Social media videos show Yameen 'supporters' paid ahead of mass rally
The videos posted this evening show known members of the party giving out cash to individuals at the Vilimalé ferry terminal
A man, identified as a senior ruling party activist Hassan Shareef, is seen giving out MVR 500 to each individual
A number of videos posted on social networks have shown ruling party members paying supposed supporters ahead of their mass rally on Monday night.
The videos posted this evening show known members of the party giving out cash to individuals at the Vilimalé ferry terminal. These individuals, most of whom are still carrying luggage, are given MVR 500 each.
In one of the videos, a man can be heard in the background talking through a megaphone and asking arrivals from Innamaadhoo to meet an individual named Hassan Shareef.
RaajjeMV understands that Hassan Shareef is the government-appointed coordinator of Innamaadhoo island’s health center. Shareef is a known supporter of the ruling party and is heavily involved in ongoing campaign activities there and is seen in the video below.
A rented vessel called ‘Mihiri Faheh’ had brought 65 residents of Innamaadhoo island to capital city Malé on Friday evening. When contacted by RaajjeMV, Shareef said he could not speak on the phone at the time. Shareef is seen again in another video.
RaajjeMV has also learnt that several residents of islands in the outlying atolls were offered MVR 1,000 to travel to Malé and attend Friday’s rally, which is said to be funds for accommodation and catering.
Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) lawmaker Ahmed Nihan Manik had also chartered flights to carry supporters. The ruling party earlier said that they will at least have 20,000 attendants at the rally.
There have also been reports of civil service employees being coerced into attending the rally. PPM has denied previous allegations as such.
