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International community endorses Maldivian Commission Report on transfer of power
The international community has endorsed the decisions of the Maldivian inquiry panel which said that the government of President Mohamed Waheed did not come to power through a coup.
Minister Shareef addressing the media in Colombo. Pic by M.D. Nissanka
The United States welcomed the outcome of the report and commended the Commission co-chairs for their leadership and commitment to a thorough and inclusive investigation and review process “The United States has consistently called for all Maldivians to respect the findings of the Commission. Now is the time for all parties to work together through dialogue, to chart a positive way forward that respects the Maldivian constitution, democratic institutions, human rights, and the will of the Maldivian people,” U.S. State Department’s Victoria Nuland said,
Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma also welcomed the release of the Report of the Commission of National Inquiry in Maldives, and commended the members of the Commission for their intensive work to produce the report. “I urge all concerned to respect the findings of the Commission so that, moving forward, all actions and reactions reflect the sense of responsibility and restraint necessary in the best national interest”, said the Commonwealth Secretary-General, according to a statement released by the Secretariat.
United Nations Secretary General (UNSG) Ban Ki-moon also welcomed the Report. “The Secretary-General urges all parties to accept the findings of the Commission and now begin the process of national dialogue aimed at resolving the political problems facing the country,” the spokesperson added in a news briefing at UN Headquarters in New York on Thursday.
When the report was made public on Thursday, the Maldivian Minister of Human Resources, Youth and Sports, Mohamed Hussain Shareef who was in Colombo, held a news conference at the High Commission, to brief the media on the findings of the Commission and emphasized that the Government’s priority would now be to stabilise the economy.
The Commission report which was handed over to President Mohamed Waheed on Thursday, found that the transfer of power in the Republic of Maldives on February 7, 2012, was legal and constitutional, and that, President Nasheed’s resignation was voluntary and of his own free will, and was not caused by any illegal coercion or intimidation.
The Commission report confirmed that there were acts of police brutality on February 6, 7 and 8, 2012, that must be investigated and pursued further by the relevant authorities. Minister Shareef said that the relevant government institutions would pursue action against wrongdoers as recommended by the Commission.It, however, dismissed the idea that there was a ‘coup d’état’ which led to the transfer of power.
“Nothing in the Maldives changed in constitutional terms – indeed, the Constitution was precisely followed as prescribed. Moreover, in terms of the democratic intent and legitimacy of the authority of the Presidency, as foreseen in the Constitution, President Waheed properly succeeded President Nasheed,” it said.
The Commission, in its recommendations, urged that immediate steps be taken to provide assistance and encouragement to the Maldives Police Service and the Police Integrity Commission, the Judiciary and the Judicial Services Commission, the People’s Majlis and the Human Rights Commission of Maldives with a view to their increased effectiveness and general performance in the service of the common good and public interest.
The Recommendation said that, with respect to the administration of justice, particularly, concerning allegations of police brutality and acts of intimidation, there is an urgent need for investigations to proceed and to be brought to public knowledge with perpetrators held to account and appropriately sanctioned.
It added that, there is also an urgent need to address an apparent climate of popular discontent and division engendering hatred between individuals and communities, propelled by the politicization of the media. To counter this trend, attention needs to be directed towards the promotion of journalistic ethics, tolerance and public reconciliation.
The Commission of Inquiry comprised Ismail Shafeeu- Chairman, Justice G.P. Selvam- Co –Chairman and three members, namely Dr Ibrahim Yasir, Dr Ali Fawaz Shareef and Ahmed Saeed. Justice G.P. Selvam is a retired judge of the Supreme Court of Singapore. Sir Bruce Robertson, a retired Court of Appeal judge from New Zealand, and Professor John Packer from Canada, a legal adviser nominated by the United Nations, were appointed as International Advisors on behalf of the Commonwealth and United Nations respectively, while a Maldivian citizen nominated by President Nasheed was included in it.
Meanwhile Minister Shareef who was in Colombo said the Government of the Maldives hopes that the release of the CONI Report will help to ease pressure tactics adapted by the Commonwealth and some other nations since last February, after the controversial transfer of power in the archipelago, following the resignation of former President Mohamed Nasheed.
He said the Maldives government hopes that the Commonwealth, which suspended the nation from the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, soon after the transfer of power, will now take measures to normalise relations.
He added that the CONI report should put to rest the various allegations being levelled at the government.
Nasheed accepts CONI report with misgivings
Former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed today decided to accept the report of the Commission of National Inquiry (CONI) set up to probe the circumstances surrounding the transfer of power on February 7, despite concerns over the report, reports from Male said.
Speaking to the media for the first time since the release of the CONI report, Nasheed further alleged that the report had been compiled with the situation in mind, rather than the truth. He further added that he respected the concerns raised by his representative to the CONI, Ahmed ‘Gahaa’ Saeed, who had resigned on the eve of the report’s release. Nasheed stressed that his decision to accept the CONI report, is with the concerns of Saeed.
Saeed yesterday alleged that the report had omitted vital evidence, and hence, cannot be considered as entirely genuine. He further expressed his personal belief that Nasheed had in fact, resigned under duress.
Nasheed pointed out that, as the larger political parties had also accepted and agreed to implement the report, the illegitimate activities of the police and military, must be investigated and action taken against the perpetrators.
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