Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has slammed the comments made by former President Mohamed Nasheed in his address to the Human Rights in Asia 2016 conference.
In a statement released by ruling Progressive Party of Maldives, the Party said the claims made by the former President are fabrications, composed of half-truths. The statement added that the real engineer of democracy in the country, was Nasheed's predecessor, Maumoon Abdul Qayyoom.
In the statement, PPM said that democratic values first implemented within a new modern Constitution under the reign of President Yameen.
The statement added that President Maumoon had championed and facilitated democratic values, free and fair elections and human rights. The Party said the fact that President Maumoon had conceded defeat in the 2008 election, conducted under the newly compiled Constitution, was sufficient proof that President Maumoon had not interfered in the processes.
The statement went ahead to note the various human rights transgressions committed during President Nasheed's tenure, such as the jailing of opposition political figures, closure of Supreme Court, media censure and the illegal detention of a Judge.
PPM further noted that President Yameen was also elected on the basis of a free and fair election. Any attempts to do so, the statement said was an attempt by Nasheed to hide the various transgressions committed during his tenure.
In Nasheed's address, he had spoken on the various initiatives to promote human rights and democratic values and the resultant spells in jail that he had faced.
