Confrontations at Kulhuduffushi leave several injured

Several people have been injured in a confrontation today at H.DH. Kulhuduffushi between members of the Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) and the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

Speaking from the island, a reporter of Kulhuduffushi Online said that confrontations were triggered when some PPM members tried to block former President Nasheed’s entry into the island, and a group of MDP members responded with force.

“As news of Nasheed’s arrival spread, some people gathered at the harbor area, and threw stones at a boat from Makunudhoo anchored at the harbor. They threw stones at the boat in which Abdul Ghafoor Moosa, MP for Kulhuduffushi Dhekunu Constituency, arrived at Kulhuduffushi as well”, said the informant from the island.

He also said that confrontations occurred moments before Nasheed arrived in Kulhuduffushi, and that by the time Nasheed came, the Police had the situation under control.

Ahmed Shiyam, Police Media Official, confirmed that there were confrontations between supporters of Nasheed and a group of people who did not want him to visit the island, and said that several were injured including some police officers and MNDF personnel who tried to control the hostile crowd.

Shiyam said that Nasheed “is now in a safe place”.

A PPM member from Kulhuduffushi said that they resisted Nasheed’s entry because “wherever Nasheed goes, there follows discord and chaos, and we do not want that to happen here”.