Part of the protesters from today’s MDP-led rally on sea had decided to stay on sea vessels after a fall out occurred between the participants.
Today’s protests led by MDP kicked off with 5 vessels departing from T-Jetty during evening. They were scheduled to conclude the protest at 18:00hrs. All 5 vessels carrying protesters were idle near the coast of Dhoonidhoo، where they had used microphones to carry out their rally cries to “free Nasheed”.
Protesters on sea vessels during today’s protests. Photo: Abdulla Abeedh
The conflict between participants initiated following JP’s member Sobah Rasheed had called out the protest would be concluded at the scheduled time، as they wish to continue a peaceful protest in order to make the government accountable for the events attached to it. However، following this MDP member and former south-Maafannu constituency member Ibrahim “Bondey” Rasheed has grabbed the microphones from Sobah and claimed that protesters will not be heading off to Male’، instead they will stay at the coast line of Dhoonidhoo until their cries are heard.
Ibrahim had also threatened to dock in Dhoonidhoo as well. He had also claimed that protesters will stay on sea in hunger as well.
“One of our vessel will be laying idle on sea، protesters of it will be on a hunger strike but currently the vessel is travelling Male’ to fix an issue in their navigational، until they return back we will have to wait” Ibrahim asserted.
From today’s MDP-led protest. Photo: Abdulla Abeedh
Though Ibrahim had made statements، one of the vessels had returned back to Male’. Upon being asked from protesters wishing to board the vessel set to return، one of the vessel and transferred all passengers except 4 individuals to it. Among the members who chose to stay back، Ibrahim “Bondey” Rasheed and former Hoarafushi constituency member Ahmed Rasheed are included.
The boat set to return back faced an overcapacity issue، and crew members of the vessel requested some of the members to transfer back into the another vessel، which was also set to return back to Male’.
While one boat had returned back، the other set to dock back in Male’ had not returned. At the time of reporting، 3 vessels were left near Dhoonidhoo coast. With one boat carrying 35 participants، smaller vessel had been reported to carry 12 members and the third boat is believed to have been carrying more than 50 members.
According to various reports، today’s protest was participated by around 150 members.
Meanwhile، protesters in Male’ had initiated another motorbike trip up and down Male’ streets today. MDP supporters from Gn. Fuvahmualah and N. Velidhoo had carried out protests in respective islands as well. In addition to this، further protesting is set for tonight at 21:00hrs، kicking off at Henveiru Usfasgandu area.