Police start arresting boat-owners who refuse to move their boats away from Official Jetty

The Maldives Police Services has started arresting boat-owners who have refused to move away their boats moored to the western side of Malé Official Jetty.

Police Media Official Ahmed Shiyam said a while ago that Malé City Council had provided mooring space in Vilimalé Harbor Area for boat-owners whose boats had been anchored near the Official Jetty. He said that some of the boat-owners complied with the City Council’s directions to stop harboring their boats in the Jetty area, and had moved their boats to the new harboring area, while some had refused to do so.

He also said that the Police were trying to talk boat-owners into compliance with the directions of the City Council and that only two people who refused to cooperate were arrested.

Reporters in the area have said that two people in addition to the boat-owners were also arrested.

Mayor of Malé, Ali “Maizan” Manik is reported to be monitoring the situation at the Jetty area, where the Police are now using force to move away moored boats belonging to private individuals. Sun reporters say that heated words are being exchanged between Mayor Ali Manik and boat-owners there.

According to reports, about 50 people are gathered in the area, and there is a heavy traffic jam, and occasional confrontations as well.