MDP will protest all over Male

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Interim Chairperson Reeko Moosa Manik has said that if MDP’s protest area Usfasgandu is taken over or dismantled, MDP will hold protests all over Male’.

Moosa made this statement during an interview with MDP website.

“We will protest all over Male if Usfasgandu is taken over by force. We will centre our protests near MMA,” he said.

He stressed that every person has the right to freedom of expression and to hold gatherings, and that this right cannot be obstructed by anyone.

He also said that City Council had released Usfasgandu to MDP according to the law, and that the government does not have the authority to allow Security Forces to break the rules and deprive people of their basic rights.

“Is it better to take Usfasgandu away from Maldivian citizens, and give it to foreign nationals who are here illegally? Or is it better for the public to allow the biggest political party in the Maldives to hold their gatherings at one place?” Moosa asked.

He also said that it is a dangerous indication if the government interferes with City Council’s mandate, and that no country will benefit from the government using the Security Forces against the citizens.

Moosa makes these comments at a time when Home Ministry has requested the Police to empty Usfasgandu area, 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.

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.

City Council has said 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.