Expatriate protest in Hulhumale over unpaid wages turns violent

Violence erupted between police and expatriate workers of the Island Expert Company in Hulhumale’ which saw the arrest of at least 40 expatriates. The protests began at around 9:00 in the morning.

The expatriates were protesting over months of unpaid wages. Police said that some of the expatriates had become violent towards officers that went to control the protests. Some officers were injured and police vehicles were damaged when the expatriates became violent and threw stones and projectiles at officers. 

A special team of police are now at the scene. The protesters eventually retreated into their worksite.

Mee filmegge manzareh noon. Hageegaiy. Bidheysee labourunge haggu hoadhumah kuraa ihuthijaj fulhaavegen dhaa manzaru. Gaumuge amaankamaa maslahathah oiy gon jehun. Gulhun huri hurihaa faraathakunves zinmaa nagan eba jehe. Qaanoon thanfeez vaan eba jehe. pic.twitter.com/rw0KvUZVZJ

— Ameen Ibrahim (@ameenmaldives) July 13, 2020

Journalists of Sun at the scene reported that the protests are now under control and that police were now providing medical care to anyone that was injured. 

The expatriates have previously held protests, however, none of those protests turned as violent as today.

They had previously 'warned' that they would protest again if their wages remained unpaid by the Island Expert Company. 

Bidheysee massakathu meehunah ves emeehunge hagguthah hoadhumah adu ufulidhaane. Namaves fuluhunaa fuluhunge ulhandhu thakah hamalaa dhee gellun dhinumakee balaiganeveyne kameh noon. Mi ee sul-ha veri ihuthaaj kurumeh noon. pic.twitter.com/t2Og1HXoz4

— Ahmed Saleem (@SalleHoarafushi) July 13, 2020

Today, just six police officers faced a large number of expatriates in Hulhumale. The officers were on patrol when they noticed the protests. When they tried to calm the situation, a frightening scene erupted. Expatriates outnumbered the officers and became violent towards the officers, resulting in the officers retreating initially. After more police officers arrived at the scene, the expatriates eventually became timid and started to cooperate with the police.