Monday, October 1, 2007

Political Parties strongly condemns terror attack

30 September 2007
Report: Soodh


In a Press Release by Ministry of Information and Arts, the Government of Maldives has strongly condemned the detonation of an improvised explosive devise in the Sultan Park , as a malicious act aimed at undermining the peace and harmony that has always prevailed in the country. The Government has also expressed its support for the victims and their families and has vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The device went off at about 2.36 pm yesterday injuring 12 foreign nationals. The injured include 2 British nationals who sustained significant burns, while 8 Chinese and 2 Japanese suffered minor burns and injury inflicted flying shrapnel. All were immediately taken to Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital and ADK Hospital for treatment. All except the British nationals have now been discharged from the hospital.

Minister of Tourism Mahmoud Shaugy visited the victims in hospital to express support and concern of the Government of and the people of the Maldives.

Area near Sultan Park has been cordoned off by Maldives Police and Maldives National Defense Force which has launched a joint investigation into the incident. CCTV footage has also been released and the public has been urged to share any information that might help the investigation.

A key ministerial group has been instituted to discuss and take decisions and take decisions on the next step to be taken in relation to the incident.
Government of Maldives has always condemned acts of aggression and terror wherever they are perpetrated and has vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice. As of yet no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, and the identities of the perpetrators and the motives behind the act are not clear.

Last night President Gayoom in an interview said that the people responsible for this act must be found and Government with the grace of Almighty Allah we will find them and they will be punished under law.

President also wished the victims of the incident a speedy recovery. President Gayoom stated, “I must also point out that some people who for political reasons have been calling for the boycott of the Maldives on the tourism front. They have been calling on tour operators to boycott the Maldives. They also have to share some responsibility for what happened today because they have been jeopardizing the stability and peace of the country and our economic benefits for political gain”.

Meanwhile all political parties in the country have condemned this act of violence as an act of terrorism and have called for stern punishment for the perpetrators.

Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party, DRP, and Adhaalath Party has strongly condemned this act of aggression and described it as an act against humanity. Further both parties have called for stern punishment under the law for the perpetrators and have appealed to the general public to support and cooperate with government.

Maldives Democratic Party, MDP, last night issued a strongly worded Press Release calling the Government to prevent such acts of terror happening in Maldives. They also urged the Government to protect the general public, foreigners living in Maldives and tourists traveling to Maldives from such acts of terror.

Islamic Democratic Party also strongly condemned the act of terror and called on the government to punish the perpetrators under the law.

VELIDHOO COMMUNITY

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