Tensions escalated in the capital on Thursday after Kendhoo MP Mauroof Zakir was arrested when police raided fishing boats participating in a major protest led by the Bodu Kanneli Masveringe Union (BKMU). The demonstration, now running for two consecutive days, began early Wednesday morning from the Hulhumalé jetty, with yellowfin tuna fishermen sailing to Malé to demand long-promised reforms from the government.
The BKMU — which represents the country’s yellowfin tuna fishermen — says the Muizzu administration has failed to deliver crucial commitments, including ensuring the purchase and marketing of yellowfin tuna and securing a reliable income for fishermen. Dozens of vessels continue to remain anchored off the No. 1 Jetty in Malé, where police and Coast Guard vessels maintain a close, watchful presence.
Maldives Police have brutally arrested striking migrant workers near Malé — workers who were peacefully demanding a fair price for their clean catch. We call for their immediate release and for authorities to open dialogue instead of using force. #WorkersRights #Maldives@iufap… pic.twitter.com/3Vmvczsz5C
— Bodu Kanneli Masveringe union- BKMU (@FishermensUnion) December 11, 2025
Former Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid sharply condemned the police operation, posting on X that a government which sends police onto the fishing vessels “that built this nation” has lost its moral authority to govern. He called for the immediate release of the MP and all detained fishermen.
Hon @MateyZakir MP, along with crew members from vessels participating in the fishermens protest, has been arrested today simply for demanding the government deliver on its promises to fishermen.
A government that sends police onto the very fishing vessels that built this…
— Abdulla Shahid (@abdulla_shahid) December 11, 2025
The Maldives Trade Union Congress also criticized the government’s actions, stressing that fishermen — like all workers — have a fundamental right to strike and to demand fair treatment. Galolhu Dhekunu MP Meekail Naseem joined the calls for release, remarking that this is a shameful way to mark both Fishermen’s Day and Human Rights Day.
The Maldives Police Service later confirmed that two vessels had been seized and three individuals taken into custody. According to the police, the arrests were made because the protesters allegedly failed to obey orders and obstructed law enforcement operations.
Despite this explanation, the detentions have only strengthened criticism of the Muizzu administration’s heavy-handed approach toward workers expressing frustration over broken promises.
Broken Promises Fuel the Unrest
The BKMU says the protest stems from the government’s failure to deliver three specific pledges made to fishermen during President Muizzu’s campaign:
- To have MIFCO start purchasing yellowfin tuna.
- To set a floor price of MVR 80–100 per kilo.
- To provide fuel at base rates and improve access to ice.
The union says fishermen now feel “misled and abandoned,” as none of these commitments have materialized, despite repeated assurances.
As the protest continues in the waters off Malé, the arrests have transformed what began as an economic grievance into a national conversation about rights, accountability, and the shrinking space for peaceful dissent under the current administration.
