Participants of PPM rally will be subject to security checks

Participants of tomorrow night’s Progressive Party of Maldives rally will be subject to security security checks before entrance, the ruling party has said.

The rally will be the first official PPM event since April 2014 with President Abdulla Yameen and party leader former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom in attendance.

In the wake of the September 28 blast on his speedboat – which the government says was an assassination attempt – Yameen’s rare public appearances have taken place with heightened security by both the military and the police.

Speaking at a press conference this morning, PPM Secretary General Ahmed Tholal said the screening is necessary for security reasons. He urged supporters not to bring illegal items.

The rally will take place at the artificial beach in Malé.

PPM MP Ali Fazad meanwhile said the turnout at Thursday’s rally will show the party’s strong support among the public, noting that “posters and loudspeakers” have not been used to promote the rally.

The Maldives Independent has learned that staff at the Maldives Customs Service as well as state-owned companies have been asked to attend the rally.

A mass text massage has been sent asking employees to reply with a reason if they cannot attend.

MP Abdul Raheem Abdulla told the press that councillors from the PPM and coalition partner Maldives Development Alliance have also been invited to attend the rally.

“We are not bringing people from the islands for the mass rally. But we invited the councillors from PPM and MDA to give them status since they are political individuals,” he said.