Police and protestors clash in Kaafu atoll Thulusdhoo on February 28, 2011 after the police refused to hand over the key to the office and blocked the councillors from working at the office. HAVEERU PHOTO/ IBRAHIM RILWAN
12.04 – The councillors are meeting with the team from the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) at the office.
11.54 – Police have opened the office as clashes erupted on the island.
11.24 – A team from the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) is in Thulusdhoo.
The President of the atoll council, Ahmed Saeed said the council is preparing to meet the team.
11.09 – Tensions have risen in Thulusdhoo after police and residents of the island, gathered at the area, engaged in a heated argument.
President of the atoll council, Ahmed Saeed said the police have not yet given him a response about handing over the office to the council.
Since this morning,the councillors have been working in the corridor of an old building located opposite of the office.
10.58 – Police spokesperson Ahmed Shiyam said police are patrolling outside the building in Thulusdhoo, which houses the Secretariat of the Kaafu atoll Council, on the request of the Home Ministry.
Shiyam said the key is with the ministry.
However, police took possession of the key to the Thulusdhoo office on Saturday evening, hours after the atoll council passed the resolution to change the Secretariat of the council from Maafushi to Thulusdhoo.
The magistrate court also issued the order over the police.
Shiyma stressed that the police are not hampering the work of the council, but are “protecting the assets in the office, which belong to the Finance Ministry.”
The two councillors, who represent the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), are also trying to run the council in Maafushi.
A statement issued last evening by the two councillors under the name of “Secretariat of Male Atoll Council – Kaafu atoll Maafushi” said the responsible officer was asked to open the office in Maafushi.
09.48 – Four out of the six councillors, who represent the opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP), are in the corridor of a building opposite the building in Thulusdhoo, which houses the Secretariat of the Kaafu atoll Council.
President of the council, Ahmed Saeed said the police have been asked not to disrupt the work of the council as per the court order issued yesterday. The police said an answer would be given after discussions, he added.
Saeed stressed that the residents of the island, who gathered outside the office, went away from the area on his request. A key was found from the office yesterday and was used to lock the office, he said.
The two councillors, who represent the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), are still in Maafushi.
08.57 – Police have taken control of the building in Thulusdhoo, which houses the Secretariat of the Kaafu atoll Council again today.
The councillors, who went to the office this morning, were barred access by Riot Police. Police told the councillors that the office could not be opened as the key is with the Home Ministry.
The Kaafu atoll Council passed a resolution on Saturday to change the Secretariat of the council from Maafushi to Thulusdhoo.
However, clashes erupted between the police and the islanders yesterday as police refused to hand over the key to the office and blocked the councillors from working at the office.
The Thulusdhoo Magistrate Court, about an hour later, issued a court order to the Maldives Police Service, directing them to hand over the key to the President of the council or the secretariat and not to hamper the work of the council.
1 comment
More
0 Comments
To have full access to the interactive features available in Haveeru Online please register or .