Reforms should be made within presidential decree: CNI

The Commission of National Inquiry (CNI) has today said that any reforms to its composition should be made by a presidential decree.

Speaking at a press conference today, the commission said that President Waheed need not wait on its  recommendations before bringing reform to its composition.

The CNI was set up by Dr Waheed Hassan to investigate the controversial change of power on February 7, which the ousted Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) maintains was a coup d’état orchestrated by remnants of the former dictatorship and funded by several resort interests.

The CNI’s comments came as Dr. Waheed told the press on Wednesday that it was now up to the commission to decide on whether to “allow new members into the commission” as well as any suggestions to reform its mandate.

Ismail Shafeeu, the man appointed by Dr. Waheed to head the CNI,  noted in local media that the “commission was established upon a Presidential decree.”  Shafeeu added that it was his belief any reform process must be followed the same way, according to local newspaper Haveeru.

He added that the commission has the authority to independently seek outside guidance and assistance.

Meanwhile,  CNI member Dr Yasir said that he does not believe that the President must await a suggestion from the commission to enact changes to the commission’s composition.

The CNI has itself come under widespread criticisms for perceived delays in implementing changes recommended by the Commonwealth and local NGOs to make its investigation more “credible” and “impartial” through cross-party agreement on its composition, mandate and scope of investigation.

The independence of the existing three member commission has been openly criticised by MDP, which argues that an impartial investigation cannot be conducted with members linked to the elements accused of  participating in an alleged “coup d’etat”.

However, CNI head Shafeeu today said that he does not wish to respond to any political remarks directed towards him by anyone. Shafeeu was the former Defence Minister at President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s administration.

“I am here not to respond to political remarks. [But] to present what I concluded from the findings based upon the different statements of witnesses,” Shafeeu said.

He added that anyone who  takes up such a responsibility would do it with confidence and that he has nothing more to say regarding the matter.