Yameen Warns Muizzu: 'Do Not Invite a Calamity That Cannot Be Withstood' Over Rasmalé Deal

Former President Abdulla Yameen has warned that the war President Mohamed Muizzu is trying to start over the Rasmalé project is one that cannot be won, calling on the government not to invite a level of calamity that cannot be withstood. Speaking at a gathering held tonight at the Artificial Beach to raise voices against giving 500 hectares of Rasmalé to UAE's Eagle Hills, Yameen spoke firmly against the government of President Muizzu proceeding with the project. He said there are things a president can do and things a president cannot do, and that especially in a matter involving the interests of the people, a president cannot do anything without the consent of the people. Yameen responded firmly to Muizzu's action. "The wise approach in that firmness will be not to invite a level of calamity that cannot be withstood; if it is brought, it cannot be controlled," he said. "What we are trying to bring to Maldivian land is a calamity beyond our power. What I am saying is, do not begin an unwinnable war." Calls of "Alabbar out" and "Eagle Hills out" - attributed to Eagle Hills chairman Mohamed Alabbar - were heard loudly at the gathering. Yameen said a national unity had been formed tonight to stop the project being run in Rasmalé, and that there was no political division, no separate ideology and no separate colour there. He said work would be done to push "Alabbar out" and to obtain Maldivian land for Maldivians. "This is national work," he called out. He requested that PNC general members, People's Majlis members, the police and the military also stand against the matter. Yameen said this is the time those people must speak, described every person who does not speak as being among those participating in the matter, and said that when the next government changes the matter, all of them will be brought before the courts. "Whether I come to power, whether MDP comes, or any party other than PNC comes, this land will be recovered. Listen, Alabbar. Even if the land has been given, this land will be recovered. And no compensation will be given either," Yameen said. Yameen said the Rasmalé project is a project included in his manifesto and that in that project "not even two strokes of Muizzu's pen will be on it." He said the land was reclaimed to provide housing for Maldivian youth, and therefore he will not give space for a party from outside the country to settle on that land. When the electricity was cut from the Artificial Beach, Yameen had to shorten his speech, but even after stepping down he called out "Alabbar out."