The disciplinary committee of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has decided to remove Yumna Maumoon and Dhunya Maumon, the daughters of ousted party leader President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom from the party council. Aminath Atheefa and Mohamed Nadeem, two other members who also supported Gayoom's faction were removed as well.
The letter sent by the disciplinary committee to all four members stated that after discussing the issue within the committee, an unanimous decision was reached to remove the four supporting Gayoom's faction. The letter also said that all four got the chance to defend themselves but that they all failed to do this.
The disciplinary committee has also decided to remove Dhunya Maumoon from her post as the President of PPM's women branch. The Gayoom faction stated that the council who reached this decisions were not a valid council so the decisions will be void.
The same council had previously also removed Gayoom's lawmaker son as well.
The divisions within the party stem from a dispute between party leader Gayoom and his half brother President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom. The rift between the two grew to the point of causing a split in the party. The matter eventually saw its end in court with the reins of the party being given to the party's chief adviser, President Yameen.
The elder Gayyoom continued to defy the court ruling and has since led a breakaway faction within the party with his supporters, and has since withdrawn his support for the government.
President Yameen has however refused to hit back at his elder brother, saying that he greatly respects him and has requested all the members of the faction to come back and serve the public as a part of PPM.
