Home Minister Umar Naseer has said that there was no law restricting freedom of assembly when then opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) protested against the Nasheed administration.
In a series of tweets posted on Wednesday, the Home Minister also said
that the Freedom of Peaceful Assembly Act was enacted on January 10,
2013.
He further emphasized that the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MPs voted for the Act.
Referring to Article 33 (a) of the Act, the Home Minister added that “the law is very clear on this”.
Article 33(a) of the Freedom of Peaceful Assembly Act stipulates situations where freedom of assembly may be restricted. In this regard, the Article states “restrictions to freedom of assembly which are necessary in a democratic society to ensure certain interests may be imposed in conformity with the law”. Such interests include eliminating threats to national security, maintaining public safety, public health, public health and protecting the rights and freedoms of others.
A few months ago, Assistant Secretary at United States’ Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Nisha Biswal severely criticized the Maldivian government for restricting freedom of assembly.
“A steady weakening of its fragile democracy and an erosion of the rule of law is being seen in the Maldives.
Opposition politicians remain behind bars simply because they gave voice
to their views, and because the government’s skin is too thin to brook
any criticism or competition,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Government continues to block political rallies, marches and protests on the streets of capital city Male’, claiming that such gatherings disturb the public and infringe on the rights of others.
The authorities had also dispersed the May Day rally organized by a
coalition of local Non-Governmental Organizations using excessive force.
source- https://raajje.mv/65625
source- https://raajje.mv/65625
No comments:
Post a Comment