When the opposition protests, they have to be controlled: Maldives minister to WION

WION interviewed Thoriq Ibrahimm, the Maldivian Minister for Environment and Energy about the current crisis in the Maldives.

Here is the full text of the interview:

Q: Mr Ibrahim, this a turbulent time in the Maldives: a judgment by the country’s highest court is overturned, an emergency has been imposed, a former president, several members of the opposition and – the chief justice and other judges are in prison. The world is shocked. How are you explaining these moves to the international community?

A: Let me tell you about what’s happening currently in the Maldives. Life is normal. Schools are open. Businesses are working. People are happy and going about their businesses, their daily lives. If you come to the Maldives, especially Male, you will see that all this is happening and daily life is going on normally. There is no curfew, there is no danger to anybody. Like you said, yes, there are some issues. The latest is that the Supreme Court Chief justice and another judge have been arrested on charges of bribery worth millions of dollars. We have seen that the police already has enough evidence on this issue of bribery. Former President Maumoon Gayoom has also been arrested for bribery, for trying to overthrow the government and undermine the judiciary.

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Q: But outside the Maldives, we’re seeing different pictures. There are crowds of protesters straining at police barriers. The police are armed. If all is well in the Maldives, if life in Male and on the islands is normal, who are all these protesters? Why are they on the streets ?

A: It’s the opposition, just as is usual in other countries too. When there are issues, they come out and protest. And when that happens, they have to be controlled. Even in other countries, you see that protesters have to be controlled, they have to be set certain limitations, certain boundaries. That’s what you are seeing our police do too.

Q: Even China and Pakistan have urged the envoys dispatched by President Yameen to respect democracy and fundamental rights. These countries are reportedly the Maldives’ 'best friends’. Now if even your allies are urging that, what action will you take?

A: It went well in Pakistan, and it went well in China too. They only said that it is a local issue and must therefore be solved locally. The two countries basically said that they don’t want to intervene in our local issues. So we need to solve them ourselves.

Q: So those countries acknowledge that there is an issue?

A: The issue is that the chief justice and another judge have been taken to jail because of bribery and for trying to overthrow the government.

Q: India had mobilised troops in keeping with her Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the Maldives. This was at the request of your opposition and your judiciary

A: India will not intervene on any such mission. In any case, we don’t really know whether they have mobilised their army. They will surely not intervene in our sovereign, independent nation. India has been a good friend for the past 50 years, it will surely not intervene. There is no reason for India to come and intervene in our internal affairs.

Q: Perhaps not. But New Delhi is certainly pressing for a United Nations (UN) fact-finding mission to be sent to theMaldives. Will your government promise such a mission a free and fair run of your country to conduct their investigation independently?

A: There is no fact-finding mission yet. However, if they come, of course we will communicate with them. I am sure they can come and find out whatever they want here. We welcome them.

Q: Suitcases, money found under mattresses, accusations of attempting to topple the government: this is what the press statement released by the Maldives Police claims. But all these are familiar props in the Maldives. Do you remember the Al-Jazeera documentary showing bags of cash being transported around Male – reportedly – at the command of President Yameen? The network also quoted sources in Male as having heard the President say the following to his supporters : “Al-Jazeera only saw the cash that entered my house. It did not see anything else.” In light of that damning reportage, how do you expect the world to believe the claims made by your police?

A: We have video evidence. Of about 2.4 million dollars worth of wire transactions and also hard cash from the houses of the judges and in their personal bags. 250000 dollars in cash were recovered from one of the judges' own bags. We have documentary and video evidence. And the black suitcase story is real. This is how most of the bribery was done. The black bag is one that is used in most bribery cases.

Q: Your government has paralysed not only the parliament but also the judiciary. Surely you don’t expect people to believe that those arrested will receive a fair trial?

A: It’s going to be a fair trial. By the way, our parliament has not been suspended. Due to security concerns, It is on recess at the moment. The speaker will decide on its resumption as soon as normalcy returns.

Q: You allege that USD 2.4 million were wire transferred by the accused. Was this “conspiracy” hatched within the Maldives alone? Or do you think there are other countries involved?

A: It’s a bit too soon to say whether internal or external parties were involved. But the investigation is on. The Supreme Court, by the way, is functioning now. It is functioning with three SC judges – we normally have five – but it is functioning.Hopefully there will be normalcy soon.

Q: Among those arrested is the Maldives’ longstanding former president, Maumoon Gayoom. He is current president Yameen’s half-brother. He is also eighty years old and his health is frail. What is to be achieved by putting him behind bars?

A: We didn’t arrest him for no reason. We did so because he was trying to bribe and undermine the judges and overthrow the government. That’s why he is in custody. If he had nothing wrong, he would still be a respected man living a normal life. But since he’s involved, he’s in jail. There’s documentary evidence for that.

Q: Tourism is the Maldives’ main source of income. The crisis is not doing the Maldives any good. Many countries are issuing travel advisories. A Moody’s analyst has warned that there will be a slowing of growth since tourism will suffer. Moody’s is revising down its current forecast of 4.5 percent real GDP growth for the Maldives in 2018. Why is president Yameen taking such risks with the future of his country?

A: We will see normalcy soon and I’m sure tourism will pick up again. The Maldives is a very popular destination throughout the world. If you come here and see for yourself, you’ll see it’s normal. We will invite all to come and see, even though there is this debate raging right now. Tourism will definitely pick up.

Q: In that case, international journalists will have to travel there and research for themselves. But your government has been arresting journalists too. Can you assure reporters through this interview, that you will respect their independence if they travel to your country to report?

A: We invite journalists to come. But they have to come through the proper channels, take proper visas. If they do that, we invite them to come.