MDP accuses PNC of paying gangs to incite violence during Friday’s rally, asks for police protection

The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has denied accusations by the police of plotting to escalate the mass anti-corruption rally planned for this upcoming weekend, alleging that it is the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) that has been paying gangs to incite violence during the march along the streets of the Maldivian capital.

The MDP is scheduled to hold a rally on Friday night at the Artificial Beach in Male’ City under the name ‘Lootuvaifi’, in protest of alleged acts of corruption by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s administration.

But in a statement on Wednesday morning, the police said they had received intelligence that the MDP plans to divert from the authorized route and mobilize criminal groups to incite violence and damage property during the rally.

The MDP issued a statement in the afternoon describing it as false allegations by the police to hinder the rally.

The MDP said that they had met with police officials on September 28 to share information regarding the rally, including the route.

The party said that they have not made any changes to the route nor said they would divert from it.

The MDP said that it is the PNC which has been paying criminal groups to incite violence and disrupt the party’s rally.

“We condemn the efforts the Muizzu administration to pay groups with money in order to disrupt the peaceful political rally planned by the MDP. It is regrettable that the police is attempting to make such false allegations against the MDP after we informed the police that Muizzu’s People’s National Congress (PNC) is engaged in efforts to mobilize criminal groups in Male’ to disrupt the rally,” reads the statement.

The MDP asked the police to stop these criminal groups and provide security to demonstrators.

The MDP accused the police of attempting to infringe on the constitutional right to freedom of assembly on direct orders from President Muizzu.

“It is clear from this despicable act by the police that all state institutions are currently firmly in Muizzu’s grasp,” alleged the party.

“Given that its clear the actions of police are directed at disrupting political activities by the opposition based on unlawful orders from the PNC, this party condemns the politicization of the police service.”

The MDP has been promoting its Friday rally for weeks. And on Tuesday, former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed said the rally doesn’t have to be treated as a gathering by a specific political party, and invited “everyone who is against corruption” to join the protest.