Police here have arrested eight people during an overnight protest accusing the government of corruption and curtailment of basic freedom.
The protesters violated conditions agreed upon before the march, used unauthorised roads and threw rocks and water bottles, the Maldives Police Service said in a post on X.
The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party condemned the police for using pepper spray and riot shields to stop the march and called on the government of President Mohamed Muizzu to free all the protesters unconditionally.
The MDP organised the demonstration to demand the government reverse constitutional changes narrowing fundamental rights and expanding the president’s powers.
The party also seeks universal public heathcare.
Protesters called for a stop to restrictions on the use of decentralised power by island councils, withdrawal of a new law enabling fines and suspension or cancellation of media licences and mismanagement of state enterprises. — AP
