Government calls to parties to seek solution with the state of the nation in mind

The Government has called to the political parties in the country to seek solutions to today’s problems with the state of the nation in mind.

A statement issued by the Home Ministry yesterday regarding MDP’s “To Be Free” protest rally scheduled for tomorrow, said that people unrelated to the protest must not get involved and create conflict. The Ministry’s statement called not to take advantage by creating such conflicts.

Home Ministry said that the Maldives is facing challenges in it’s security. But the Government would continue to ensure everything ensured to the people by the Constitution and do everything it needs to do.

The Ministry said that tomorrow’s protest rally must be held within the law and if it proceeds in such a way that could create conflict and give way to other criminal behavior, steps to ensure the safety of the people and their property would be taken.

The statement said that Maldivian Police and institutes would always support the people’s freedom of expression.

“We assure that all steps to ensure the safety of those visiting the country and the tourists would be taken. And so during the course of the protest, we assure that tourist services in Malé, resorts and other islands would go without any obstructions.” The Home Ministry’s statement said.

The statement also called the independent institutes to do their work to ensure the people’s rights and safety during the course of the rally. The statement called the Elections Commission and the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) to continue to do their work.

MDP said that the opposition protest rally starting tomorrow evening would continue for 73 hours and 13 minutes.

The letter of notice sent to the Police by MDP said that the rally would also take to the streets and that megaphones would be used. Police met with the heads of MDP and said that they would be allowed to proceed according to the notice that was sent.

But at the press conference today, Chief Superintendent of Police, Hamdhoon Rasheed said that MDP was ordered to continue the protest until midnight tomorrow because of the information received and the change of the situation. But he did not say what that information was.