Six MDP protestors, including former MPs, remanded for 15 days

Six protestors arrested from the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s ‘Lootuvaifi’ rally in Male’ City on Friday have been remanded in custody of the police for 15 days, while a seventh protestor was released.

The ‘Lootuvaifi’ anti-corruption rally kicked off with hundreds of protestors at 09:00 pm Friday from the Artificial Beach in the Henveiru district of Male’. But as the protestors attempted to march along the Majeedhee Magu, the police accused them of diverting from the pre-approved route and blocked their path. Clashes ensued as protestors attempted to force their way through, with the police using pepper spray and sound cannons to control the crowd. Multiple protestors were taken into custody, while one suffered a heart attack after reportedly getting pepper-sprayed at close range.

The protestors were presented before a judge at the Criminal Court for their remand hearing on Saturday afternoon.

A legal representative from the MDP told Sun that one of the protestors was released from custody, while six were remanded for 15 days.

Those remanded in police custody include former Dhaandhoo MP Yaugoob Abdulla, former North Kulhudhuffushi MP Yasir Abdul Latheef, and incumbent president of Maafushi Council, Hassan Solah.

A police spokesperson had said earlier on Saturday that eight protestors were arrested for “disobeying police orders, obstruction, and damage to police gear.”

The police also confirmed that seven were taken to court for their remand hearing, out of whom six were remanded in custody.

However, they did not say what happened to the eighth protestor who got arrested.

The police said they continued to investigate the case.

The MDP has expressed concern over the condition of Mohamed Raslaan, the party’s vice president of Central Hulhumale’ constituency, who is being treated at the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) of the Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) after suffering a heart attack during the rally.

MDP said the heart attack resulted from being exposed to pepper spray at close range and being subjected to LRADs – something which the party said the police are not authorized to use for crowd control.

The MDP said they will be lodging cases with both the Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM) and the National Integrity Commission (NIC).

The police have denied allegations of excessive use of force, saying protestors obstructed officers from performing their legal duties and threw water bottles and rocks at them. The police warned they will be taking legal action against the protestors in question.

The Foreign Ministry has also issued a statement defending police conduct, insisting that officers acted responsibly and with restraint in ensuring public safety, even in the face of obstruction and provocation from the protesters.