that confrontations have taken place in addition to yesterday’s “vulgar” protest in Kudahuvadhoo island of Dhaalu atoll, in Gan island in Laamu atoll, Guraidhoo island in Male atoll, Hulhumale island in Male atoll and Thulhaadhoo island in Baa atoll.
He said that all protests were organized by three main parties which he said were the Jumhooree Party (JP), the MDP and independent Presidential candidate Dr. Hassan Saeed’s supporters.
He condemned these acts as against the spirit of democratic elections and specifically urged members of the MDP not to return to earlier tactics of creating disorder on the streets. He said that the DRP does not wish for the reform process to be reversed and for a peaceful Islamic democracy instead of the “fireball democracy” that the opposition is attempting to create.
He also said that in addition to being free and fair, democratic elections should also be peaceful in order for them to proceed smoothly.
Vandalism
Hussein Shareef also said that the last two days has also seen an increase in political vandalism.
He said that Maumoon 2008 banners and posters have begun to be slashed with razor blades and physically torn following the recent Supreme Court (SC) rulings which has cleared the path for Gayoom to proceed unhindered towards the ballot box. He said opposition parties should not take out their frustrations over lack of support on the winner and that all parties should try to canvass support within legal means.
Hussein Shareef warned legal action against the perpetrators and said that complaints will be lodged at the EC as well as the MPS.
Congratulations
Hussein Shareef said that Gayoom himself has always advised campaign activists to act in a positive and proactive manner instead of harboring vendettas personal or otherwise.
He also said that Gayoom has set an example for other Presidential candidates by congratulating MDP candidate Nasheed on the SC decision to allow him to contest the elections.
Foreign Affairs
In response to a request for comment on MDP acting President Ibrahim Hussein Zaki’s allegation that Gayoom had personally accepted a USD 40 million donation by the Emir of Qatar His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani into Gayoom’s account Hussein Shareef said that Zaki as a former SAARC Secretary General appointed by Gayoom is well aware of the procedure for accepting foreign aid and therefore should not make the accusations which Hussein Shareef said are baseless and unsupported.
He noted that Zaki had made similar accusations during an earlier campaign against Gayoom saying that he has proof that Gayoom has embezzled money deposited in an overseas account. Hussein Shareef said that Zaki could not prove his point and that he can state for the record that Gayoom does not have a bank account overseas.
Hussein Shareef noted that the Maldives is the first country to establish a separate account for tsunami funds which is independently audited. He also said that the use of tsunami funds is overseen by a special body which includes the United Nations resident coordinator in the Maldives.
He said that the US government has praised the Maldives for its transparent and efficient system of dispensing tsunami funds.
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