Police: Assemblies Must Be Held Within Legal Framework, Action Taken If Law Violated

The Maldives Police Service has stated that arrangements will be made within the legal framework so that no party faces difficulty in holding assemblies, and that action will be taken if the law is violated. The police stated that no party has so far shared information with the Maldives Police Service regarding the safety and security of parties participating in an assembly planned to be held in Malé tonight, and regarding difficulties that the public and passers-by may face. Therefore, the police stated that they are informing the parties organising the assembly that, apart from places where permission has been granted to hold the assembly without prior notice, the assembly should not be held in other places, and that the assembly should be held within the legal framework. Such assemblies, as a result of the assembly, public movement and passers-by have to face various difficulties, and therefore the police have requested and advised that arrangements be made within the legal framework so that the assembly does not cause difficulty to any party. And the Maldives Police Service also stated that actions carried out in the assembly in violation of the law and regulations will be stopped immediately and action taken.