Anti-GMR protests to take to sea tomorrow           

Activists raise their hands to show unity:

Ultimatum given to annul GMR agreement

-40,000 people sign petition

National Alliance has announced to hold protests against GMR Infrastructure in the sea to demand the government to reclaim the airport from GMR and annul the agreement of the former government with the GMR.

Abdullah Mohamed, spokesperson of the National Alliance said that Ibrahim Nasir International Airport is a property of the Maldivian people and the alliance will not remain without doing anything anymore when this asset of the people is being snatched away from them.

Speaking at the public symposium of the National Alliance held at Friday night, Abdullah Mohamed said that they have received more than 40,000 signatures for the petition calling to reclaim the airport back to the people. He said that thousands more signatures are expected.

Abdullah Mohamed said that the government should not doubt the stance of the people regarding the issue and the symposium held on Friday night has clearly shown that the people are against the lease of the airport to GMR.

“It has not been decided yet on informing the media of the details of the protest to be held in sea. We will announce it in the last minute. For now what we can say is that we will take the protest to the sea,” he said.

In addition to this Abdullah Mohamed said that the alliance will pressure the MACL board to be accountable for the demand of the mass symposium which gave an ultimatum to annul the agreement between the former government and the GMR.

Spokesperson of the National Alliance moreover said that an appointment has been made with the President to discuss this matter. He said that they have received a green signal regarding it. He said that future activities will be held based on the result of this meeting.

Adaalath Party President Sheikh Imran Abdulla gave an ultimatum of six days to the government to annul the former government’s agreement with GMR and liberate the airport from GMR by 15th of November. He warned the Alliance might have to go for a second thought implying to withdraw the support of the Alliance from the President’s coalition government.

Sheikh Imran said that the alliance cannot wait any longer without doing anything regarding the matter viewing that annulling the agreement is a difficult task for the government. He said that the patience of the people has now reached its limits.

“The government should be brave enough to follow the view of the people. President Dr Waheed should be brave enough for that,” he said.