The Maldives Police Service has stated that they have received information about the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) planning to deploy criminal groups to cause chaos in Malé City during their gathering scheduled for next Friday night, and that they will not allow this to happen.

In a press statement released today regarding the protest planned by the opposition MDP for the third of this month, the Maldives Police Service stated that the principles for exercising the right to peaceful assembly are stipulated in the law on freedom of peaceful assembly and its amendments.

The police service also stated that they pay great attention to ensuring the safety and security of peaceful activities conducted in accordance with the law, and maintaining the safety and security of roads and other areas where such activities are held.

However, the police also said that they have received information that political parties are planning to proceed with the march outside the permitted route, divide into groups, deploy criminal elements onto the streets, cause chaos in Malé, and damage property.

Therefore, in their statement, the police called on the public not to encourage any actions that violate the law on freedom of peaceful assembly and that could undermine Malé's peace and public interest.

Permission for the protest has been granted to proceed from Boduthakurufaanu Magu and through six major roads in Malé.