Case filed with NIC over stopping Labor Day rally

Civil societies have filed a complaint against Head of Police Internal Security Command, Chief Superintendent of Police Hamdhoon Rasheed over stopping the peaceful rally on Labor Day.

Civil societies filed the complaint with National Integrity Commission on Thursday, saying that Hamdhoon issued an unlawful order to police officers to stop a peaceful rally.

Head of Police Internal Security Command, Chief Superintendent of Police Hamdhoon Rasheed - Sun file photo

The civil societies that filed the complaint spoke to media and said that they felt sad about the actions taken by police that day.

“Right for peaceful gatherings is ensured by constitution. We are very sad. So today we are going to file a complaint with National Integrity Commission against Head of Internal Security,

Hamdhoon for stopping the rally,” said an official who spoke on behalf of the civil societies.

They also expressed approval of recent comments made by Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Areef that police officers who disobeyed the law would be brought to justice.

They said that neither police nor government could place constrictions on a right ensured through the constitution of the country.

In President Abdulla Yameen’s speech during inauguration of Dh. Maaenboodhoo harbor, he said that protesting and rallying on the street and causing disturbances was not acceptable.

And that he would stop any such protest, even if it was by his own party.

After his comments, civil societies had said that they had planned a peaceful rally in which to call out for labor rights.

Labor Day rally stopped by police. Sun photo: Fayaz Moosa

They had called for implementation of minimum wage included in Employment Act passed by parliament in 2008, elimination of difficulties faced by employees at work place, and an end to threats against employees with conflicting political beliefs.

“We did not call out for anything that would harm anyone. We believe we have the right to hold a rally to mark Labor Day,” said an official who spoke on behalf of Tourism Employees Association of Maldives.

The civil societies said that they would hold rallies to mark Labor Day each year, irrespective of who was in power.

Human Rights Commission of Maldives also expressed concern after police stopped the Labor Day rally.

Meanwhile, police Information Officer Ismail Ali said that the original decision to stop the rally had been an executive decision made by Maldives Police Service, and had not come from Hamdhoon – personally. And that neither Hamdhoon nor any other specific police officer had to bear responsibility for the decision.