Press Release issued by the Office of the President, Male’, Maldives

 Reference Number: 2007-522

Saturday, September 29, 2007

The President tonight strongly condemned the act of detonating an explosive device in Sultan Park this afternoon. 

In an interview given to the Media during his visit to the foreign nationals injured in the explosion, being treated at ADK Hospital, the President said that this has been a very sad day for the Maldives and that this is the first time that the Maldives had suffered such an attack. The President also said that the people responsible for this act will be found and that they will be punished under law.

The President’s interview reads as follows: 

Quote:

“I want to say that this has been a very sad day for the Maldives. This is the first time that we have suffered such a terrorist attack in the Maldives and in Male, the capital of the country. The people responsible for this act must be found. The Government with the grace of Almighty Allah will find them and they will be punished under law. I also want to say that our feelings are with the victims of the incident today. We wish them a very speedy recovery. I must also point out that some people who for political reasons have been calling for the boycott of the Maldives on the tourism front. They have been calling on tour operators to boycott the Maldives. They also had to share some responsibility for what happened today because they have been jeopardising the stability and peace of the country and our economic benefits for political gain. I think that is a very selfish and irresponsible thing to do. They have to take part of the blame for what happened today.” 

Unquote: