Police arrest 12 protestors, including Yameen’s lawyer Asif

The police arrested 12 protestors from the demonstration staged by the opposition coalition in Male’ City on Monday night, including Adam Asif – a member of opposition leader Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s legal team.

The opposition coalition, composed of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People’s National Congress (PNC), has been holding serial protests in Male’ following the money laundering conviction against the former Maldivian president.

PPM confirms 12 people were arrested from Monday night’s demonstration, including Asif.

The party has issued a statement condemning his arrest.

PPM described Asif’s arrest as a pre-planned and targeted act.

“We find such cowardly and uncivilized acts unacceptable. This is an act of intimidation,” said the party.

PPM expressed concern over the police response to the protests. The party accused the police of arresting not just protestors, but also bystanders.

The party also expressed concern over injuries to protestors.

PPM said that one of its female members got injured and fainted when the police attempted to arrest her Monday, resulting in her having to be taken to the hospital.

“The fact that the institutions legally mandated to investigate and take action against such acts remain asleep and produce statements as per the wishes of the government, even as the government carries out such inhumane acts through the police, shows the extent to which these institutions have lost their autonomy,” said the party.

PPM said the police were using excessive force to arrest protestors.