The bill submitted seeking to revoke the Freedom of Peaceful Assembly Act has been rejected in parliament today.
The Freedom of Peaceful Assembly Act was passed in 2013. Later, during the administration of former President Abdulla Yameen, the Act was amended, limiting assemblies to specific areas in Male'. Gathering in any other location requires prior Police approval, as per the amended Act.
Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem submitted a bill seeking to revoke this Act. In today's sitting, 48 members voted against accepting the bill, with only 11 MDP MPs voting in favour.
In today's debate on the bill, ruling People's National Congress (PNC) MP for Eydhafushi constituency Ahmed Saleem (Redwave Saleem) said that if MDP were sincere in these efforts, they would have amended the Act earlier, when they had been in power and had also held parliament majority.
"So it is not with any sincerity that this matter is being brought up. Everyone talks about this only in their own self-interest. So let's not talk about this. We will just not talk about this and everyone can just do as they please, can't they?"
"Is that not how this is done? What is the point of talking about this? Everyone keeps bringing this up as long as they are not in power," Saleem said.
Saleem alleged that if today's opposition comes to power tomorrow, it is a given that they will then revert their stance and work instead to narrow freedom of assembly.
"So instead of us talking about this, let's just do what we feel is right when our party is in power. If it is not the right way, then the public will change it," Saleem said.
During the previous MDP administration, where they held parliament majority as well, then Kaashidhoo MP Abdulla Jabir proposed to revoke the Act. However, the matter remained parked at committee stage even as the 19th People's Majlis' term came to an end.
In submitting the amendment, Meekail, too, pointed out that political parties only appreciate the importance of freedom of assembly once they lose power. He said that he is submitting to revoke the Act as he has voted in favour of this whenever it was previously proposed.
