Police asked to take over Usfasgandu

Home Ministry has requested the Police to take over Usfasgandu, the area used by Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) for protests.

This request was made last Thursday, subsequent to Male’ City Council’s non-compliance with Housing Ministry’s repeated requests to hand over Usfasgandu to Housing Ministry.

Minister of State for Home Affairs Mohamed Fayaz said that this decision was made following the Attorney General’s advice that Usfasgandu can be taken over by the government.

“Attorney General has advised that the government can take over Usfasgandu. We have also informed the Police that City Council has ignored the Housing Ministry’s request to hand over the area,” Fayaz said.

He said that the Police have been requested to do this as soon as possible, but it is not known when they will occupy Usfasgandu.

A Police media official said today that Home Ministry had requested the Police to empty Usfasgandu, and discussions are currently ongoing in this regard.

“Home Ministry has requested this from the Police. But we can’t say when they will take over the area. Discussions are ongoing,” he said.

Police said that this issue will be resolved according to the law.

Housing Ministry has stated that City Council had violated the agreement by handing over Usfasgandu to MDP to hold political activities, and the area should therefore be vacated and handed over to Housing Ministry. The cabinet has also advised to remove Usfasgandu from City Council’s mandate.

However City Council has responded by saying that handing over Usfasgandu to MDP for political activities is not a violation of the agreement, and that the Council will soon commence developing the area.

Usfasgandu is leased to MDP for political activities until June 2012.

MDP first put up camps at Lonuziyaaraiy kolhu following the fall of President Nasheed’s government on 7 February. The Police raided and dismantled the camps on 19 March.