Government Condemns attacks on Police Officers

 March 16, 2018

The Government of the Maldives condemns the calls to harass and attack, and subsequent attacks on Police Officers on crowd control duty during the violent joint-opposition protests held in Male’ on 14 March and 15 March 2018.

Protestors gathered at Majeedhee Magu, the main road of Male’, blocking all transport on the night of 14 March 2018 and attacked a Policer Officer using crude oil. The Police had confiscated 105 packets containing chilli water from the protest. Subsequently, on the night of 15 March 2018, Police confiscated 76 packets of pepper water and 24 iron rods from the protest site. These substances were made to be used against the Police handling the crowd protesting on Majeedhee Magu. The Maldives Police Service has also made public that they have received information that a group of people are planning arson and tonight a car was set on fire near Islamic Centre in the vicinity of Police and Army headquarters.

As violent acts, inclusive of destruction to property, are not within the right to protest peacefully, granted under the Freedom of Peaceful Assembly Act, the Government calls upon all citizens to abide by the rules and regulations.