MDP decides to join youth-led Dhulehnukuraanan protests

Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has decided to join in on the nightly youth-led Dhulehnukuraanan protests in Malé City.

The decision was announced on Friday night following an extraordinary meeting of the party's national congress. MDP said its decision was prompted by police's use of force and arrests to disperse Thursday night’s protest.

In the meeting, the party's chairperson, Fayyaz Ismail, said protestors had asked MDP to provide equipment and moral support in their cause to seek justice for Yumnu, a 21 year old woman found fallen onto the roof of a warehouse on April 18.

Fayyaz said MDP would not hesitate to help the youth.

"If rights are being sought then it is a political movement whether it's by a party or individuals. This youth movement is not organised by a party. But today the government's actions towards their protests in a way that impacts all of us citizens leaves no choice but to be concerned about it," Fayyaz said.

MDP's members who participated in the meeting said that police had been taking measures to stop the protests and condemned the arrests and injuries caused to protestors.

Thursday night's protest was dispersed by police with the use of force and pepper spray, marking the first time police intervened in the protest named Dhulehnukuraanan [we will not let this go].

Two of the lead protesters were also violently arrested in the confrontations between officers and protestors.

Although the right to assembly is a constitutionally guaranteed right, previous administrations had maintained that only the carnival area would be allowed for protests without the need for prior approval.

Following Thursday night's incident with the protests that took place in front of Henveiru Police station on Majeedhee Magu, the government declared Rasfannu, industrial zone and Usfasgandu area as additional protest zones that would not require prior approval.

Police warned that protests outside of these zones without approval would be dispersed.