CNI publishes timeline of events relating to change of government

A timeline published by the Commission of National Inquiry (CNI) has revealed that the order to remove the Police from Artificial Beach area while the protest was well underway on the night of 6 February, came directly from former President Mohamed Nasheed.

The timeline, published by CNI for the purpose of obtaining public opinion, states that the first order to the Commissioner of Police for Police to vacate the area was issued between 23:00 and midnight on 6 February by former Home Minister Hassan Afeef.

With this order, Commissioner Ahmed Faseeh sent the Head of Police Operations to the area, who reported to the Commissioner that the situation in the area was critical. In spite of this, the Home Minister issued a second order for the Police to leave the area.

Following the second order, the Commissioner once again reported to the Home Minister that the situation was bad and critical. The order then came from President Nasheed to the Commissioner to remove the Police from the area.

With President Nasheed’s second order to remove the Police from the area, he had said, “The Police can no longer be trusted.”

The Commissioner then contacted the Male’ Area Commander and ordered to remove the Police, and to deploy MNDF to the area. However, the Technical Advisor of the Police Special Operations refused this order, and said that the Police will not leave the area until another group arrived at the scene to take over.

By this time, the meeting at MDP Haruge had been disrupted, and MDP members of this meeting had joined the protesters at Artificial Beach.

President Nasheed contacted three Police Officers who were not part of the Police Operations, and ordered them to remove the Police from Artificial Beach. The three officers arrived at the scene and attempted to remove the Police.

However the Police Commander refused to comply with this request unless another group arrived at the scene to take over from the Police. This prompted President Nasheed to contact the Deputy Commissioner by phone, and tell him that he is incapable of carrying out his responsibilities, and ask him to ‘stay at home’.

The 43-page timeline, through 282 sequences, describes the incidents which took place from 14 January until the end of the day on 7 February 2012.

Efforts to reform the CNI is underway, and the work of the CNI is currently temporarily halted.

The timeline further states that an MNDF General advised the President that the only way to remove the Police gathered at the Republic Square was to use ammunition on them. However Nasheed responded that ammunition should not be used under any circumstance.

Meanwhile, the cabinet held a meeting at the President’s Office. This session was chaired, as per President Nasheed’s request, by former President of MDP Dr Ibrahim Didi. Nasheed told the members present at this meeting via a conference call that he was fine and that the situation inside MNDF Headquarters was also fine.

Dr Didi proposed to issue a joint statement by the leaders of the major political parties, which was agreed to by Nasheed. However some members present at the meeting stated that the meeting cannot continue in the absence of Nasheed, at which point the meeting came to an end.

The timeline reveals that Nasheed had agreed to release the Chief Judge of Criminal Court Abdullah Mohamed, and also that several MNDF officers had reservations about arresting the Police.

President Nasheed’s letter of resignation was handed over to the Parliament by the Police. The letter was taken from the President’s Office to the Police Office by current Commissioner of Police Abdullah Riyaz.

The timeline requests the public to propose their suggestions before 16:00 on 21 June. Public opinion can be presented via the website or in writing to the CNI.