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| Monday, 29 September 2003 |
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The President of the Republic of Maldives has called for a full inquiry and appointed a Presidential Commission to investigate the death on 19th September 2003 of an inmate at Maafushi Correctional Centre, Hassan Evan Naseem, who was serving a six-year sentence for conviction for drug abuse. The Commission has also been mandated to investigate the shooting incident that occurred at Maafushi when a number of prisoners broke out of the Maafushi Correctional Centre, and attacked the armoury. The President has empowered the Commission to conduct a free and independent investigation into both events, and to publish its report. The members appointed to the Commission are reputed professionals and persons who are well-known and respected in the community, states Maldivian Foreign Affairs Ministry Press release. The President has expressed his grief to the bereaved families and has promised that the persons responsible for the death of Hassan Evan Naseem and any person found to have violated the law would be prosecuted according to the law, irrespective of rank or position held by such person. The President has also taken measures to ensure that the rights of the persons being questioned in the matter relating to the acts of vandalism and the destruction of public property in Male', on 20th September are protected. In this regard, he has directed that all investigations relating to the said incident should be conduced in the presence of members of the People's Majlis (Parliament). Furthermore, the said investigations are to be carried out at premises other than those of the police or the Ministry of Defence and National Security. While the people and the Government of the Maldives alike are shocked and pained by the death of Mr. Naseem and the deaths resulting from the shooting incident at Maafushi, the peace-loving people of the Maldives strongly condemn the acts of vandalism and destruction of public property carried out in Male' on 20th September. These offences were instigated and carried out by a number of convicted drug abusers and other ex-convicts, together with a few others who appear to have been incited by them. The perpetrators of this violence attempted to exploit the genuine anger and indignation of the people over the death of a prisoner, and sought to provoke a confrontation with the police. The security forces exercised great restraint and care, as a result of which no member of the public was hurt by the disturbances in Male', in which the police were compelled to use tear gas to disperse unruly gangs. Shortly after the President's Address to the Nation on Saturday night, giving details of the events, expressing his grief, informing the public of the measurers being taken, and appealing for calm, people returned to their homes and normalcy was restored. Schools were closed on Sunday, September 21 but all government offices were open and, on Monday, September 22 the schools reopened. Although, as a precautionary measure, people are being advised not to loiter in the streets of Male" from late night to pre-dawn, everything in Male has returned to normal, as is the case with the rest of the country. |
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