Report on 8 February events has been presented to relevant authorities: HRCM

The Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM) has said that the report on the protests by Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) on 8 February subsequent to the transfer of power, has been presented to the relevant state institutions and government authorities.

HRCM made this statement through a Press Statement today, following MDP’s request from Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate why HRCM had not published its investigation report on the use of excessive force by the Police during the protests on 8 February.

HRCM said that it was HRCM’s own initiative to conduct this investigation, and that the report, inclusive of recommendations for State Institutions to ensure that such practices are not repeated, was sent to the relevant authorities on 28 May 2012.

A joint statement issued by some Parliamentary Group Members of MDP last night states that HRCM has political motives for not publishing some of its investigation reports on human rights violations, and condemned this practice by HRCM.

MDP’s Maafannu Dhekunu MP Ibrahim Rasheed has filed a complaint to ACC, subsequent to HRCM’s refusal to share the report with MDP in addition to not publishing it.

HRCM said that its reports are shared based on article 24 of its regulations, which stipulates that decisions on whom to share reports with should be made through a meeting between the Commission Members.