Police once again obstruct MDP's ongoing series of protests

Police have once again obstructed a protest held on Thursday night as part of a series of ongoing demonstrations organized by the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) in Male'.

Police cordoned off both sides of Chaandhanee Magu with barricades before 9:00 p.m. on Thursday night. The surrounding side streets were also closed off by authorities. A significant number of police officers were deployed to the area to manage the operation.

Members of the MDP National Council who participated in the protest expressed their concern over the police cordoning off the area and obstructing peaceful political activity. Hussain Hassan, the National Council member for the Villingili constituency, stated that the consequences of suppressing the public would be severe.

"Opportunities for peaceful political activity must be granted. We are taking to the streets to reclaim the lost rights of the people, not to confront the police," Hussain said.

Other members of the National Council who spoke during the event stated that instead of addressing the protesters' demands, the police were deployed to use disproportionate force. They further alleged that police remarks had encouraged acts of violence against participants. The MDP has presented 12 demands to the government during its ongoing protests, aimed at restoring stability and putting the country back on the right track.

During Thursday night's protest, police repeatedly confronted and obstructed demonstrators as they attempted to advance.

Protesters carried placards expressing various grievances and chanted loudly for President Muizzu’s resignation. They asserted that the government has lost its mandate, noting that the administration secured only 30 percent of the vote in the referendum held on the 4th of this month.