- Opposition want to release jailed leaders
- No response to party talks' invite
- Govt ready to include foreign observers
Fisheries Minister and chief government representative for the political party talks, Dr Mohamed Shainee has questioned the integrity of the opposition in solving the issues faced by the nation insisting that the opposition has snubbed the invitation for dialogue.
In an exclusive interview with 'Avas', Shainee stated that the party talks must be held according to universal guidelines with valid topics discussed. However according to the Minister, no opposition parties have made any formal complaints against the government to fix any issues thus far.
According to the Minister, the opposition's primary aim is to secure the release of their jailed leaders and further their own political agenda.
"We know the opposition will not turn up for the party talks. They are not attempting to fix Maldivian problems. They are doing this to release prisoners from their sentences and to further their own political motives. So they are misleading the public, telling them that discussions cannot be held," Dr Shainee said.
The United Nations have called for the political parties in Maldives to enter discussions as well after the recent rise of political tensions in the Maldives.
The Minister also noted that should former President Mohamed Nasheed be released and be allowed to run in the next presidential elections, then every prisoner convicted for terrorism must be given the same chance.
"I don't know whether those in prison would get a solution out of the party talks. President Yameen himself has stated that it is out of his legal power to release those prisoners," Dr. Shainee said.
While various foreign entities have called for inter-party talks to be held in the Maldives after the recent rise in political tension across the nation, the government has previously announced that it was ready for dialogue with the opposition.
However, no opposition parties had made any sort of formal request to hold talks with the government. Dr. Shainee also informed that the government was ready to bring in foreign representatives to the party talks should the opposition accept the invitation.
