First Published on Minivan News on November 9, 2006

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has unilaterally decided to call off its November 10 assembly to accelerate constitutional reform.

At around 16.00 local time on Thursday, the party announced that it was canceling the demonstration due to fears that the Government would “impose an extreme crackdown on demonstrators” if it were to be held.

Despite the MDP’s assurance that November 10 would be a peaceful, non-violent protest, the Government and a number of external analysts, thought otherwise. As a result, a campaign to prevent the protest from taking place was initiated by the Government.

During the campaign, more than 100 people were detained by police with supposed connections with the assembly.

In response to the cancellation MDP Chairperson Mohamed Nasheed (Anni) said: “The Government has clearly shown that they will use every available means to prevent this assembly, including jeopardizing people’s safety and lives.”

“We feel very strongly about the need for faster and better constitutional reform,” he continued. “But if we proceed with this gathering, our supporters are at the mercy of the government’s violence. We cannot compromise their welfare.”

The MDP has said that it is now calling on the Government to release the 102 people detained in connection with the gathering and to begin formal talks, mediated by the international community, to move ahead with substantive constitutional and political reform.

No one from the Government was available for comment.

Further reading for this article:
Maldives opposition calls off protest rally after arrests, The Guardian, UK