Former president and PPM leader Maumoon Abdul Gayoom speaks to the press in the vandalised office of PPM. PHOTO: NISHAN ALI/MIHAARU
The look of distress that crossed the features of former president and ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM)’s leader Maumoon Abdul Gayoom was evident the moment he entered PPM’s office on Wednesday, only to behold an empty house with walls vandalised with vulgar expletives against him and his loyalists.
Following the judicial courts orders to Gayoom to hand over party control to party adviser and incumbent president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom amidst the political feud between the two half-brothers which has divided PPM into two factions, members of President Yameen’s faction had taken all the assets, administrative equipment, donations and election forms from PPM’s office to their current activity hub at Dharubaaruge convention centre. Leaving behind an empty house, the members responsible for its raid had also defaced its walls with expletives and obscenities in local Dhivehi language, mocking Gayoom and his faction.
Speaking to the press at PPM’s office which is operated at Themaa house in Henveiru ward of capital Male, Gayoom gestured at the walls and stated, “We can see the quality of those people on these walls.”
Former president and PPM leader Maumoon Abdul Gayoom speaks to the press in the vandalised office of PPM attended by members of his faction. PHOTO: NISHAN ALI/MIHAARU
Condemning the raid of PPM’s office and vandalism, Gayoom said, “I have nothing to say; the things written and done are here for you to see for yourselves.”
He vowed that despite the seizure of PPM’s assets and equipment, the office will be refurbished better and run with more integrity than before.
Gayoom also slammed the level of so-called “civilised community” that has been established by the current government over the past three years. Reiterating that his control over PPM had been forcefully taken from him in direct violation of the party’s charter, he asserted, “I do not believe it was done according to the Constitution and laws.”
Gayoom went on to say that President Yameen’s faction of PPM which is currently carrying out the official work of the party in Dharubaaruge is doing so in violation of PPM’s charter. He declared that the party cannot be operated thus without changing the charter itself.
Touching upon the announcement made by President Yameen’s faction of the upcoming “real” celebration of PPM’s fifth anniversary, Gayoom added that the real celebration is done and over with, referring to the ceremony he and his loyalists had held at SHE Building last week when they were denied entry to PPM’s office. It was during this ceremony that Gayoom had officially announced the withdrawal of his support for his half-brother’s government.
“And that night we spoke of the real objectives of PPM, which we will work hard in the future to achieve. We will run PPM stronger than before in the coming days.”