Government raises questions as to UN Working Group could investigate Rilwan’s disappearance

Maldivian government has raised questions as to the UN Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearance (WGEID) could investigate the case of the missing Minivan News journalist, Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla.

With over 600 passed since the disappearance, the case was presented to the UN Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearance by the non-profit organization, Reporters Without Borders. In cooperation, the Maldivian government submitted to the UN WGEID it’s responses to the inquiry by the Working Group on the disappearance.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press statement tonight saying that the mandate of the UN WGEID is to “assist families of disappeared persons to ascertain the fate and whereabouts of their disappeared relative; and to monitor States’ compliance with their international treaty obligations deriving from the UN Declaration on the Protection of All persons from Enforced Disappearance and to provide States with assistance in the implementation.”

The foreign Ministry said that the Government rejectes any suggestion that it is responsible for the disappearance of Rilwan, or that it has had any “involvement as alleged or at all.”

“However, it is quite clear that in the absence of any evidence adduced by those submitting the petition to implicate the Government or law enforcement agencies, directly or indirectly in Mr. Rilwan’s disappearance, it would be wholly inappropriate at this stage to draw any adverse finding.” The Foreign Ministry statement said.