MDP Official Calls for Road Blockades if Referendum on Rasmalé Deal Not Held by November 15

Former Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) Chair Faisal Isaac has threatened that if the government does not hold a referendum on the transfer of part of Fulhadhiffushi to UAE’s Eagle Hills before providing housing to citizens, it will be necessary to block roads and protest. Speaking during the MDP’s National Council session on the Rasmalé deal, Faisal stated that if a referendum is not held by the 15th of this month, people from various islands will gather in Malé, and from the night of the 17th of this month onwards, it will be necessary to block roads every night and protest. He expressed concerns that the Rasmalé deal could cause problems for the country’s sovereignty in the future and damage the social fabric. Faisal also noted that it is concerning to decide to give land filled at great expense to secure housing for citizens to a few parties within weeks after spending hundreds of millions of rufiyaa, adding that rumors about the land being sold without any free share or partnership is an issue. The government agreed to hand over Rasmalé without charging any execution fee or land rent, receiving only 10 percent of the revenue from commercial properties and four percent of the revenue from apartments.