Former President Nasheed at a MDP National Congress meeting: He urged the creation of an independent commission to investigate the criminal elements highlighted in CNI's report. FILE PHOTO
Former President Mohamed Nasheed has stressed that an independent and impartial committee or commission must be established to probe the criminal elements highlighted in the Commission of National Inquiry's (CNI) report.
During the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party’s (MDP) National Congress meeting held to express concern over the lack of action by the government in relation to the recommendations made in CNI’s report, Nasheed said that the points noted in the report must be addressed for the sake of national stability. He further reiterated the importance of the reforms suggested by the CNI while stressing that a criminal investigation must be launched to probe the violations of the security forces on February 6, 7 and 8 as noted by the CNI’s report.
“An impartial committee must be created to undertake the criminal investigation. I’m certain that people would wish the Parliament to establish such a committee or commission. There are a lot of reasons I can think of that necessitates keeping the Parliament suspended until the process of implementing the recommendations made in the CNI report begins,” Nasheed detailed.
Nasheed also expressed belief that if the recommendations made in the CNI report is left unaddressed, the Parliament cannot be continued in the best possible manner. He added that when the people see the Parliament as a constant battle ground for disputes and squabbles, it would seriously undermine the esteem and the stature of the Parliament.
“It would also make it difficult to ensure a democratic society. The disputes and conflict among us is mirrored within the Parliament,” Nasheed said.
On that note, he said that even if the Parliament resumes without resolving the present strife, it would lead to more disputes and arguments. Hence, if the parties fail to come to a consensus and stability is not brought to the country before the Parliament is resumed, it would cause more harm than good, according to Nasheed.
Countering Nasheed’s views, government Spokesperson Abbas Adil Riza stressed that the CNI’s report was an investigation and the relevant independent institutions were handling the recommendations made in the report. He added that both the CNI and Human Rights Commission of Maldives’ (HRCM) reports have primarily noted the violations of Nasheed for which he has been prosecuted.
“He is pushing to create these commissions in order to delay and prolong this process. The independent institutions are handling the issues raised in the CNI’s report,” Abbas alleged.
Abbas added that there was no reason to stymie the functioning of the Parliament despite what the MDP says.
MDP’s National Congress has passed a resolution to shun the Parliament if the recommendations made in the CNI’s report are not implemented.
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