Faiyaz to Join Friday Night Protest at Artificial Beach Against Rasmalé Land Deal with UAE's Eagal Hills

Former MDP Chairperson Faiyaz Ismail has said he will take part in a gathering to be held tomorrow night at Artificial Beach, organised by the "Dhivehi ge bin dhivehinnah" (Maldivians' land for Maldivians) national movement, in protest against the leasing of a portion of Rasmalé to UAE-based Eagal Hills. Speaking to Adhadhu, Faiyaz said he wants as many citizens as possible to attend tomorrow's gathering, express their feelings, and convey the people's concerns to the government. "If I am able, I will participate in the protest on Friday. And we want as many citizens as possible to participate in it, to express that feeling, and to see if we can carry the matter of the people's concerns to the government," Faiyaz said. Faiyaz said the depth of public concern over the Rasmalé deal has been further highlighted by trips made to Addu City in recent weeks and the trip currently under way to Haa Alif Atoll. "You will know that there are very great concerns of the people in this. I have travelled in Addu Atoll in the past two or three weeks, and now travelling is underway in Haa Alif Atoll. There are concerns among many citizens about the way the government is carrying out things," he said. In connection with public concerns over the Rasmalé deal, Faiyaz also called on President Muizzu to hold a transparent vote among the people on whether the deal should go ahead. As preparations continue for a large gathering tomorrow night at 20:30 against the sale of Rasmalé, the government is moving at full speed to hand 500 hectares of land in Rasmalé to Eagal Hills. The legal changes needed to carry the Rasmalé deal forward were submitted to the People's Majlis last Monday. The commercial terms for selling the 500 hectares of Rasmalé - being reclaimed from Fushidhiggaru Falhu with state funds - to Eagal Hills were signed on September 21. The government has not disclosed whether the signing of the project's permanent agreement has been halted, and there are voices spreading that the permanent agreement will be signed this November. Under what the government has submitted to the People's Majlis to facilitate the project, the places sold from Rasmalé are to be sold under the "Surrendered and Regrant" model in a manner granting permanent ownership. Those opposed to this say the land of Rasmalé has thereby been given away permanently.