Expats' protests not about deprivation of rights, claims defence minister

Defence Minister, Mariya Didi claims that the recent spike in protests by expatriates “is not over rights” and indicated that there are people supporting these protests.

The minister made the claim after being summoned to the parliament’s committee on national security and foreign relations, on Tuesday.

Stressing that these protests “threaten national security”, Mariya said that the matter is under investigation.

She added that there are people behind this, supporting the expatriate workers.

As such, the minister highlighted that Maldivians were held hostage in the Bodufinolhu island (Baa atoll) unrest, while those protesting in Kooddoo claim that they want to return home.

While expatriate workers involved in the construction of flats for police and military officers had staged a protest as well, Mariya said that this was amid discussions to resolve the issue of unpaid wages.

Noting that officers have been targeted in some of the protests, the minister said that this shows that there are people behind this.

While the Bodufinolhu unrest has sparked outrage over human trafficking violations, Minister Mariya denied this. She said that it cannot be considered as human trafficking, as per the country’s as well as international laws.

There have been an increase in protests by expatriates since the Bodufinolhu incident in early July. While the defence minister claims that these are not over the deprivation of rights, the workers at the island had been protesting for months over unpaid wages, prior to the unrest.

In addition, police have launched an investigation into the company contracted to develop the island to a resort. The institution has accused RIX Company of human trafficking violations, as well as exploiting its workers and failing to provide employment fees on behalf of its foreign employees.