The Muizzu administration is reportedly employing heavy-handed tactics to prevent public employees from attending the “In Defense of the Constitution” rally, scheduled for Tuesday night. A series of mandatory events are being held by government offices, state-owned companies, and schools, all timed to clash with the rally, coercing attendance and discouraging participation.
One such example comes from the Maldives Ports Limited (MPL), where employees have been instructed to report to the office at 8:00 PM for an unspecified event. A message sent to employees clearly states that attendance is mandatory for all workers except those on leave, and even off-duty employees are expected to participate. The message notes that attendance will be taken, and those in uniform should attend in their work attire. However, the nature of the event has not been disclosed, raising questions about its true purpose.
Similarly, Iskandhar School has sent out a message to class representatives, scheduling an “important meeting” at 8:15 PM on the same night as the rally. The meeting is reportedly about the Iskandhar Fair Stalls, but the timing suggests an intentional overlap with the rally, further raising suspicions about the government’s attempts to prevent participation.
The Maldives Civil Service has also reportedly issued instructions to employees to avoid attending the rally, adding to the growing list of tactics the government is using to suppress public involvement.
The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has strongly condemned these actions, accusing the government of using fear and manipulation to discourage people from attending the rally. They claim that the government is resorting to threats of job insecurity and forced relocations, even spreading false claims that the rally is illegal and could lead to violence, in an attempt to create fear and disrupt public participation.
