Independent institutions and the government have failed to implement the majority of the recommendations given by following a investigation into human rights violations during a brutal police crackdown
on opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) protesters on February
8, the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) has said.
Even
after one and a half years, only three of the 17 recommendations
regarding systemic issues have been fully implemented, HRCM President
Mariyam Azra said at a press conference today.
The commission has
not yet revealed which of the recommendations were implemented fully, or
how much of the other specific recommendations have been implemented.
The
report dated 28 May 2012 contained a total of 28 recommendations, 14
involving the Maldives Police Service (MPS) and seven involving the
Police Integrity Commission (PIC).
Other institutions that the
HRCM had proposed recommendations to were Maldives National Defense
Force MNDF), the Department of Judicial Administration, Maldives
Broadcasting Commission (MBC) and Ministry of Education.
HRCM
recommended the the MPS and PIC investigate the “disproportionate” use
of force in violation of police regulations . The report also stated
that legal action should be taken against the officers responsible for
such offences.
Both the Commission of National Inquiry (CNI) set
up to investigate the transfer of power and the PIC had made similar
recommendations regarding the police service.
Members of the PIC have labeled
actions of some police officers on February 6, 7 and 8 as crimes and
have asked the Prosecutor General to prosecute officers and recommended
Ministry of Home Affairs suspend them.
Meanwhile, more than hundred protesters are being charged with terrorism and obstructing police duty in connection to incidents that took place on the same day.
MDP has called the charges “politically motivated” and demanded they be dropped immediately.