Daily News staffer in Male experiences:

A protest with less flamboyance but high repercussions

BY BHARATHA Malawaraarachchi

NO doubt, it was a novel experience for us Sri Lankans to be among a gathering of protestors who staged their agitation in dribs and drabs, a far cry from the mass scale protest marches we are accustomed to back home where protestors march in their thousands before converging at a final meeting.

Take for instance our student protests. There is much blood and thunder with slogan shouting people in the forefront making demands from the party in power. The protestors usually target political and public officials. Effigies of opponents are burnt.

But here in the Maldives things are very different. People will come out in ones and twos and sit in the main protest ground, instead of converging en masse shouting slogans and making unruly protests.

This writer was among a group of journalists who visited the Maldives recently on an invitation extended by the Media For Democratic People Worldwide, an organisation canvassing for democratic rights. We were on a mission to Maldives to see the ground situation there.

We arrived in the archipelago on Friday (August 12) morning and booked ourselves into a hotel on the Male island, the capital of the Republic of Maldives.

After a mixed breakfast of Eastern and Western fare, we began sightseeing with a special boat ride close to the city. It was a very refreshing experience despite the fact that we too hailed from an island with golden beaches.

However, the real drama began in the afternoon. After lunch we trekked the streets of the city for some shopping when we came along the main roads to the Republic Square of the Maldives.

On this short walk we had the opportunity of meeting several stalwarts of the Maldivian Democratic Party known as the MDP. They briefed us about the existing situation and said the people are demanding more reforms.

They revealed that they were planning to hold a small ceremony to mark the first anniversary of the 12-14 August 2004 pro-democracy rally in the evening.

The MDP was registered as a political party in May this year. MDP became the first party to be registered in the Maldives since the 1960s. Its registration was due to many protests launched by the opposition to the Maldivian Government.

The demonstration held on August 13, 2004 marked a significant landmark with the Maldivian Government pledging to implement reforms.

Some MDP members whom we had the opportunity of meeting stressed that full scale reforms were necessary for their country. They explained it is necessary to change the existing system and ensure more democratic rights to the people and the need for Constitutional reforms in order to make things better.

As we entered the Republican Square, we saw people moving and talking which we thought was not unusual given that it was after Friday prayers.

The time was around 3.30 pm and a Police officer came and asked us to leave the place as it was not suitable to stay there. So we left the place and did some shopping along the street and on the way we saw people gathering in small numbers.

On the way, we saw the riot police separating those sitting in the Square from the onlookers.

While we were visiting the shops we heard people shouting seemingly inciting people to attack. Being curious by nature we ran towards the Republican Square where the action was.

We saw a large crowd running through the streets hooting and jeering at the Police. Then we also came to one of the main streets and a Square where people were gathered. It was full of uniformed men with a special squad called by Maldivians as "Star Police".

We were told by people that some MDP leaders were taken into custody by Police. Just after we reached the Republican Square, we walked into a Police barricade where we were warned not to proceed.

They cautioned us and said it is better to return to the hotel as some of the people are scheduled to start a protest. So, we commenced our journey back to the hotel.

We saw people in large numbers gathered there talking to each other while Police and Security Forces were tightening guard around the important State buildings.

On the way, we heard people hooting at the Police and Security Forces while some were seen arguing with them. We talked to some of the people on the streets. We came to know that the day being a Friday, many people would remain on the streets late into the night.

Soon after reaching our hotel, we came to know that several MDP stalwarts including its Chairperson Mohamed Nasheed(Anni) and four MDP supporters were detained following this protest.

During the night and the following morning too, various rumours came to us - about arrests and detections. In the following morning too, we saw a large crowd of Policemen barricading certain streets.

We also learned that all roads surrounding the MDP has also been blocked.

With many rumours and stories spreading in the island, we decided to pack our bags and go back. Even while returning to the Male Airport, we came to know that the situation had not changed.