Won't allow illegal assembly in capital, police chief warns
Although a promise of former President Solih, the MDP-majority parliament had parked the bill in committee stage for five years.
By
Shahudha Mohamed
Police Commissioner (CP) Ali Shujau has said that nobody will be allowed to gather anywhere except the area designated for protests in Male for any reason or purpose in the future, following the protests and clashes that had gone down near the parliament last month.
Senior government officials and ruling party supporters gathered near the parliament on 28th last month to protest, and some of the demonstrators had climbed the wall of the parliament and thrown objects into the yard. Defense Minister Ghassan Maumoon and Police Commissioner Ali Shujau were summoned to the Security Services Committee (241 Committee) of the Parliament on Wednesday.
Speaking in Wednesday’s committee, Shujau pointed out that even under the Peaceful Assembly Act, no rally can be held within the green zone. He added:
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Under the Assembly Act, only the Carnival area is allowed for gatherings without permission
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Rallies in any other areas can only be held with the necessary permits; the law does not allow exceptions
Although the law does not provide it, and the institutions had not been given permission in writing, the people have been given the opportunity lately to protest there peacefully, he said. Among other such places where gatherings had been allowed, he listed:
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The Parliament area
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President's Office area
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Supreme Court area
"Maldives is also operating in accordance with democratic principles, and the same is true in civilized countries of the world. Therefore, the opportunity has been given for peaceful demonstrations; without any violence or without any harm," he said.
However, due to the protests held last month by the public and some senior government officials near the Parliament, Shujau said he has now decided to implement the Assembly Act to the letter.
“Therefore, in the future, we will not allow any gathering in these areas, whether peacefully or for any other purpose,” he said.
According to Shujau, people were allowed to gather near the parliament on January 28 because the first people who gathered there did not cause any disturbance. However, he said:
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The issue of the day's session heated up and in the afternoon many people gathered and the issue began to escalate
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Police began evacuating people from the area
Under the Assembly Act, any gatherings are strictly prohibited in Green Zones:
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President's Office area
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Parliament area
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Judicial court grounds
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The areas of diplomatic missions established in Maldives
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Areas close to police headquarters and police stations
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Close to hospitals, schools and mosques
The Assembly Act was amended during the administration of former President Abdullah Yameen to prohibit rallies from being held in any place other than the Carnival area without special permission from the police.
In 2019, MP Abdullah Jabir moved to repeal the article prohibiting public gatherings. The repeal of the provision, which restricts freedom of assembly, was a promise of former President Ibrahim Mohammed Solih, but the MDP-majority parliament had parked the bill in committee stage for five years.
Earlier this month, President Mohammed Muizzu asked Parliament to expedite Jabir's bill to repeal the article.
