By our correspondent in Male’

Tension remains high on streets of Maldives capital Male’ after the police cracked down on a demonstration organized by the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

MDP was protesting against alleged vote rigging in the recent referendum held in the country to determine a system of government for the Maldives. MDP was campaigning for a parliamentary system of government but the official results claimed the referendum’s outcome favoured a presidential system.

Even though it was the People’s Special Majlis (the Constituent Assembly formed in 2004 to amend the constitution) which decided to hold a public referendum, the voting was conducted by the Office of the Commissioner of Elections, which is not an independent body, but under the heavy influence of the President and his Cabinet. There are multiple allegations of vote rigging.

MDP’s demonstration started on Saturday afternoon at 4.30 pm. Police first charged the demonstrators near IGMH, the main hospital in Male’. The remaining protesters were dispersed with brutal tactics near Mercury Light Café, which is a popular hangout of reformists in Male’.

Opposition supporters are gathering near Mercury Light Café and confrontations between the police and protesters are going on. This was the venue of confrontations in the past such as the second Black Friday protests triggered after MDP Chairperson Mohamed Nasheed was arrested in August 2005.

However, it remains to be seen whether the current protests will last a few days this time. MDP is clearly weaker than before, as evident from the low turnout for Saturday’s demonstration. Analysts believe that the regime’s decision to unleash police on such a small number of protesters indicate that the regime in power is returning to its old tactics of fear and intimidation.