Maldives Police Service releases statement warning to break off tonight’s protests led my opposition party MDP under the slogan “Verdict of the 3 judges” if protesters resort to violence and misconduct، breaking the law of rally and protest regulations. Police issued the statement after the department received intelligence report of some of the protesters conspiring to ignite unrest and chaos in tonight’s gathering.
The statement released by Maldives Police Service warns to take necessary and strict actions against any individual breaking code of conduct in such gatherings.
They had strongly recommended every individual present at tonight’s rally to abide the law and regulations imposed for protesting، and urged to keep the protest peaceful without provoking violence and vandalism of public properties as well as instilling fear on others.
Police statement read، urging strongly to the organizers of tonight’s gathering to maintain the protests under the conditions stated in Article number 4 of Protest and Srike Act.
Article number 4 of Protest and Strike Act states any gathering or rally would be deemed as peaceful and under proper regulations، if prior information stating the rally is carried in a peaceful by the organizers have been given to relevant authorities، and if the protesters does not provoke or resort to violence and breaking conduct of the regulations.
Police released statement further discussed that protesters must not carry dangerous weapons during the gathering and they must at all times keep the rally in peaceful condition.
Furthermore Police had warned of using brute force if necessary to break off the protests، should the participants of the rally is to provoke، promote and conduct any level of violence and vandalism، damaging public property، and it is the organizers who must bear responsibility over any loss or damage received on the protest participants’ end.
Maldives Police Service had also detailed in their statement، that they will not interfere or intervene any rally conducted and proceeded، which abides the clauses and conditions of the protest and strike act، while asserting strongly to be considerate over the residents living in close proximity of the protesting zone as well as to carry their rally without intervening road traffic and also to consider the rights of elderly citizens and children living in their designated protest zones.
In addition to all the recommendations، Police had further advised participants of the protest to obey the instructions of Police Officers on duty at the protest zones، and not to breach police barricades or interfere in officers carrying out their duties.
Following their statement، Maldives Police Service has requested from public to contact them on their hotline 3322111، if they receive any information of participants conspiring to provoke violence and chaos in tonight’s gathering.