The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has claimed that the momentum behind an ongoing series of protests against the government of President Mohamed Waheed Hassan remains undiminished as its supporters await the outcome of increased Commonwealth pressure on the new administration.
In the latest round of protests yesterday, the party estimates that 6,000 people took part in a peaceful march around the capital passing several major streets and landmarks such as Majeedhee Magu, Sosun Magu, the People’s Majlis and Fareedhee Magu before returning to the party’s protest area. Police confirmed to Minivan News that no major disturbances or arrests were made by its officers during the march, which began yesterday afternoon at 4.00pm.
The government has responded that yesterday’s demonstration was not an official protest called by the MDP and instead represented followers of former President Mohamed Nasheed – who is affiliated with the party. The government said that the demonstration was not therefore seen as a “major issue”.
Since the controversial transfer of power in February that saw President Waheed succeed Mohamed Nasheed in office, MDP supporters have been linked with both peaceful protest action and violent clashes against police over claims security forces had been part of an alleged “coup d’etat” to remove Nasheed from office.
MDP Women’s Wing spokesperson Aishath Aniya told Miniva News that yesterday’s march, which began from the Usfangandu area, was devised to call on the government to take heed of the Commonwealth’s calls for early elections this year. The demonstration’s organisers have said that protesters also called on the president to consider the ramifications of potential expulsion from the Commonwealth unless a more “credible” and “impartial” commission is established to review the circumstances that brought the government to power earlier this year.
“While we can’t say what exact economic impacts there will be. We will lose participation in many scholarships, art and development projects if the Commonwealth removes us,” she said. “We have been in the Commonwealth for over 29 years and have been offered many opportunities internationally such as participation in the Commonwealth Games.”
While the number of participants attending yesterday’s march was reportedly down from those taking part in a similar protest held in the capital last week, Aniya said she believed that the number of anti-government protesters had remained consistent.
“I don’t see the numbers of protesters decreasing, though [turnout] does depend on the time and place of demonstrations,” she said. “We would obviously get a lot less protesters during school hours.”
Aniya claimed that from her experience, during instances where former President Mohamed Nasheed was in attendance, larger numbers of people had been found to attend demonstrations.
The Women’s Wing spokesperson added that there was “tremendous pressure” among its members at the moment to mobilise demonstrations at various events attended by the new president around the capital and the wider country.
“We are informed that our members often wish to be there to protest and shout Baghee Waheed [at the president],” she said.
Aniya said she was unable at present though to disclose any future dates or plans for protests of which a “huge number” of people were wanting to take part.
“ We have to be careful though as many people are sitting their A-level examinations right now, we don’t want to be encouraging large amounts of noise that may disturb them. We also do not want people getting arrested or injured by police,” she claimed. “We have two weeks left before the next Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) review. I’m sure there will be more protests before this, but we don’t want to disclose the frequency of them.”
After several demonstrations have been conducted in the capital during the last two weeks, Police spokesperson Sub-Inspector Hassan Haneef said that there had been “no problems” regarding disturbances or arrests during yesterday’s demonstrations.
Despite recent allegations of violent provocation by both police and civilians against each other, Aniya claimed that the MDP has always been a proponent for peaceful protesting and demonstrations.
“One thing you will see is that the MDP do not provoke police,” she said.
Aniya added that the party continued to allege that police had abused their powers in certain cases over the last few months in regards to the treatment of anti-government protesters.  However, she believed increased international pressure on the government had appeared to ensure demonstrations were conducted much more peacefully.
“We protest as peacefully as we can, mostly by trying to stay away from police as much as possible. The High Court has also outlined where we cant assemble, so we walk around these areas instead,” she said.
Aniya alleged that previous reports of anti-government protesters violently attacking police and throwing projectiles had been the result of government aligned parties using young people to infiltrate MDP’s protests.  It was these infiltrators, she claimed, that were often responsible for violent acts that provoked police to use force against them.
Aniya accepted that police officers in the present political environment were often put in a “very difficult” situation due to allegations that some key figures in the service had involvement in deposing former President Nasheed in the run up to his controversial “resignation”.
President’s Office spokesperson Abbas Adil Riza told Minivan News that from a government perspective, recent demonstrations like yesterday’s march were not a serious issue for President Waheed as they did not officially represent the wider views of the now opposition MDP.
“The protests were themselves called by former President Nasheed and are not an issue for us. Any MDP protests should be called from the party’s national council representation,” he said.
Minivan News also questioned the President’s Office on the reportedly peaceful nature of the recent demonstrations.  Abbas responded that the lack of clashes with police appeared to show that the party had begun to move away from “violent factions” in its organisation that he claimed were linked to the former president.
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I am a great scholar and can confirm that a woman that participates in politics or encourages her daughters or female relatives to do so is obviously a harlot; and should be whipped on account of the almost certain presumption of her having fornicated with someone at some point.
The pursuit of power and the administration of government are the domains of men, for God hath ordained it as such and has vested our gender with the cognitive capacities appropriate to the relevant complexities.
Whereas the mind of woman is tender, emotional and irrational - and best suited for the "intricacies" of child-rearing.
She must be kept home so that she is not a distraction; does not tempt the advances of men; hinder their efficiency; and so that she may tend to her father, husband and house. Alhamdulillaah!
