By Daniel Bosley
MALE, Maldives
Tear gas, stun grenades and pepper spray have been used by police in the Maldives to break up protests as record numbers gathered in the capital Male on Friday.
Chief Superintendent of Police Abdulla Nawaz told reporters they would show "zero tolerance" in dealing with further anti-government protests after declaring the demonstration not peaceful.
Opposition activists have claimed that at least 79 protesters have been detained, though police refused to confirm the number of arrests.
Police began using pepper spray and arresting protesters as they approached a mosque for prayers at sunset.
The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party issued a statement claiming that the protests had been peaceful until the police intervention.
"The ‘Special Operations’ (SO) police — renowned for their previous brutality — moved in, indiscriminately beating protesters with batons, firing tear gas at the crowd, and spraying pepper spray into people’s faces," the statement said. "Police officers stormed a mosque, dragging out worshipers and detaining them."
More than 20,000 people are estimated to have gathered for the rally, on the International Labor Day, to protest against what they claim is a deteriorating human rights situation in the country.
One of their key demands is the release of the country's first democratically elected president Mohamed Nasheed, who was imprisoned to 13 years on terrorism charges despite his speedy trial being widely criticized.
MDP spokesman Imthiyaz Fahmy told Anadolu Agency the march was called because "the government's popularity is at its lowest. The majority of the people do no want this government anymore."
"Today's turnout is an extraordinary number given the small population of the country," he said.
Rilwan Moosa, the brother of missing journalist Ahmed Rilwan, said they were protesting for "justice."
"We need answers to so many questions. We want justice. But the government has failed to investigate my brother's case," he said. "Today's march was important because without Nasheed there's no hope for democracy in Maldives anymore.
Amnesty International had called on the government to refrain from using force against the protesters, in a statement released Friday.
"The May Day demonstrations come at a time when political tensions are threatening to boil over in the Maldives. The country’s security forces have a troubling history of violently repressing opposition protests, not least over the past few months -- this must not happen tomorrow," said Abbas Faiz, Amnesty's South Asia expert.
Both police and opposition groups in the Maldives earlier expressed fears that the rally could turn violent as thousands descend on Male from across the archipelago.
The Maldivians Against Brutality coalition -- largely comprising the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and the religious Adhaalath Party -- had assured that the gathering would be peaceful.
Former president Nasheed's legal team applied to the UN on Thursday to rule his detention illegal under international law.
"In less than three weeks, Nasheed was arrested, tried, convicted, and sentenced," wrote Amal Clooney, a member of the high-profile legal team, in British daily The Guardian.
"Nasheed’s conviction for 'terrorism' and the crushing 13-year sentence are a mockery of justice, designed to punish him for criticising the government and remove him as a political threat," she wrote. "Nasheed’s conviction sends a loud and clear message to the Maldivian people: opposition to the ruling regime will not be tolerated."
Also on Thursday, the European Parliament passed a resolution calling member states to issue travel warnings to tourists about the human rights situation in the Maldives.
The island nation's economy relies heavily on tourism, which is the country's largest industry.
The EU resolution called on all sides to "refrain from any action that may further aggravate this crisis" which has seen 140 protesters arrested since February.
International concern over the growing crisis has heightened elsewhere this week, with the U.S. State Department calling on Maldivian authorities to "credibly investigate the disappearance" of local journalist Ahmed Rilwan, who is believed to have been abducted in August last year.
Amnesty International described the human rights situation as "rapidly deteriorating" following a visit to the country this month, prompting a furious response from the government, which accused the rights watchdog of colluding with the opposition to tarnish the country’s image.
President Abdulla Yameen has also attacked foreign detractors, urging security forces to resist foreign interference in the country’s affairs.
"I do not believe my government must seek permission from the international community in enforcing a court’s verdict. Maldivians will protect our interests. In protecting Maldivian citizens, remind yourselves of the oath you've taken," he told soldiers this week.
Last week, Yameen said that the threat of mass protests on May Day would not force either his resignation, or negotiations with the opposition.
"May 1 is coming. I will wait and watch. Those who violate the laws must know they will be punished. We have been advising [the opposition] through the relevant institutions," Yameen told media.
