The Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM) has
condemned the government’s use of “threats and intimidation” against
civil society groups.
HRCM officials have also met with the Maldives Police
Service to discuss allegations of the misuse of strip searches following
recent demonstrations.
Writing to the Home Ministry, the commission reported that
it had “condemned the infringement of the right to freedom of
association as [an] expression of these two organisations”.
The letter also called upon the ministry to refrain from
“unlawful sanctions” and activities that prevent such groups from
working for the protection of human rights.
The HRCM pointed to Article 2(c) of the Human Rights
Commission Act, which obligates it to support and protect these NGOs in
the their work.
State Minister for Home Affairs and the Registrar of NGOs
Abdulla Mohamed last week declared that the Tourism Employees
Association of the Maldives (TEAM) and Transparency Maldives (TM) were under investigation for “unlawful acts” and warned NGOs that organisations acting outside of law would be dissolved.
The Maldivian Democracy Network has also condemned the minister’s remarks.
Transparency has publicly called for the Supreme Court to
respect the constitutionally mandated election schedule, after it noted
no significant issues during its extensive observation mission covering the first round of presidential polls.
The group has also questioned the integrity of the Supreme Court bench prior to its decision to delay the second round of voting.
The integrity of the court has become a running theme during the ensuing demonstrations, with particular attention drawn to Justice Ali Hameed’s alleged appearance in a string of sex-tapes.
TEAM – an industry body representing some 5000 resort
workers – has threatened prlonged strikes, saying that the Supreme Court
order “destroys the principles of democracy we have embraced and voids
articles of the constitution.”
Transparency Maldives – an affiliate of Transparency
International – states its mission as improving “transparency and
accountability in all sectors” as well as increasing awareness of
“corruption and its detrimental effects on society and development”.
The HRCM has also met with the police after being made
aware of allegations that strip searches were being used in an
unnecessary and discriminatory manner following the arrest of
protesters.
Allegations of arbitrary and frequent use of pepper spray, beating,
strip-searching, frisking, handcuffing and drug testing of Maldivian
Democratic Party (MDP) supporters were heard during the Parliamentary
Privileges Subcommittee this week.
During the HRCM’s meeting with police, it stressed its
belief that strip searches were a “degrading and inhuman treatement”
that was to be avoided whenever possible.
The HRCM urged the police to obtain the detainee’s consent
and the authorisation of a senior officer before conducting such a
search, as well as ensuring that those carrying out the search are
adequately trained.
In a statement issued on Wednesday (October 2), police said
they were authorised to frisk and conduct strip-searches under Articles
32-36 of the the Police Powers Act.
The articles state that police are authorised to use such
procedures if they have reasonable grounds to believe the detainee may
hold an object to harm themselves or another, or an object for
intoxication, or an object to commit an illegal object.
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