The Labour Party has condemned implied allegations by President Mohamed Nasheed that Mr. Mohamed Saleem, the party’s leader and MP for B. Atoll Eydhafushi Constituency had engaged in illegal drug dealing. The President’s remarks had come during his speech in the ceremony held a couple of days earlier on 26th June, at the official function to mark the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, a few days after the police had found out that drug dealing was going on in a leased private residence belonging to MP and Labour Party leader Mohamed Saleem. The President had said in his speech that the MP in whose property the illegal drug dealing transactions had taken place should be responsible for the crimes, without naming Mohamed Saleem. A Press Release issued by the Labour Party today said that the President had made the comments against their leader out of “personal jealousy and hatred” and harshly condemned the President for making them. The Press Release read: “Mohamed Nasheed, the Dictatorial President of this country, had implied that there was a relationship between the leader of this party and some suspects arrested last week on Thursday for suspicion of drug dealing in a large scale. However, the statements made by President Nasheed are crystal clear proof that he does not have the slightest idea about what law and justice are. It also proves to us that accusing political dissidents of various crimes and punishing them without justice is a dictatorial policy adopted by President Nasheed in order to continue in his office.” Labour Party said that a property which is leased to the exclusive possession of someone is under his/her full control, and that the owner does not necessarily have to bear the responsibilities of illegal activities conducted by the tenant in the property. They said that if Mr. Saleem should be responsible for drug dealing that occurred at H. Fashan, his leased home, then the owners of ships and planes on which illegal drugs are trafficked into the country should also be responsible for that. The Press Release also read: “Hundreds of bottles of alcoholic drinks were found in the boot of a car belonging to Mr. Moosa Manik, who has obtained the office of Chairperson of the Maldivian Democratic Party by the use of force and coercion. However, the President did not dare talk about that in official functions, and we ask why. Some senior officials and political figures of the state had “displayed their nakedness before online webcams” and committed dirty acts. However, the President did not dare say that he would take responsibility for that as the head of the government, and we ask why. … In apartments where the President’s cabinet members live, crimes such as drinking and rape of young girls have been known to occur. Why does the President forget to talk about those who should be responsible for such crimes?” The Press Release also accused President Nasheed of ruling with an iron hand, with the support of a gang of ruthless oppressors who have been given opportunities to lock the Supreme Court, siege the Judicial Services Commission, break Court Orders, implement various actions in contravention to the laws of the country, and deal corruptly with government funds and property. It said that clear evidence of these atrocities might get President Nasheed off his seat of power and land him in a prison cell for a long period of time.