Campaign activists of contesting parties confront in Gaafaru

Campaign activists of Jumhooree Party (JP) and the Maldivian Democrativ Party (MDP) in Gaafaru have violently confronted each other last night. Supporters of Jumhoory Party candidate Abdullah Jabir and those of MDP candidate Mohamed Haleem were engaged in a heated debate, before the scene changed to one of fights.

A witness from Gaafaru told Sun that a nearby Youth Activity Centre of MDP started playing music on loud speakers as a campaign meeting of JP began, and that some JP members went to the Youth Activity Centre and demanded the music to be stopped.

The request was refused, and dissatisfied and angry JP members went their way to take down MDP flags in the area, and what followed was an exchange of rude words and a violent confrontation. The fight occurred in front of the MDP Youth Activity Centre.

The Maldives Police Service confirmed that there was a fight between JP and MDP supporters in Gaafaru. Police Media Official Hassan Haneef said that they were trying to control confrontations motivated by political objectives in cooperation with the Elections Commission. He also said that they were getting ready for any break outs of fighting in the area before and on the day of the upcoming by-election.

While the police tried to control the crowds during last night’s confrontations, JP candidate Abdullah Jabir called his supporters back to the meeting, and after a while, MDP supporters stopped the loud music and left the area too.

It has been reported that no one was seriously injured during the confrontation. Those who spoke from the island said that similar behavior has been displayed by JP during MDP gatherings as well.

Kaashidhoo Constituency, to which Gaafaru island also belongs, is getting ready for a parliamentary by-election, which is set to take place on the coming Saturday.