Official campaign of Feb 24 mass symposium to be launched soon
23 December Coalition has announced that the official campaign of the 24 February mass symposium will be launched on 24th of this month.
Spokesperson of the 23 December coalition, Abdullah Mohamed informed the media that “the coalition decided to kick start the campaign on 24 th of this month because the day being the national day of the country holds great significance since this symposium will be more of a national struggle against oppression of all forms.”
Abdullah said that a demonstration will be held on 24 January to initiate the 24 February mass symposium campaign.
Civil Society Coalition and the opposition political parties recently announced to hold the mass symposium on February 24 as a retaliation at the failure of the government to yeild to the five demands of the “Maldivians In Defence of Islam” December 23 mass demonstration.
President of the Civil Society Coalition Sheikh Mohamed Didi said that the network of NGOs and the opposition political parties decided to hold a national symposium because instead of yielding to the demands of the mass demonstration the government criticized the demands by labeling the demonstration a political gathering aimed at overthrowing the MDP government; supported by only a few people.
“Many of the people want this movement to be continuous. This time this movement will be kick started with the initiative of the opposition political parties. Up until now nine parties have joined us. Other parties still have the opportunity to join this coalition. All the NGOs who participated in the earlier demonstration will participate in this symposium,” he said.
Deputy Leader of the opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP), Ibrahim Shareef (Mavota) said that the government went further by trying to delude the international community that it was an insignificant protest. He said that the government will not be given any more opportunity to remain in denial of the strong and unexpected voice of the mass demonstration that has demanded change. He added that government has done enough damage to the economy of the country just to intimidate and humiliate the participants of the biggest demonstration ever held in the history of Maldives.
“We will visit the islands to make the people aware of the true reality of the current regime. We will remove the wool pulled over their eyes by the government. We will meet foreign delegates and the international media and inform them about reality of this oppressive government. It is time that our side of the story is not kept hidden from them. All this time they were only informed of the biased and prejudiced cover ups of the state,” he said.
“This time the people are not coming out only in defence of the Islamic unity. This time the people are going to hold a national symposium in defence of Islam, the nation and the economy,” he said.
Meanwhile, On December 23 mass protest, a record number of more than 100,000 Maldivians all around the country demonstrated to implement Shariah and to put an end to all anti-Islamic activities. More than 10,000 people gathered near Lonuziyaraikolhu, which was renamed “Nasruge Maidhan” (Victory Square) during the protest. Protesters stood their ground for eight straight hours, expressing their extreme dissatisfaction with the anti-Islamic policies endorsed by the State. Prominent religious scholars and politicians spoke to the thousands of people flocked at the Tsunami Monument area. No violence or calls to violence was witnessed from the demonstration despite the allegations of the government.