Political fear has returned and the government is preparing to arrest opposition leaders, former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, advisor of the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), said last night.
At an MDP campaign event in Male', Solih accused the government of threatening employees over job security and attempting to stop political activities.
Referring to MDP Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail being summoned to the police station yesterday, Solih said it showed the targeting of political leaders.
"We're facing fear to the extreme. Political activity can't be carried out. They're planning to hold and arrest political leaders," Solih said.
"That was a completely baseless allegation."
Solih said the state of the country 10 years ago could be felt again and warned that the country could be thrown back into fear and darkness if the situation was allowed to worsen.
"It won't stop there. They'll go after judges as well. Police Commissioners will be taken and arrested, too. Independent institutions will be taken into their fist," Solih said, expressing concern.
The government's intentions were revealed by efforts to undermine Parliament's authority since coming to power, Solih said. The government was trying to render Parliament powerless, he said.
"We have to rise up all together in this. We have to stand up strongly. This country's direction has turned astray. It's going backwards. We have to go forward," Solih said.
