Report may not be complete if MDP does not cooperate: Inquiry Commission

Commission of National Inquiry (CNI) formed by President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik has said that their report may not be fully complete if Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) does not cooperate with their investigation.

Commission member Dr Ibrahim Yasir said at a press conference at Muleeaage today that the report may not be complete without MDP’s cooperation, but expressed hope that the final report will be quite complete as they had received interviews from various groups.

“The entire report will be fully complete by including interviews from everyone. In the report, we will note points which are missing. We will note, if information that was supposed to be received from a particular person was not received,” Yasir said.

Commission President Ismail Shafeeu has said that several members of MDP had produced themselves and provided statements to the Commission; however two members had failed to do so.

“Our policy is against disclosing who provided statements to the Commission; this is for the protection of those groups. Some members of MDP have provided statements, however two members have refused to do so,” Shafeeu said.

Shafeeu said that in addition to Maldivian parties, Indian High Commissioner Mulay has also been consulted with regard to the incidents leading up to the change of government. Mulay had provided information to the Commission, and promised to cooperate with the investigation.

Commission member Dr Ibrahim Yasir said that the investigation is carried out by conducting interviews, and noted the importance of the information collected by the Commission. He said that the information can be used for another similar purpose as well.

The Commission has conducted interviews with more than seventy groups, as it is nearing the deadline to complete their final report on 31 May. President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik has also provided his statement to the Commission.

The Commission’s mandate specified by the President is exploring the facts, circumstances and the causes of the events on 7 February 2012, resulting in the transfer of power. The Commission must compile a full report by 31 May 2012, to be submitted to the President, the Prosecutor General and the Attorney General.