Crowds will be dispersed if protesters act outside the law, warn police

Police have warned that they will disperse the crowds, if protesters at the ongoing series of demonstrations in Male’ make illegal threats to anyone.

Speaking at a press conference urging the political parties to keep the demonstrations within the law, Superintendent of Police, Abdulla Shareef said that the police are investigating the threats being made outside the law in the rallies organized by the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and Jumhooree Party (JP) in the name of defending the constitution.

He said that the use of loudspeakers in these demonstrations has been inconveniencing the students and office workers in the area.

“With the rallies going on these days, we are getting complaints from businesses, pedestrians on the streets, and the general public. And we’re getting complaints from the people in the areas that their sleep is being disrupted due to the use of megaphones in these rallies,” Shareef said.

Shareef said that the police are investigating the accusations being made in these protests, and noted that it is the duty of the police to provide safety and security to the community.

“Police are investigating the remarks that encourage violence and induce fear in the community,” Shareef Said.

He said that the police are monitoring what is being said in the demonstrations and if anyone speaks or acts outside the law, they will arrest the person and disperse the crowds.

In the rallies being organized by the opposition MDP and Jumhooree Party in the name of defending the constitution, police have said that a person had spoke out to induce fear and disrupt the peace in the city. Also, a threat of a suicide attack to collapse the government has been made and the police are investigating the case.