@Dhivehi Hanguraama
Sorry. Thanks to insane sayings such as yours I can no longer take you "scholars" seriously anymore. I think Mullahs like you are more of a threat to our Islam than "a woman that participates in our politics" will ever be because YOU are causing people to resent our very own religion. DO YOU NOT SEE THE IRONY YOU IDIOT!? Do you not see what YOUUU have done!?
I will continue to march for my beliefs until viewpoints such as yours become too unbearable. In which case I will move with my family to another place.
BUT IN THE MEANWHILE GO DRINK BON AQUAA WITH YOUR SHEIKHS AND SHUT UP, YOU SEXIST IDIOT!
@ DH
Scholar?
My foot!
You are an idiot.
@ DH
You are also a museebath.
Dhivehi Hanguraama, I am convinced that you're actually a secret Phallus worshipper (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phallus). Your obsession with "child-rearing" and women bashing supports this idea further.
Care to come out of the closet and admit the truth?
I wish Nishaa the best of luck in combatting what are obviously some very bigoted and sexist viewpoints.
Hopefully most Maldivians are more sensible than this "Dhivehi" fellow and will join you in opposition to such outrageous views. I am honestly shocked that someone could hold them in this day and age.
"Great scholar" my a*rse.
@Nisha: If you ever took a spammer on a comment forum seriously (as a scholar or not) then you are the greater fool than he.
Just an opinion, MDP's protests and demonstrations have become pointless. Regime change for the sake of returning to power is not a popular revolt. It is a personal war.
Dhivehi Hanguraama. Nice to see you everywhere on the web. But when were you freed from Guraidhoo and how ? You need to be there for a couple of years more to cure you for your hallucination !
@ DH
You obviously are nothing but an a**ho** who just gets kicks out of inciting hatred. you obviously get a hard-on from it.
I'm all for the freedom of speech, but some people don't deserve this basic human right. Dhivehi Hanguraama there is a place on this earth for your kind and it isn't walking amongst the sane people who are given free will by God to lead their lives. You belong at the bottom of the ocean because you aren't fit to share the air we breath.
Guys.. dont take this Dhivehi Hanguraama seriously... he's an 'acting extremist' trying to prove a point..
Do these mdp scum do anything other than protest? why cant the police take care of them for good or at least tell them to shut up. No more yellow in our country the color make me go into rage. mdp scum are a dangerous nuisance! and now instead of looking after their families their women are becoming a nuisance too.
crazy mad ppl! they will chop up everyone if we dont stop them now.
CMAG = Containing Maumoon Abdul Gayoom
@nisha. you call DH a fool but he makes you believe he represents islam and make you hate sheikhs. i dont think he is a fool. he is smart. definitely smarter than you. his goal is to spread hatred towards muslims and maldivians and it is working. im very suspicious that this guy actually belongs to minivan team. otherwise why have they not done anything to 'discipline' him.
@DH.
I am amazed why some find your comments repulsive, while at the same time, the same people are hell-bent on following a stupid middle eastern culture that is fundamentally based on ignorance.
I believe that you are stating exactly the opposite of what you believe and you want people to be reminded of the stupidity of the cult based following.
All : Education is the key. Knowledge must be the basis of your decisions. Not blind faith.
CMAG probably are funding the street protests and the violence. This is the pattern of their behaviour elsewhere.
then they funf fighting. then they call on UN security council for resolutions. Then they attack.Then they install friendly Government.
@DH
Just shut up will you...Stop trying to control women...maybe just grow your beard and read Bukhari or go pray or something....I am sick of "scholars" like you...and wont take any advices from you or shaheem or any other "dhannabeykalun". we dont need you to teach us Islam we can do it by ourself.
Are we commenting on the article or commenting on another comment here?
Does Abbas not know that many people in the demonstrations are not members of the MDP?
@Everyone
Please don't mind Dhivehi Hanguraama. Obviously, we don't need to waste our breath to someone with a massive god-complex who merely sits by the computer (presumably with his imaginary 'he-who-must-be-praised' friend), doing nothing in his pathetic life but agitating us folks. Let him live in his delusions where 'garroting people on the spot is a pastime' and 'virtuous women with virtuous wombs' are his trophies and we'll continue with our lives, shall we? 🙂
@Facepalm on Sun, 29th Apr 2012 4:51 PM
Talk about yourself and those who have the state of mind to question the established doctrine, and form an opinion.
The gullible amongst us are being fooled everyday. President Nasheed on the day of the coup, recalls a policeman screaming,"my father helped build that airport!". We all know how the evil GMR turned not so bad after Presidents' demise. Although the poor policeman is being fed another set of lies right now, he has willfully forgotten the lies about GMR.
Such is the power of propaganda and hate speech, however ridiculous the message, there will always be people swayed.
You, I and everyone else need to be very afraid of Dhivehi Hangurama and all men who spread any form of doctrine, benefitting their narrow goals.
Remember democracy is not perfect. Good judgement is not a requirement to be eligible to vote.
To fear me is to fear the wrath of your lord, for my words only convey his teachings, exalted be our creator!
The pious have naught to fear but temptation. Hence, why it is paramount that the female is not allowed to make such a depraved display of herself in public. Alhamdulillaah!
@peasant
True... thank you for pointing that out. We can tend to be oblivious to things and either underestimate or overestimate others. We tend to buy ourselves into every flights of fancy that people (for example those you mentioned) and succumb to their every whim.
But long story short, there are annoying people, period. Smart, but annoying. And I simply pointed out one. No hard feelings.