The Maldives’ Joint Opposition has once again strengthened their anti-government demonstrations.
They have been holding nightly rallies in the capital city since the Supreme Court’s controversial ruling on 1st February. While it has been 63 days since, the opposition on Wednesday announced plans to strengthen their demonstrations again.
After a short break, the opposition took to the streets on Wednesday night, gathering in front of the Jumhooree Party headquarters, Maafannu Kunooz. Participants called for the release of political prisoners and judicial independence, as well as the resignation of incumbent President Abdulla Yameen.
Those present at Wednesday night’s rally included families of arrested individuals in the opposition parties’ leadership, individuals apprehended on charges said to have been motivated by political adversary, and apprehended lawmakers.
Officials that spoke at the rally, including Jumhooree Party’s deputy Dr. Hussain Rasheed, assured the opposition parties’ commitment to their reform work, reiterating that they “will not take even a step back in the work”.
While a number of people had gathered near Kunooz, police’s Specialist Operations (SO) officers were active near there. The officers, in an attempt to disperse the crowd, had trapped some participants inside Kunooz by forming a line in front of the entrance.
An individual, who was expressing concern over police’s actions, was taken into custody from Wednesday’s rally.
The political situation in the country intensified following the Supreme Court ruling, which ordered the release of nine high-profiled political prisoners and the reinstatement of the 12 opposition lawmakers dismissed by the Elections Commission in 2017. Refusing to implement the order, and calling it an attempted judicial coup, President Yameen instead decided to declare a 15-day state of emergency, which was later extended by 30 days.
Despite the declaration and 10:30pm curfew for political activities, opposition supporters continued their demonstrations on the streets. In response, officers had arrested over 300 protesters during the 45-day emergency period.
