Opposition announces nation-wide protests on Sep 11

The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) is planning to hold a nation-wide protest on September 11 against the recent re-imprisonment of former President Mohamed Nasheed.

Mohamed Shifaz, the party’s vice president, said: “We will hold a major rally in Malé on September 11. There will be protests across the country on the same day, our aim is to free President Nasheed.”

The September 11 protests will be the first opposition protest since June.

The MDP had called off street protests after Nasheed was transferred to house arrest in late-June amidst talks between the MDP and the government on the release of political prisoners.

The party withdrew from talks after Nasheed’s re-imprisonment, stating that the government had failed to honor its commitments.

The MDP said further details of the protest will be revealed at a later date.

A rally is planned in southern Fuvahmulah tonight.

The MDP’s rally on August 28 , the first since May, was well-attended.

Nasheed was re-imprisoned, weeks after the government commuted his 13-year jail term to house arrest. The government now denies authorizing the transfer and claims an official document publicized by Nasheed’s lawyers is forged.

An investigation into the document is underway.