Translation of Statement from Human Rights Commission, Maldives 25 May 2005

http://www.hrcm.org.mv/files/26__PR-25%20May%2005.pdf

In the Name of Allah

Human Rights Commission of the Maldives
Male'
Maldives

PR-003/2005

News Statement

1. The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives is an entity which investigates human rights cases and while it is hoped that political parties will function in the Maldives in the near future it is felt that for members of the Commission to join a political party or to actively participate in the political arena will hinder the carrying out of their responsibilities in an unbiased capacity, the Commission has now resolved that Commission members are ineligible to join political parties.

2. This Commission welcomes the announcement by the Attorney General's Office regarding a bail system whereby individuals detained for alleged crimes can bargain for their release from detention in exchange for a deposit of money, which will be introduced on 1 June 2005. This Commission believes that the bail system will help reduce incidences of human rights abuses being perpetrated against individuals detained in connection with various cases.

3. The Human Rights Commission encounters difficulties and obstacles while investigating complaints lodged of alleged human rights abuses because of the lack of or the negligible support required from other fields. In this way, amongst obstacles encountered by the Commission is the holding back or the deliberate delaying of necessary documents requested by the Commission. Also, upon requests by the Commission for the presence of individuals under or in the care of certain parties, these parties either delay their appearance or refuse to oblige altogether.

4. Yesterday, the case pertaining to the failure of a government office to act upon a notification, under the powers afforded by Article 11 (b) of the Human Rights Commission Regulations, by the Commission has been submitted to the Attorney General's Office to be referred to trial.

5. On 16 September 2004 the Commission recommended the government to sign two of the most important international human rights conventions, the Convention on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The reason behind the recommendation is that these two conventions afford citizens with almost all the rights. The international community views nations that have not ratified these two Conventions as those that do not take the protection of human rights seriously.

6. Since Article 28 of the Constitution states that every employed Maldivian citizen has the lawful right to a pension, the necessity of compiling a law pertaining to the issue, has been brought to the attention of the government on 15 February 2005.

7. The Commission believes that sudden relocation, even temporarily, to a place that is not the place of one's residence brings about regretful situations and circumstances whereby human rights abuses are created. The Commission conducted visits on May 3, of this year to some islands of Raa Atoll and on 6-7 May of this year to some islands of Laamu Atoll and Meemu Atoll to oversee the situations of people who encountered such circumstances due to the Tsunami disaster. The findings and suggestions of this work by the Commission have now been presented to the National Disaster Management Centre.

8. We note that there are numerous people in Male' and in some other islands who face land and housing difficulties. The Commission desires to witness a solution to this problem. Because, when people live in such dire conditions it facilitates the increase in acts of human rights abuses.

9. On the establishment of the Commission, it met with members of the media. And requested their assistance in the work to create awareness regarding human rights. In order to further assist them in this regard, in June 2004, a workshop was conducted by the Commission, especially for reporters, with the assistance of the British Council. In this workshop, matters that need attention in disseminating news of human rights abuses were highlighted. It has to be stated with regret that the support to the Commission by the media has been negligible. Once again we strongly reiterate that the assistance and support of the media in creating public awareness regarding human rights is imperative. Although laws are being made pertaining to rights, work towards gaining the rights stated in the law can only take place with regard to the amount of awareness regarding these rights.

25 May 2005


Ends