Former Attorney General (AG) Dhiyana Saeed has said that the people must stand up against the Elections Commission (EC)’s decision to reduce the number of polling stations to be placed in resorts in the 2018 Presidential Election.

In a tweet posted on Tuesday, the former AG spelled out that the commission’s decision to reduce the number of ballot boxes placed in resorts from 42 in 2013 to just seven in 2018’s Presidential Election is “a calculated move to disenfranchise thousands who form the opposition’s support base in order to influence the election’s outcome”. Dhiyana goes on to call for a mass strike.

Speaking at a press conference held at Salt Café’ and Restaurant on Monday, Mariya Ahmed Didi, opposition coalition’s candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s spokesperson said that President Abdulla Yameen’s government is working to repress the rights of voters by placing polling stations in just seven resorts of the nation.

MP Mariya said that while a thousand Maldivians are employed at resorts, it is a matter of great concern that just seven ballot boxes are being placed in resorts for the approaching election, adding that that the administration is attempting to suppress the voting rights of resort staff.

It has been announced that while 452 polling stations are scheduled to be placed in September’s election, the only resorts to have ballot boxes are Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Maldives, Conrad Maldives, Rangali Island, Bandos Maldives, Kuramathi Island Resort, Paradise Island Resort and Sun Island Resort as well as Kurendhoo Island Resort.

In the 2013 election, polling stations had been established in 43 resorts.