Youth group launches campaign calling for public referendum on foreign freeholds
Mabrook Azeez, a member of the ‘Heylaa’ (Awake) youth group, said the gathering was planned as “a networking event” to share views on the issue, enlist participants, and plan the campaign against allowing foreign investors to own land in the Maldives.
08 Aug 2015, 9:00 AM
The ‘Heylaa’ (Awake) youth group officially launched a campaign against foreign freeholds today with a gathering at the surf point in Malè.
Controversial amendments to the constitution allowing foreigners to own freeholds with an investment of US$1 billion was passed in late July with overwhelming multi-party support, two days after it was submitted to the parliament.
About 50 people, including Jumhooree Party (JP) MP Ali Hussain, former environment minister Mohamed Aslam, and national council members of the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) as well as some members of the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) gathered at the capital’s eastern waterfront from 4:00pm to 6:00pm.
Speakers at the gathering stressed that the amendments were passed in 72 hours without any public consultation or debate and called for a public referendum.
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