Organisers arrested as police crack down on youth-led protest

The "nepo baby" protests were sparked by an alleged coverup of the circumstances surrounding the fall of a young woman from an apartment building on April 18. The demonstrations over police negligence took place peacefully over the previous seven nights, featuring live music, poetry recitals and graffiti art and concluding before midnight. The small group of protesters occupied a block of Majeedhee Magu near the police criminal investigation headquarters. 

Last night’s crackdown came soon after protesters set up a carrom board and ping pong table. Around 11pm, police officers tried unsuccessfully to stop them from playing games on the closed section of the capital’s main thoroughfare. About 40 minutes later, a larger group of police officers returned and charged into the protesters, who stood with arms interlocked to protect two speakers that were blasting live music. 

In the ensuing clashes, police manhandled and pepper sprayed several protesters before seizing the speakers and megaphone. Two of the protest leaders, Aishath Shiman Ahmed, 19, and Abdulla Mahzoon Majid, 28, were dragged away and taken inside the Henveiru police station. 

Earlier on Thursday, Shiman spoke to the Maldives Independent's Ithuru Vaahaka podcast about organising the first protest on April 23. She vowed to stay on the street until demands are met: "We're not leaving that corner any time soon. Better buckle up," she said.

In a statement released around 1:15am, police accused Shiman and Mahzoom of disobeying orders and obstructing police duties. Mahzoom attempted to assault an officer, police alleged.

The police sought to justify the use of force to disperse the small crowd.

"Maldives Police have received persistent complaints from residents and business owners regarding the protests conducted by young people on Majeedhee Magu over the past few days," the statement read. 

"We have repeatedly advised against activities such as playing music, table tennis, and carrom that disrupt daily life. Additionally, as many students will be attending GCE O-Level examinations tomorrow, and since we have issued multiple advisories on this matter, tonight we provided a legal warning before police halted these activities and dispersed the crowd. This action was taken considering both the educational interests of students and the everyday lives of residents."

Maldives Independent journalists at the scene did not hear the police issue any warning before charging into the protesters in full view of reporters and television cameras. Unlike past crackdowns on political protests, the police engaging the crowd were not equipped with helmets and riot gear.

After the crackdown, the remaining protesters regrouped and marched west on Majeedhee Magu, where police intercepted them on the Chandhanee Magu intersection. The small group eventually dispersed after leading police vehicles towards Buruzu Magu to the building where the young woman fell. 

After the first night of protests, police set up a barricade a block away from the criminal investigation building and redirected traffic to accommodate the demonstration. The protests consistently ended at midnight and participants cleaned up the area before leaving.

After a break on Tuesday night to protest "digitally" on social media and Minecraft, live music began two nights ago but the organisers turned off speakers before midnight.

"According to the laws and regulations of the Maldives, it is prohibited to use loudspeakers after midnight. So we will cut off the sound at midnight, but our demonstration will continue...We will stay here, read a bit of poetry, tell a few stories and then we'll go," a protest leader announced shortly before midnight on Wednesday.

Cover photo: Alwan Ibrahim