Only traitors will try to defame the law enforcement and national defence force- Gasim

Abdul Latheef

Jumhooree Party leader, Gasim Ibrahim has said that only traitors will try to defame law enforcement and national defence force by spreading falsehood against them.

Gasim Ibrahim made this remark in view of the recent interview given to the Independent by former President Mohamed Nasheed claiming Maldives Police Service and the Maldives National Defence Force are infiltrated by terrorists.

Gasim said that no one should make any such blatant statements to defame and vilify the law enforcement and the defence force of Maldives.

He said that it is the defence force who will be in the frontline to defend the nation from everything that poses a threat to the national security of the country. He said that they should be honoured, respected and thanked for their national services and sacrifices.

During the interview to the Independent, President of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Nasheed claimed that there were links between jihadist groups and both the country’s military and the police force.

“Radical Islam is getting very, very strong in the Maldives,” he said. “Their strength in the military and in the police is very significant. They have people in strategic positions within both.

“Of the 200 people who have gone to jihad, the vast majority are ex-military.

“What’s happening is they are taking people in for training and they will go away [to fight abroad]. They are using the Maldives military to train their people.”

Nasheed is known for his hate speech against the security forces of Maldives and he is known for branding his opponents “terrorists”.