Young Maldivian athletes have lost the opportunity to join the Commonwealth Games so that President Abdulla Yameen could keep his tyrannical rule, says former speaker Abdulla Shahid.
While Commonwealth Games 2018 has begun in Australia’s Gold Coast, Maldivian athletes have been barred from the prestigious tournament after the Maldives government left the Commonwealth in late 2016 after accusing the body of interfering in domestic affairs and “unfair and unjust” treatment.
In a tweet on Tuesday, Shahid said the Maldivian youth had received opportunities to showcase their talents in the Commonwealth Games and that hopefully it will be so again.
Commonwealth Games akee Raajjeyge hunaruveri zuvaanunnah bainalaqwaamee fenvaruga gina fursathuthakeh libey mubaaraatheh. Mi furusathu Dhivehi zuvaanunnah nagaalee Yaameen ge khudhumukhuthaaru verikan dhemehettumah. Iraadhakureviyyaa zuvaanunnah adhi mi magu fahivaane. #Huttuvaa pic.twitter.com/vdSPJsZXt9
— Abdulla Shahid (@abdulla_shahid) April 10, 2018
The Commonwealth Games had been a popular international platform for Maldivian athletes to showcase their talents and Maldivians had also received educational benefits from the Commonwealth.
President Yameen had decided to withdraw from the Commonwealth after it warned the Maldives of possible suspension over the political turmoil in the country.
