Ex-President urges the people to participate in government reform

Exiled opposition leader, former President Mohamed Nasheed has called on the Maldivian people to take part in the activities being held to reform the government.

In a message shared via social media- by social media activists Shammoon “Lucas” Jaleel and Ahmed “Sim” Anwar- the former President emphasized the importance of taking part in the reform activities.

The leader of the largest opposition party in the country, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) noted that political work “might not be the cleanest business”, but that it is important to take part in the activities to make way for a better life.

“I believe that political work, at times, is not the cleanest business, but in order lead clean lives, it is important to take part in the work [being done to reform the government]. I urge everyone to do take part in the reform work” Nasheed says in the video message.

Nasheed - a human rights icon - is currently in Sri Lanka, where the video message was recorded, after having traveled there in the early hours of Sunday.

While there has been no details regarding the purpose of his visit, RaajjeMV had learnt that the visit will focus on the no-confidence motion submitted against parliament speaker Abdulla Maseeh.

RaajjeMV understands that he will meet with the MDP's parliamentary group, and is to depart to the United Kingdom- where he has been granted political asylum- on March 27, the same day the motion will be submitted to the parliament floor.

The former President was last in Sri Lanka in February, and had met members of the advisory committee, national congress, general members of the Party, as well President Maithripala Sirisena and Vice President Ranil Wickremesinghe of Sri Lanka.

Nasheed was sentenced to 13 years imprisonment on March 13, 2013, over terror charges, and was granted permission to travel to UK for medical purposes in January 2016.

Government VS social media activists

Former President Nasheed with Shamoon "Lucas" Jaleel and Ahmed "Sim" Anwar

Authorities have been harassing various opposition social media activists, including Shammoon. He has been summoned to the police headquarters, twice, and was arrested in July 2016, on allegations of inciting hatred against the security forces. He was released in September.

Another opposition activist, Thayyib Shaheem, 42, was arrested late Thursday night, and remanded for eight days. He was arrested on the allegation of inciting fear and panic regarding the flu outbreak, and spreading false information.

However, the opposition claims that he was arrested over some tweets regarding the reported sale of Faafu Atoll to the Saudi royal family. His arrest came a few hours after the audio of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM)’s Parliamentary Group leader Ahmed Nihan Hussain Manik was leaked.

Earlier in March, Shammoon said that the tweets calling against the sale of Faafu Atoll can only be stopped "by cutting off the fingers" of users.

Shammoon and Anwar’s departure to Sri Lanka comes as rumors of their possible arrest intensify.