Did not lay siege to Parliament, any statement to contrary is propaganda: Defence

Defence Ministry has stated that any reports which claim that Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) had laid siege to the Parliament were propaganda, designed to create anger against and defame the Force.

Parliament premises were locked down on the 24th of this month by officers of MNDF and officers in riot gear had entered Parliament grounds and removed MPs. The move was met with criticism, both local and international.

A statement released by Defence Ministry stated that the claims which state that MNDF had occupied Parliament premises were untrue. Such statements, the Ministry said, had only one goal; to create anger among public against the Armed Forces and defame the Force. As such, it noted that this was an uncivilized act.

The statement, released six days after the lockdown, noted that reports of this nature further damaged Maldives’ reputation in the international arena, defining this as unpatriotic.

It further said that under clause 105 (a) of the Constitution, MNDF was tasked with maintaining security at the Parliament. Therefore, the Force was legally mandated to prevent any action that would hamper this responsibility.

Additionally, the Ministry noted that security within the Parliament had been beefed up from 24th to the 29th, based on reports of security risks and a request by the Secretariat.

It also said the security was strengthened to protect democratic institutions.

Defence Ministry stated that as Maldives is still in its infancy stage, in terms of democracy, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and fight for rights must be carried out within limits of national security, respect for Islam and peace and security.

The siege of the Parliament premises on July 24th was the first such incident in the nation’s history.