HAVEERU DAILY NEWS ARTICLE 6 OCTOBER 2004

http://www.haveeru.com.mv/?page=details&id=20380

Quick Translation

CASES OF MAIN INSTIGATORS OF THE UNREST CAUSED IN REPUBLIC SQUARE WILL BE SENT TO THE ATTORNEY SOON: HOME MINISTRY

6 October 2004

The Ministry of Home Affairs said that cases against most of the main instigators who carried out unlawful activities in the Republic Square on the12^th night and 13^th of August were almost complete and would be sent to the Attorney General’s Office very soon.

The statement from the Home Ministry also said that the investigations were not being carried out solely on the basis of confessions but that priority was given to factual evidence. Compared to the nature of the matter the pace of investigation was not slow the statement from the Home Ministry said.

Observing the main points identified so far in the investigation, the Ministry said that those detained in connection with the incident had attempted to commit offences against the state as stipulated by the Penal Code. The statement said that evidence and information have been acquired that showed that plans for instigating the incident was carried out even abroad and that foreigners were also involved.

The most prominent people who initiated the incident attempted to instigate hatred amongst the crowd in the Republic Square against the Government and some of the detainees attempted to seek foreign interest by giving out untrue information about the Maldives to their foreign friends the Ministry said.

The statement said that according to the findings of the investigation the beginning of the matter goes beyond 12 and 13 August and that information had been acquired that showed that some of the members who stood for the Special Majlis had acted contrary to the laws and regulation regarding elections.

The statement also said that those detained in connection with the matter have not been detained only for investigation purposes and that since investigations of all detainees have not been completed, releasing a detainee involved in the matter – whose guilt was evident in the investigation – would jeopardize the investigation. Also from a safety and precautious viewpoint, releasing such people would not be a wise move and therefore they have been kept in detention the Home Ministry statement said.

Some members of the People’s Majlis and the Special Majlis are among those detained in connection with the incident. However the names of these members have not been officially released as yet.

END