Nasheed apologizes for ‘misunderstanding’ over activist remark

Leader of MDP, former President Mohamed Nasheed says his remarks that the government doesn’t have it within its power to employ all activists who fought to bring the current administration to power was misconstrued.

Speaking at the inauguration of the MDP Youth Congress on Saturday, Nasheed said that the assumption that all political activists who had taken part in demonstrations in favor of the current administration and had been hit with pepper spray during those demonstrations should be employed was an embarrassing misconception.

He said that “those hit by pepper spray” also had options, but that realizing those options was “up to them”.

The remarks drew widespread criticism from MDP loyalists and fueled allegations the party’s activists were being sidelined in favor of officials who had campaigned for former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom for political positions within the current administration.

Nasheed, in a statement via his official Twitter account this Sunday, said the remarks were widely misconstrued.

“I apologize for any misunderstanding which may have resulted from my words. My point was to note that not everyone can be assigned government jobs,” said Nasheed.

He said that he also wanted to note that appointments to government posts should be made based on efficient, impartial, and sustainable policies.