Opposition disregards HPA regulations to stage a protest in Male'
Health Protection Agency (HPA) had issued clear and strict guidelines that prohibited gatherings of more than 10 people in Male' earlier this month
Friday's opposition protest began outside the PPM Office, where the crowd clashed with Police before dispersing into the city | RaajjeMV
Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People's National Congress (PNC) of the opposition coalition conducted a protest in Male' City on Friday, in clear violation of Covid-19 health and safety regulations, and against press statements released by both the Maldives Police Service (MPS) and the Ministry of Home Affairs, which strongly discouraged the gathering.
While Police officers were active on the scene to control the crowd, estimates suggest that no more than 50 or so people had answered the opposition's rallying call on Friday. The protest was conducted outside the PPM Office building, before the crowd eventually dispersed deeper into the city towards Sosun Magu.
Opposition supporters gathered at the protest had been seen harassing law enforcement officers and media personnel at the scene. They also called repeatedly for the release of jailed former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom, who is currently serving a five-year sentence after having been convicted of money laundering. In addition to this, protestors also claimed that flats had been issued unfairly through the "Hiyaa" social housing scheme under the current administration.
While the PPM-PNC coalition claimed that their protest on Friday had been to "advocate for rights of citizens and the nation," many have noted the sheer disregard for the safety of others expressed with the coalition gathering to protest, just one day after the Minister of Health had described the state of Covid-19 in Male' City as "dangerous" and "out of control". For context, 145 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed from the nation's capital on Thursday, almost 80 percent of all new cases reported across the Maldives between 24 and 25 February.
Prior to the protest, the Ministry of Home Affairs had announced that they would not be allowing any activities that go against HPA guidelines in light of Covid-19, with Police also emphasizing that HPA had issued a ban on gatherings of more than 10 people starting 13 February, until further notice, to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
