The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has decided to seek an inquiry by Parliament's 241 Committee after accusing the security forces of failing to fulfill its responsibility of ensuring protection and safety for MPs.
A sitting during recess was scheduled yesterday to vote on approval for President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's cabinet. But the ministerial appointments could not be put to a vote amid disorder and violence after the MDP issued a whip-line to reject some ministers. The MDP expressed concern last night after death threats were made against some MPs.
"I don't believe that the state's security forces provided the necessary service to the People's Majlis today [Sunday]. The Speaker of the People's Majlis is also in a state of worry, a state of anxiety. Everyone saw that entry and exit here was happening without any order," Deputy Speaker Ahmed Saleem said.
Despite the incidents, MPs in the party's parliamentary group have not changed their stance, Saleem said.
"We know that some people came inside the Majlis compound. The MNDF [Maldives National Defense Force] maintains Majlis security matters. However, MPs did not feel they had a safe environment today. Our MPs were very much in a state of worry and fear," said Saleem, MP for Hoarufushi.
The party will propose an inquiry by Parliament's Security Services Committee, Saleem revealed.
After Sunday's sitting was adjourned in the morning, voting on the ministerial appointments was due to take place at 1:30 pm. However, the sitting could not resume as government MPs obstructed proceedings.
Protesters led by ministers and top government officials also gathered outside the Parliament building on Sunday afternoon.
Rocks were thrown into the Parliament compound during the protest, some MPs said. Maafannu Medhu MP Ibrahim Rasheed (Bondey) from The Democrats told Adhadhu that a rock landed very close to him, alleging that he had been targeted by protesters.
"It's very regrettable that such a thing happened in a protest where senior government officials, deputy ministers, participated. I think this has reached a very bad point," he said.
Other MPs also told Adhadhu that rocks were thrown into the Parliament compound.
"The police would have seen it," an MP said.
In a letter sent to Speaker Mohamed Aslam, Galolhu Uthuru MP Eva Abdulla from The Democrats said protesters climbed the walls and hurled projectiles into the compound. Eva asked for an inquiry by the 241 committee into whether the MNDF and police fulfilled their constitutional duties during the unrest.
After a sitting was scheduled for Sunday night, death threats were also made against MDP MPs, warning them against participating in the vote.
Kendhikolhudhoo MP Ahmed Easa told Adhadhu that a person called from an unlisted number and threatened him and other MDP MPs.
A complaint has been filed to the Parliament Secretariat, Easa said.
The death threats against Easa and other MPs came after violence in the Parliament chamber as government MPs tried to obstruct voting, during which a fight broke out between Easa and MP Abdulla Shaheem Abdul Hakeem.
