News Desk
Malé, Maldives — The Maldives Police Service has accused the opposition of attempting to incite a coup following the Bank of Maldives’ (BML) announcement yesterday to halt issuing dollars for Rufiyaa-linked visa and AMEX card transactions. The suspension of dollar transactions on these cards and the reduction of credit card limits to $100 come amid growing concerns about the country’s foreign currency reserves.
The police issued a statement today asserting that the timing of BML’s decision coincided with a press conference held by the main opposition party. In the press conference, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) discussed the government’s financial stability. According to the police, this was paired with numerous social media bot accounts calling for people to take to the streets to overthrow the government and disrupt public order. The police suggest there are grounds to believe that this was an attempt at a coup, prompting an investigation into the matter.
“There is room to believe that this was done to legalize the change of a legitimate government,” the police statement read, indicating the belief that these actions were deliberate attempts to disrupt the rule of law.
The decision to halt dollar transactions on Rufiyaa-linked cards was made by the BML board on Saturday night, with the announcement made on Sunday morning. The police’s investigation will look into the circumstances surrounding this decision, suggesting that there was enough time for the government to intervene had it been consulted.
The accusations and actions from BML come at a tense time for the Maldives, as public concern over the country’s economic situation mounts. These developments are likely to further strain relations between the government and opposition forces, with potential implications for the nation’s financial stability and political landscape. Notably, the police press release was issued while the ruling Progressive National Congress (PNC) was holding a rally at their party office.
