The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has alleged intimidation, harassment, and “covert police action” against participants of a gathering in the capital Malé last Thursday (June 26).
The party explained in a press release yesterday that Thursday night’s rally was held “as the first of a planned series of gatherings dubbed ‘Barricade Meetings’, to protest the current regime’s mismanagement of state resources, rising costs of essential goods, deterioration of health services resulting in preventable loss of lives, and sustained influences on the judiciary to incriminate political rivals.”
The rally went ahead in spite of a warning by the Home Ministry against the planned gathering, which was the first time the main opposition party took to the streets since last year’s presidential election.
The MDP afterwards alleged that several police officers “infiltrated the rally and attempted to incite grassroots members” of the party.
“Leaders of the party urged participants to avoid confrontations and were exercising maximum restraint while reminding attendees that we were exercising our constitutional rights of assembly, of disseminating and acquiring awareness, and of freedom of expression,” the statement continued.
“Intimidation and harassment of participants of rallies and political gatherings have been the practice of [former President Maumoon Abdul] Gayoom regime in the past. It is a matter of serious concern for the MDP that police are being directed to infiltrate and incite participants of political rallies by the administration of President Yameen Abdul Gayoom.
“Their orders include identification of the party’s youth leaders and top activists and the MDP believes that several young participants of the rally will be arrested on some trumped up unrelated charges in the next few days.”
President’s Office Spokesperson Ibrahim Muaz Ali was unavailable for comment at the time of press.
Peaceful assembly
The MDP statement meanwhile added that threats and “targeted incrimination” against youth participating in political activities was a common practice under the Gayoom regime.
“The MDP appeals to well-wishers to prevail over the current administration to cease and desist from attempts to intimidate and incriminate participants of political gatherings,” the press release concluded.
The Maldives Police Service (MPS) meanwhile are reported to have sent a letter to former President Mohamed Nasheed – acting president of the MDP – asking the party not to hold demonstrations at the Chandanee Magu-Fareedhee Magu junction.
Although Nasheed had declared that the party would continue its gatherings “every night,” the MDP did not organise a gathering last night.
Police stated in the letter – obtained by local media – that a number of complaints were made by members of the public regarding the MDP’s gathering on Thursday night.
While pedestrians, Ramadan shoppers, and drivers were inconvenienced, the letter stated that residents of the area also complained of infringement of their rights.
Some complainants alleged that participants of the gathering used foul language and violated societal norms, police said.
Moreover, the letter added, businesses and shops in the commercial district would also be adversely affected if the gatherings continued in the area.
The letter further referred to provisions in the Freedom of Assembly Act passed in December 2012, which authorises police to prevent gatherings.
Police also urged the opposition party to provide a 36-hour notice prior to holding public gatherings.
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Mamaa.. I lost my marbles...the big bad police has taken it
What MDP needs to do now is to cuddle Qasim, and pump him up.
He is an arrogant idiot, who will pounce on to any bait you put on the hook. In fact these days, a few chats about his ego, will make him sit squarely on MDPs lap.
He has got enough money to sway the hypocritical Mordisians to turn in your favor.
Complaining about police and judges will not get you anything these days.
Keep focused on your ultimate goal. Don't step on camels toes, and pump up the idiot; you will achieve your goal sooner than you think.
I don't think that these protests is the answer yet. There are more things that can be done before protesting on the streets but having said that, we are also a hypocritical bunch. The complaints from residents about use of "foul language and violated societal norms" is laughable since that happens even in the Parliament, supposedly one of the most respectable institution in our society and yet MPs who have used the most foul language are re-elected time and time again. And such foul language is also part of our daily life that we hear on the streets and media often.
It's not really 'covert' when cackling police dogs post all their plans on facebook, eh?
We were able to have little peace in this country and Nasheed can not sleep when peace and harmony prevails in this country.
We are sick of all lies from Nasheed . He must give up on his violent attitude .
We don't want him to be pour leader and that guy need to be made answerable to the millions of dollars that he had taken from GMR.
I call upon the Gov to arrest the guy and brought before the court and made him responsible for what he had robbed from this country.
MDP and Nasheed CANNOT take us for a ride anymore! This is all history! Enough is Enough!
We want to live peacefully, prosperously, happily IN HARMONY. NO MORE DIVISIONs of the Maldivian society by MDP thugs and Mafia!
Let the ruling party do whatever they want to do. IF they don't do well, we will bring a CHANGE in the next government and Parliament. Let us give them time to perform. In three years of MDP rule, we only saw violence, greed, corruption AND DRAMA right?
Leave us alone Nasheed and MDP mafia. Find out another country where you can do all this. STOP BEING SELFISH AND GREEDY...
@Hero, is gundas ruling the country what you call peace?
Hero, peace and harmony prevails only for a select few like yourself. There is no peace and harmony for those who are victimized by a corrupt judiciary, and there's no peace and harmony on the streets when we can't walk without being harassed by jobless youth and there's no peace and harmony when drugs are prevalent in our society and all our kids are at risk of being caught in this trap. And you think it's the protests that's threatening peace and harmony in Maldives?!!! Yep, you must be living the life of the elite.
Did everyone had job during Nasheed time.
The biggest Gunda in this country is Nasheed.
Nasheed is a gone case and its history and Maldivian are sick of the guy and yet still trying to hijack MDP.
If there is any fair election within MDP, Nasheed will get kick out nicely.
@Rihakuru
Some may say the same thing when your people were ruling the country
Hero, keeping aside your hatred for Nasheed, do you really believe that there is peace and harmony in Maldives now just because PPM is in power? Try asking this question to the thousands living in the atolls as well still without access to some of the basic infrastructure. There is more to life and politics than Nasheed, so try to think beyond Nasheed if you can do so.
I'm no shrink but Hero urgently needs psychiatric evaluation.....his pathological hatred for Nasheed and the MDP borders on paranoia.
Is there a good mental health unit in Maldives where he can get treatment?
All this ramzan fasting will only make him worse.
Can you not send him on jihad to Iraq or Syria?
@mariyam: Please don't ask Hero and his ilk to stop bashing ol' Anni. This is the only way they can get a few grams of heroin to sate their desperate hunger. Please, think about their situation and let them have at least a little peace of mind on this most holy of months.
who is known using heroin and drugs. Ganjabo is Nasheed and he is one man.
@MissIndia. You need to find a mental hospital quickly. Since the day GMR was removed, you are have been going through mental disorder and u need to seek urgent medial attention.
Please start working on improving the lives of those 55% of your population . At least you can put an effort to provide access to clean water and food leaving aside the other necessaries first.
@Hero
I took a blood test on Nasheed and he turned up negative for drug usage. If he had used any form of drugs, it'd show.
You're just blindly parroting what you hear on state-controlled propaganda TV.
@Maldivian
You took a blood test on Nasheed? Bahahaha
Didnt know that the tester's were on druggies too you turd