Maldives Police Service (MPS) has decided to suspend the right to the peaceful assembly during the COVID-19 pandemic as a State of Public Health Emergency has been declared in Maldives.
A statement from MPS was issued as staff working in safaris have been protesting following the decision to ban them from disembarking the vessels. The statement said the measures taken by the Director-General of Public Health has been taken to safeguard public health and the general wellbeing of the society. Hence, in the purview of the need for social distancing, the MPS has decided to prevent any protests in Maldives and urged all individuals to respect and abide by the laws of the country.
National Boating Association of Maldives has also cautioned the staff working in safaris in similar rhetoric, due to their decision to protest amid the COVID-19 outbreak. A statement from the association called all workers in the sector to abide by the laws and follow instructions from the Health Protection Agency (HPA).
The statement further called the employees to observe the 14-day quarantine period as the measure has been taken for the common good and the wellbeing of the Maldivian people. The statement further said staff will be allowed to leave the safaris once HPA approves disembarkation after observing the 14-day quarantine period.
Two of the confirmed cases for COVID-19 in Maldives have been reported from a safari and hence, all vessels carrying tourists have been banned from docking while the crews have been banned from entering local islands.