The "Dhiveheenge Bin Dhivehinge" (Maldivian Land for Maldivians) movement, which has announced a mass protest in the capital Male’ against the sale of Rasmalé to UAE businessman Mohamed Alabbar—with ties to Israel and Zionists—yesterday demanded a national referendum on the matter.
Speaking at a press conference, legal counsel Ali Hussain said that the movement’s demand is for the government to hold a public referendum to gauge the citizens' stance on the Rasmalé deal.
"We are advocating for the suspension of this agreement and for the matter to be put to a public referendum," Ali Hussain said. "Granting land to Zionists represents a major change to the sovereign territory of the Maldives."
During the press conference, former Home Minister Imran Abdulla announced that the protest is scheduled to take place on November 6.
"This is not a matter that can be finalised by simply going somewhere and signing in secret. The entire future of the Maldivian people cannot be altered in this manner without consulting them and obtaining their consent," Imran said.
While the government maintains that the Rasmalé land is being leased for 99 years, Alabbar’s company, Eagle Hills, has stated that if the property is sold or inherited before the initial 99-year lease expires, a new 99-year lease term will commence.
The commercial terms to sell 500 hectares of Rasmalé—an area currently being reclaimed in Fushidhiggaru lagoon using state funds—to Eagle Hills were signed on September 21. The government aims to sign the definitive agreement on November 11, which coincides with the Maldives' Republic Day.
The government’s deal to sell Rasmalé comes despite President Mohamed Muizzu’s pledge that not a single grain of sand from the site would be leased or given to foreign parties, even for a single day.
"Every grain of sand reclaimed there [Rasmalé] belongs to the Maldivian people. Not a single piece of land will be leased or given for free to any foreign party for even one day," Muizzu had previously stated.
