Male' City Mayor Adam Azim has alleged that an assault against him during a Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) protest last night was orchestrated by the government.
In an interview with Adhadhu last night, Azim stated that citizens have been forced to take to the streets to protest the government's extreme incompetence and to seek relief from the hardships they are currently enduring. He asserted that he was targeted because of his efforts to expose the administration's failures and hold it accountable.
"I believe this [attack] was an act planned by the government," Azim said.
He further declared that such attacks would not silence the voice of the people and vowed that future protests would only grow stronger.
"I want to tell this tyrannical government that we will not stop our work for the people just because we are being harmed. You cannot stop us through violence or death. We will make these protests even more powerful," Azim said.
Azim noted that if the country were being managed effectively, no one would feel the need to protest. However, he highlighted critical shortages of US dollars and essential medicines. He also pointed to recent tragedies involving the deaths of several children and alleged that contaminated blood had been administered to patients at the Thalassemia Center.
The Mayor attributed this decline to the appointment of incompetent individuals to state institutions. He further alleged that such appointments are made to facilitate corruption and theft.
Azim emphasized that with the country in its current state, the public must intervene to bring the government back on track. He reiterated that the movement for the rights of the people cannot be suppressed through violence or intimidation.
The government has yet to issue an official response regarding Azim’s allegations.
