PRESS RELEASE
NR – 22/2007 A
date : 04 August 2007, Saturday
MDP hooligans disrupt the DRP-MDP debate on systems of governance organized by Haveeru Daily
“MDP has deprived the Maldivian people of a golden opportunity to gather factual information on the two systems” – DRP Chief Spokesman Ibrahim Shafiu
The Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) strongly condemns the orchestrated attempt by the opposition MDP and the party’s hooligans to disrupt this evening’s DRP-MDP debate on systems of governance, which was organized by Haveeru Daily. The DRP representatives had no option but to walk out, after the MDP hooligans in the crowd hurled abuse, obscenities and profanities at the two DRP representatives, Mohamed Nasheed and Mohamed Jameel Ahmed.
Commenting on this evening’s shameful events, the Registrar and Chief Spokesman of the DRP, Ibrahim Shafiu said:
“By sending their thugs to the debate and by instructing them to hurl abuse at our representatives, the MDP has deprived the Maldivian people of a golden opportunity to gather factual information on the two systems. Given the limited opportunities to gather factual information on the two systems of governance proposed for the public referendum of 18 August, thousands of people were looking forward to this evening’s debate.”
“The MDP knew that the overwhelming majority of Maldivian people are supporting a Presidential System. They also knew that the case for adopting a Parliamentary System in the Maldives was very weak, and that this weakness would be exposed by our representatives in an intellectual debate. Hence, the MDP came to this evening’s forum with a clear intention of disruption and sabotage.”
The DRP also expressed its bitter disappointment over the poor organization of the forum, and the inability of the moderator to maintain order.
“The moderator clearly lost control of the proceedings. Our representatives were abused non-stop from the very beginning, and displayed extreme patience. However, there are limits to human dignity and behavior, and the MDP thugs turned what was supposed to be a civilized debate into a rowdy street brawl. While such behaviour is typical of the MDP, it was a shame that the general public was deprived of their right to free and factual information”, Shafiu highlighted.
The DRP intends to send a letter of protest to Haveeru Daily over the matter, and reaffirms its commitment to step up its campaign to promote a Presidential System based on academic, historical and factual information.
Let us vote for a Presidential System to ensure that Maldivian politics is not dominated by hooligans and thugs.
Report by: Soamidh 16:00Hrs from N. Velidhoo
date : 04 August 2007, Saturday
MDP hooligans disrupt the DRP-MDP debate on systems of governance organized by Haveeru Daily
“MDP has deprived the Maldivian people of a golden opportunity to gather factual information on the two systems” – DRP Chief Spokesman Ibrahim Shafiu
The Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) strongly condemns the orchestrated attempt by the opposition MDP and the party’s hooligans to disrupt this evening’s DRP-MDP debate on systems of governance, which was organized by Haveeru Daily. The DRP representatives had no option but to walk out, after the MDP hooligans in the crowd hurled abuse, obscenities and profanities at the two DRP representatives, Mohamed Nasheed and Mohamed Jameel Ahmed.
Commenting on this evening’s shameful events, the Registrar and Chief Spokesman of the DRP, Ibrahim Shafiu said:
“By sending their thugs to the debate and by instructing them to hurl abuse at our representatives, the MDP has deprived the Maldivian people of a golden opportunity to gather factual information on the two systems. Given the limited opportunities to gather factual information on the two systems of governance proposed for the public referendum of 18 August, thousands of people were looking forward to this evening’s debate.”
“The MDP knew that the overwhelming majority of Maldivian people are supporting a Presidential System. They also knew that the case for adopting a Parliamentary System in the Maldives was very weak, and that this weakness would be exposed by our representatives in an intellectual debate. Hence, the MDP came to this evening’s forum with a clear intention of disruption and sabotage.”
The DRP also expressed its bitter disappointment over the poor organization of the forum, and the inability of the moderator to maintain order.
“The moderator clearly lost control of the proceedings. Our representatives were abused non-stop from the very beginning, and displayed extreme patience. However, there are limits to human dignity and behavior, and the MDP thugs turned what was supposed to be a civilized debate into a rowdy street brawl. While such behaviour is typical of the MDP, it was a shame that the general public was deprived of their right to free and factual information”, Shafiu highlighted.
The DRP intends to send a letter of protest to Haveeru Daily over the matter, and reaffirms its commitment to step up its campaign to promote a Presidential System based on academic, historical and factual information.
Let us vote for a Presidential System to ensure that Maldivian politics is not dominated by hooligans and thugs.
Report by: Soamidh 16:00Hrs from N. Velidhoo
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