Ibrahim Falah, the top lawmaker for the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC), has accused the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) of taking money to cancel the mass anti-government rally it planned to hold on November 17 in the Maldivian capital.
The MDP had announced the decision to hold a mass anti-government rally in Male’ on November 17 – when the PNC administration would mark two years in office – during a national council meeting held on October 4 – a day after the party held a similar rally that ended with the police using pepper spray and sound cannons on protestors, and making eight arrests.
The MDP had promoted the rally for weeks and made other preparations. But on November 8, the party’s national council unanimously decided to postpone the rally indefinitely, accusing Home Minister Ali Ihusan of engaging in efforts to block the gathering.
The MDP later submitted a bill to the Parliament to repeal the Freedom of Assembly Act, which restricts freedom of assembly enshrined in Article 32 of the Constitution.
Ruling PNC’s Parliamentary Group Leader, Inguraidhoo MP Ibrahim Falah. (Photo/People's Majlis)
Joining the debate on the bill on Wednesday morning, the Parliament’s majority leader Falah declared that the rally was “sold on bid” after the MDP failed to get anyone agree to join it.
“At the end, they sold it [the rally] after no one was willing to join,” alleged the Inguraidhoo constituency.
“They sold it on bid. Some of them are unaware to purchased it. We are talking about a party of this level. The MDP does not exist anymore. The MDP doesn’t exist.”
Falah said that the MDP had travelled across the Maldives in an effort to get people to join the rally, going on to allege that even the dozen lawmakers who represent the MDP in the Parliament themselves did not want to join the gathering.
The serious allegations fuel confusion within the MDP itself regarding the decision to cancel the rally at the last minute.
A senior figure within the MDP leadership, who spoke to Sun on condition of anonymity, shares Falah’s suspicions regarding the cancellation of the rally.
The source also admitted the decision has created division within the party.
While the MDP cancelled its rally, the ruling PNC held a massive gathering the same night, attended by thousands of pro-government supporters, many of whom travelled from the atolls, to celebrate the incumbent administration’s two-year anniversary.