HRCM sends letter to police regarding halting election

Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM) has sent a letter to Maldives Police Service, requesting information regarding the accusation made by the Elections Commission that the police halted the election scheduled for Saturday, 19 October.

HRCM has said earlier that the election was halted by the police, and that they contacted Acting Minister of Home Affairs Ahmed Shafeeu last Saturday, who said that the police were ‘following an order’ and ‘not acting in the capacity of the Police Institution’.

This claim has been rebutted by Home Minister Shafeeu.

A police media official said that in the letter, HRCM requested to clarify the matter, and to explain the premise on which the decision to halt the election was based.

“The commission has requested in the letter, to provide information on the police’s actions on election day. They have requested to provide copies of election-related documents sent to the Elections Commission and other institutions,” he said.

The official said that the police will respond to HRCM’s letter soon.