‘Uncivilized’: PPM protestors block public bus

Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC)’s Chief Operating Officer Adam Azim expressed deep concern Thursday, accusing opposition PPM-PNC coalition’s protestors of repeatedly blocking public buses.

Azim expressed his concern while retweeting a video a Twitter user posted, showing a female protestor stand in front of a bus, preventing it from moving forward.

It is not the first time for opposition protestors to block buses, said Azim.

Azim stressed that MTCC’s bus service is a public service. He said that it is common for the opposition to act in that manner, and that it rendered MTCC unable to transport people on time.

“There might be a member of your family or a friend on the bus,” he said.

Azim urged protestors to stop blocking public transport, and called on the police to reform people who commit such uncivilized acts.

Mee mihaaru aammukoh ebeyfulhun kurahvaa kameh. Raiyyithun gadithakah than thanah gendhiyumah @MTCCPlc ah varah dhathivey migothah amal kurahvaathee. Public transport ah huras neylhumah edhen. @PoliceMv mikalaha naa thauzeebu kanthah kuraa beylhun islaahu kohdhehvaa. https://t.co/F6O21RK7ZB

— Adam Azim (@adamazim) April 12, 2023

The video posted on Twitter shows two protestors stand in front of a bus waiving flags in front of the PPM headquarters on Boduthakurufaanu Magu. They block the bus, preventing it from moving forward.

The video has drawn criticism from more people. Twitter users called the actions of the protestors “uncivilized” and “unacceptable”.

They urged protestors to exercise their constitutional rights responsibly.

@ElectionsMv @FuwadThowfeek @HomeMinistrymv @PoliceMv mi ee sulha veri siyaasee harakaatheh tho noonee aanmu undhaguleh tho? https://t.co/cyusFwKd7Q

— Mohamed Haris (@haaribe) April 13, 2023

They also urged the leadership of the PPM-PNC coalition to stop such acts.

The opposition has been holding serial protests in Male’ City since former Maldivian president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom was sentenced to 11 years in prison for money laundering and bribery on December 25, 2022. The protests often result in traffic jams in the area outside the PPM headquarters, drawing complaints from the public.