Maldives to make 'economic damage' a crime as govt moves to curb Rasmalé opposition

The Maldives government has moved to amend the Penal Code to make “causing damage to the country’s economy” a criminal offence, a step critics say is aimed at silencing opposition to the Rasmalé waterfront and marina project. A bill sent by the government to the People’s Majlis defines deliberate acts that could cause major damage to the state economy as a grave crime. It lists interference with essential services such as water, electricity, transport and communications, as well as attempts to halt key sources of state revenue, as prohibited acts. Under the proposed amendment, an ordinary person convicted of such an offence could face between one and four years in prison. If the offence is committed by someone holding a senior position in the state or government, the punishment would be between six and ten years. The bill states that such an act would be a second-degree felony when committed by a senior official. The provision would also allow authorities to interpret political movements such as the “Dhivehin ge bin Dhivehin nah” campaign against giving land from Rasmalé to a foreign entity as damage to the economy. Concerns have been raised that it could give the government the power to arrest people for criticism and protests against major projects, and that a parliamentarian taking part in such movements could face a ten-year prison sentence. The move comes as the government has also established the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission through a new law, and has made black-market dollar pricing an offence carrying heavy fines, further narrowing space for free expression.