President mocks jailed rivals, promises ‘surprise’ manifesto
President Abdulla Yameen on Friday launched a series of attacks against his jailed and exiled rivals at a ruling party rally in Malé’s carnival area.
12 May 2018, 9:00 AM
President Abdulla Yameen took aim at his jailed and exiled rivals at a ruling party rally in Malé’s carnival area Friday night.
Yameen called his speech at the “Heskiyaafa mega rally” a “short story” of events in the Maldives since the first multi-party elections in 2008.
“We’ve heard many nice words and phrases. ‘Nation first.’ What about now? Now the last thing is the nation,” he said, referring to the slogan championed by jailed former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.
The president’s half-brother, who ruled the Maldives for 30 years, is standing trial on terrorism charges whilst opposition leaders have gone into exile after widely criticised convictions that bar them from September’s polls.
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