Police denies its participation in DRP demonstration

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

- Demonstrators did not deliberately march to MNDF Headquarters – Ali Waheed
- Police and Security forces attempting to discredit DRP members – DRP

Police had issued a press release denying its participation in the demonstration by DRP on the night of 28 January 2010.

The press release by the Police said that Police would always serve the nation with sincerity and seriousness and the remark by the MP for Thoddoo, Ali Waheed that police also did participate in the demonstration is baseless and his comments intention is to disrepute Police among the public.

Police also said that it is investigating the demonstration by the DRP as a serious crime which had broke two police lines and attempted to enter into the headquarters of the Maldives National Defense Force. When the demonstrators were not able to enter into the MNDF headquarters, they marched into the street in front of President’s residence.

In a press conference held at DhiTV on 29 January 2010 Thoddoo MP Ali Waheed has said that the Police officials had also participated in the demonstration by the DRP in the restricted security zone.

In the meantime, Ali Waheed has said that DRP supporters did not deliberately march to MNDF and it was not their intention to do so and the reports which stated demonstrators had marched to MNDF headquarters is false.

Speaking about the demonstration later Ali Waheed has said that Police officials had also participated in the demonstration. He also said that it would not be easy to march to President’s Residence all the way from Artificial Beach and the MDP’s closest demonstration to MNDF was also held in Republic Square. Reports also indicated that the demonstrators had called on to join the security forces.

However, Minister of Defense and National Security has asked the Maldives Police Service to investigate the attempted entry into the MNDF’s Integrated Headquarters and take necessary legal action against the perpetrators.

MNDF’s press release also said that it will not step back from providing full security to those institutions which it is mandated to protect and that it will continue to provide its services as per the Security Forces Act of the Maldives.

When security forces dispersed the crowds at the MNDF headquarters they marched to President’s Residence just behind MNDF headquarters. Demonstrators had spent next 1 ½ hours in front of the President’s Residence chanting slogans against the current government and calling for resignation of the president. However demonstrators did also clashed with the police forces at the scene as well. Demonstrators suspected that Mohamed Mooz who had died on 26 January 2010 died of police misconduct. Although Mooz family had denied the accusations, according to Haveeru Daily workers at the cemetery who prepared the body for burial has reported some minor injuries from his body. Police has not commented on the report yet.

The demonstrators of the both sides had attacked Ali Waheed and State Minister Ahmed “Monaaza” Naeem.

DRP had also condemned the actions by Police and security forces during the demonstrations held by DRP in the restricted zone which contained Police headquarters, MNDF’s integrated headquarters, President’s Office, Government offices, UNESCO listed heritage site of Hukuru Miskiy and President’s residence. DRP also said that its supporters did not create the violence and disturbances as reported by Police and MNDF and had accused both institutions of attempting to disrepute its members.

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