Minister of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology Ali Ihusaan has stated that permission will not be granted to the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) to hold a protest along Majeedhee Magu during rush hour times.
During today's Parliament sitting, Ihusaan said that even though widely providing constitutional rights to both citizens and politicians is the government's stance, there is a lot to take into consideration if Male's most used road is closed off to conduct an activity.
Ihusaan said that when blocking off Majeedhee Magu to give the opportunity for a political activity to take place, the time and day the activity is to take place needs to be taken into consideration. He said that if it is a permissible time and if blocking the road does not majorly affect the traffic in other parts of Male', that opportunity has been given in the past.
Ihusaan said that he cannot permit MDP to hold a protest on Majeedhee Magu this time due to the increase in traffic on Majeedhee Magu during the time at night MDP has requested.
"I cannot approve this as the time they have requested is at night and as it is a time where there is a usual increase in traffic," said Ihusaan.
MDP is currently preparing for a protest titled "Dhathivejje" (Things Have Become Difficult) to be held on Thursday regarding their concerns in the food stuff price increases at the market. After meeting with the police in preparation for the protest, MDP has also requested that they be granted permission to hold their protest on Majeedhee Magu.
Even though the police have told them to hold the protest on Boduthakurufaanu Magu, MDP said that holding the protest there will only result in the protesters hearing their message and instead if the protest is held on Majeedhee Magu, their sentiments will reach the public.
MDP said that they request permission to hold the protest on Majeedhee Magu in order to make their concerns known to as many people as possible.
MDP has put up multiple banners across various parts of Male' in preparation for the 8:30 pm protest on Thursday in Male', citing the price increase of food stuff in the market becoming a burden to the lives of the public. MDP has planned to begin their protest near the Social Center and then continue down Majeedhee Magu.
As per the amendment to the Freedom of Peaceful Assembly Act, protests can be held at the Carnival area and three other places in Male' without getting permission from the police. The places are the area around Rasfannu, Male' Industrial Zone and the Usfasgandu area. However, permission needs to be granted by the police in order to hold a protest at any other place.
While there are predetermined areas where protests can only be held after being granted permission by the police, protests have been held in Male' in the past without getting permission.
