Former President Abdulla Yameen has expressed displeasure over the failure to rescind a decree issued by the former President that targeted stopping the "India Out" campaign conducted by current government officials when they were in opposition.
Characterizing the "India Out" campaign led by Yameen as a coordinated effort against a particular country for political reasons without a valid purpose, former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih signed and issued the decree on April 21, 2022 under the name of "stopping organized activities under various slogans to incite hatred against specific countries."
Speaking from the audience at a rally of the People's National Front (PNF) party last night, Yameen posed questions to speakers at the podium. On one occasion, Yameen asked why the decree had not been rescinded and expressed disapproval.
The campaign was launched due to concerns and adequate efforts had been undertaken as part of it, Yameen said. However, a decree issued by the President made it possible to stop the campaign and activities had been suspended in order to avoid confrontations with the security forces, he said.
"Why has this government been unable to rescind that decree with just a stroke of the pen? It's only when it's rescinded, isn't it, that there'd be an India Out banner in my house even tomorrow. And that we'd be able to take to the streets for the India Out effort. But they still haven't been able to rescind the decree," Yameen said, appearing visibly upset.
After the decree issued by former President Solih instructed state agencies to stop the activities, the police obtained a court order and removed "India Out" banners draped on various buildings in Male'. The government also removed a banner from Yameen's house.
As the opposition to the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) government, street protests were staged contending that the decree was wrong and the government's efforts to stop the India Out activities became a cause for the protests, Yameen said.
"But a government that came with strings of calls on these matters is still unable to rescind it. What is the secret behind this?" Yameen asked.
The government's most recent comment on the decree was that a legal review was underway. Asked whether efforts to rescind the decree were ongoing, the government said the review was not taking place with "any specific intent."
Incumbent President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, his Special Advisor Abdul Raheem Abdulla, Defense Minister Ghassan Maumoon and Local Government Minister Adam Shareef had met the press on the day that the decree was issued.
Current government officials who had been in opposition at the time believed that the decree was unlawful because it restricted constitutional rights on freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and freedom to carry out political activities.
