Two people arrested for protesting and creating a disturbance during President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's campaign trip to Meemu Dhiggaru yesterday have been released.
They were released after four hours in custody, the police said. About 14 people protested against the government as President Solih arrived in Dhiggaru on Sunday evening.
But the police dispersed the gathering as the protesters allegedly incited unrest. Opposition supporters have been protesting on most islands during the president's campaign visits.
Both President Solih and Home Minister Sheikh Imran Abdulla heavily criticized the protests during last night's campaign rally in Dhiggaru.
Imran said at the Dhiggaru rally that the protest on the island was reminiscent of the early 2000s. Physical assault and throwing of water and sand occurred during political activities at the time but such practices were in the past and will not be allowed, the home minister warned.
"Regardless of whether it's people from The Democrats or people from PPM [Progressive Party of Maldives] or any other party, don't try these shenanigans anymore when we arrive on islands. All the islands. If you try these shenanigans, we will be much stronger," said Imran, who previously led opposition protests against the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).
Before Imran's remarks, the president also criticized the opposition's expression of dissent.
"We started the work of bringing a modern democracy to the Maldives many years ago. Where we've reached today is conducting a competitive campaign, contesting in the election, and producing an outcome through the vote. We certainly have reached that point. The MDP has reached it," he said.
