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Thousands Protest for Reform in Maldives Capital
Fri Aug 13, 2004 07:46 AM ET
But Ismail said the protesters want to see some sign Gayoom is sincere about his reform pledges in the tourism-dependent country, which has a population of 300,000 on a series of tiny islands often depicted as paradise isles.
Ismail said in response to Gayoom's calls for reform he began a series of public meetings in July but that the government had recently cracked down on the gatherings, refusing to provide venues and in the past week detaining reformists.
"This is not an incident which just happened in a single day. It has been building up," he said.
He said most of the protesters were sitting in the square, with some climbing a flagpole to address the crowd and shouting slogans.
A special assembly called last month to discuss changing the constitution broke up soon after it began over a dispute over how to elect a speaker. It was due to reconvene on Monday and Shaheed said the government wanted to use it to address reforms.
The proposed amendments include allowing the formation of political parties, changing the way the president is elected, setting up a human rights commission and giving the judiciary more independence.
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