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Opposition coalition to hold protests across Maldives on Friday

27 January 2021, MVT 16:33
A PPM member holds up a 'Free President Yameen' sign during a gathering held by the opposition coalition, PPM and PNC, on December 2020. PHOTO: MIHAARU
27 January 2021, MVT 16:33

The opposition alliance, on Tuesday, confirmed that protests are planned to be held across the country, on the upcoming Friday.

During a press gathering hosted by the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and the People’s National Congress (PNC), two leading factions within the opposition coalition, PPM Vice President and Naifaru Constituency’s parliamentary representative MP Ahmed Shiyam revealed that the protests dubbed ‘Insaafu Kobaa’ (loosely translates to ‘Where is Justice’) will take place in all of the archipelago’s inhabited islands.

The injustice highlighted in the protest’s name, according to Shiyam, refers to the dual issues of concern prioritised by the party; the first being former President Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s conviction and the other, the current environment of instability and suffering faced by Maldivians.

“Today, Maldivian citizens are on the street. Fishermen are seeking answers for what they are owed, the justice they were promised”, said the Vice President of the main opposition party.

“The youth are pursuing the notions of justice that were sold to them, asking what their role is [in said pursuit]”.

Asserting that the political demonstrations would be peaceful, PNC’s Vice President Ibrahim Shujau stated that the coalition would be seeking cooperation from police authorities for their protests.

The rally in Male is set to take place in the stretch of space between Social Centre in Maafannu and the district’s PPM Office. Further details, as to the locations of demonstrations in other islands, were not revealed.

After Maldives’ High Court upheld the verdict imprisoning ex-president Yameen during the appeal cases’ first live-broadcasted hearing on January 21, the opposition coalition strengthened efforts to pressure the incumbent administration, stating that their new strategy was to “demonstrate” their resolve.

PNC’s President AbdulRaheem Abdulla (Adhurey) and other various PPM were arrested during recently-held protests, although they were released from custody shortly afterwards.

Yameen Abdul Gayoom was jailed on money laundering charges linked to the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC)'s embezzlement scandal which resulted in a potential loss of MVR 4 billion in state revenue.

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