Weekend arrests: a round-up of round-ups

Several people were arrested from opposition protests at the weekend, including police and army personnel.

The protests have been ongoing since February 1 and gained momentum after a controversial parliamentary vote to extend a state of emergency, with crowds calling for the arrest and resignation of President Abdulla Yameen.

Last Thursday opposition lawmaker Ahmed Mahloof was arrested while police attempted to disperse a protest in Malé. He was informed that he would be detained for 28 days, his wife Nazra Naseem told Mihaaru Sunday.

A senior figure from Special Ops, Hussain Saif, was also arrested Thursday for attempting to create division among police officers following the Supreme Court February 1 ruling, Mihaaru reported.

Police confirmed another officer had been arrested but did not reveal details. Sun said Ahmed Asim Hussain had been arrested from H. Dh Kulhudhuffushi on the same charges as Saif.

Seven army officers from the Special Protection Group have also been detained since Thursday, reported RaajjeMV. The officers have not communicated since leaving for work on Thursday, according to family members. The Maldives National Defence Force has told families the officers are “on duty”. The seven officers have been isolated, RaajjeMV cited army personnel as saying. Those arrested include bodyguards for the parliament speaker and former president Mohamed Nasheed.

Several more people detained at the weekend, including MPs Mohamed Ameeth and Ahmed Abdulla, were later released.

Photo: Auf Majeed