A venue prepared for a rally in Gaaf Dhaalu Madaveli was set on fire last night ahead of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's visit in order to divert focus from a successful re-election campaign, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) presidential candidate said today.
Speaking at a makeshift venue under a tree, the president said the arson was regrettable and noted that such incidents have occurred before during presidential election campaigns.
"The purpose [of inciting unrest] is to divert focus, take us towards unrest. One thing that this shows is that this was done to stop us because opponents see us winning the upcoming presidential election by a large margin with our campaign," President Solih said.
Despite arson and attempts to incite violence, the president urged supporters, his campaign team and the people of Madaveli not to react.
"I want to say to the people of Madaveli, my supporters and the campaign team to not worry about that at all, and to not do anything in response," he said, stressing that the focus should be on winning the election.
Disrupting peace and stability would not lead to success, the president said, adding that he did not wish to have any involvement in such actions.
The Madaveli campaign team prepared a venue with a tent cover to hold the rally near the island's school. The fire was set at dawn after the team finished work and left around 3:00 am.
Mohamed Najeeb, MDP Madaveli branch vice president, told Adhadhu that a black mat draped at the venue along with the podium, banners and some chairs were completely destroyed.
The fire was put out around 5:30 am, he said.
The police launched an investigation but no arrest has been made yet.
Speaker Mohamed Nasheed, former MDP president, meanwhile condemned the Madaveli arson today.
"Arresting people, setting fire to places and damaging property in relation to elections should not be done. I condemn the arson of the MDP Madaveli meeting hall," the former president tweeted.
Ahmed Mauroof, an interim council member of Nasheed's Democrats, was arrested in Dhaalu Kudahuvadhoo last night.
President Solih was in Kudahuvadhoo at the time. He travelled to Madaveli this morning.
