Movement escalates campaign against Rasmale', calling for a nationwide referendum, urging gov't to delay agreement

The “Dhivehinge Bin Dhivehinnah” (Maldivians’ Land for Maldivians) movement has announced that it will hold a rally in November calling for a referendum on the Maldives Waterfront and Marina project. 

The announcement was made at the movement’s press conference held this evening, by former Adhaalath Party President and former Home Minister Imran Abdulla.

Imran said the government’s handling of the Rasmale' project raises serious questions about Maldives’ independence and sovereignty. “And because of this, if these things happen as they are going to do, the people of Maldives will feel enslaved within days or years,” he said. He added that settling people of different races in Maldives must only be done after consulting the public, and urged the government to proceed with the project only after seeking public approval.

Imran said preparations have begun to organise the movement and that a large rally will be held on Friday, November 6, calling for a referendum.

The movement’s next leader, lawyer and former Kendhoo MP Ali Hussain, said Rasmale' belongs to the people and cannot be handed over to a foreign party without public consultation. Criticising the President, Ali said the public would not elect him for another term due to the way he is acting. “Therefore, the land of the people should not be sold without consulting the people. That is what we are talking about. We demand that you postpone the signing of the agreement and ask for a referendum of the people,” he said.

Ali said the constitution requires any change to any part of the country, visible or invisible, to be subject to a public vote. He added that granting ownership of land to followers of other religions and Zionists poses a major challenge to the integrity, security, safety and independence of Maldives’ maritime territory. The referendum, he said, should ask whether the people agree to sell land to foreigners and whether they agree to settle foreigners in the country.

“We are also prepared to take charge of the expenses, so President Muizzu should respond to this and make it clear if there is a lack of funds. We are prepared to put up fund boxes, hold telethons, run TV activities and even beg on the streets,” he said.

Ali also called on Parliament to ask the President to postpone the signing of the Rasmale' project, and urged the Supreme Court to require the President to hold a referendum on the matter.

Parliament had on Monday rejected the opposition MDP parliamentary group’s motion calling for disclosure of the government’s agreement with the UAE’s Eagle Hills to allocate a large portion of land in Rasmale'. Eagle Hills Chairman Mohamed Alabbar has said he hopes to sign the final agreement on the Maldives Waterfront and Marina project on November 11.