MP Husnee: Maldives shouldn't allow protests over a civil matter of another nation

Manadhoo MP Husnee Mubarak states protesting in the Maldives over a civil matter of another nation should not be allowed under the Maldivian constitution.

His remarks come following the July 19^th protest by a group of expatriates in GDh. Thinadhoo, affirming support for the recent protest in Bangladesh over the reinstatement of public sector job quotas.

While debating on the bill submitted to resolve the issue of illegal immigration in the Maldives at Monday’s parliamentary sitting, Husnee emphasized the need to comprehensively regulate matters related to migrant workers in the Maldives.

He strongly condemned the protest by migrant workers in Thinadhoo.

“Very recently, we have seen migrant workers protest in the Maldives over a civil matter in their nation. As I see it, there should be the opportunity for them to conduct a peaceful protest under the rights bestowed by the constitution. However, I believe these matters should governed by certain limits,” he said.

Husnee underscored that the constitution guaranteed the right for migrant workers to peacefully protest over differences in their work environment or infringement of their rights. However, he emphasized that he does not believe migrant workers should be allowed the opportunity to protest in the Maldives over a civil matter in their respective nation.

He reasoned that Maldives was presently at a delicate economic state, adding the protests of migrant workers could possibly danger the civil security of the nation.

“If there are protests in the Maldives over a civil matter of another nation, there is a possibility of the international area perceiving the Maldives differently. It could negatively impact Maldives’ economy. That could endanger our safety,” he said.

Husnee added that he does not believe it to be construing a right guaranteed to migrant workers under the constitution.

He refuted statements by some civil organizations criticizing the government’s plan to take action against the migrant workers who were involved in the protest, citing it amounted to an infringement of the right guaranteed to them by the constitution.

In this regard, Husnee described the impending action by the government as a course of limitation with the constitution. He also appealed for a further review of the provisions when reviewing the bill at hand, proposing amendments to the Employment Act, during the committee stages.

Home Ministry announced their decision to detain and deport the expatriates who were involved in staging the Thinadhoo protest on July 25^th.

The Ministry underscored expatriate workers in the Maldives are barred from political activities and involvement in such an act, amounted to a visa violation, in their decision to detain and deport the expatriates.

In a joint statement, Transparency Maldives, Public Interest Law Center and Association for Democracy in the Maldives said everyone has the right to peaceful assembly and association under Article 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which is enshrined in the second chapter of the Maldivian constitution under Article 32 which grants everyone the right to freedom of peaceful assembly without prior permission of the government.

The organizations stressed that imposing a condition on visas that deprives fundamental rights guaranteed under the Maldivian constitution is illegal.