Police to take action against protests in resorts, under Peaceful Assembly Act

The police have said that holding protests in resorts is prohibited under the Peaceful Assembly Act and that action will be taken against those who participate in such protests.

Article 24 of the act states that it is prohibited to hold protests in resorts, commercial harbours and airports in the Maldives. It states that a written permit must be obtained from the police if a protest is to be held in any of the aforementioned locations, and that this permit must be prepared after consultation with Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).

The act however does not obstruct refusal by resort employees to report to work as a form of protest.

Police Media Official Sub-Inspector Hassan Haneef said that if a protest takes place in a resort, the police will check the situation and attend as necessary. He said that action will be taken if a protest is held at a location prohibited in the Peaceful Assembly Act.

Places where protests are prohibited in article 24 include the headquarters and buildings of security forces. For the MNDF Headquarters, it is prohibited to gather 300 feet from the northern wall (or Republic Square), 200 feet from the western wall, 200 feet from the eastern wall, and 150 feet from the southern wall. The act also prohibits gathering within a 100-foot radius of other MNDF buildings.

For the Police Headquarters, it is prohibited to gather 50 feet from the northern wall, 500 feet from the western wall (or Republic Square), 100 feet from the eastern wall, and 50 feet from the southern wall.

It is also prohibited to gather within a 250-foot radius of the president’s residence, a 100-foot radius of the vice president’s residence, a 100-foot radius of MMA building, a 50-foot radius of court buildings, a 50-foot radius of the president’s office, and a 50- foot radius of the parliament building.