Commissioner of Police Abdullah Riyaz has outlined the Maldives Police Service (MPS)’s new operational priorities for 2012, and introduced newly appointed Deputy Commissioner of Police Hussein Waheed.
At a press conference yesterday, Riyaz said the new priorities of the police included prevention of drug trafficking, prevention of organised and violent crimes, road safety monitoring and counter-terrorism.
Riyaz said he would try to make the police into an institution “feared by the most dreaded criminals”.
“We will try our best to identify the criminals and ensure they are being tried for their charges with proper evidence,” he said.
Riyaz also said that political parties were accusing the police of “baseless accusations” and advised them to refrain from doing so.
“We would welcome peaceful protests. We will cooperate as well but when protesters resort to violence, damaging private and public property, the police will have to disperse the crowds. We are here to maintain the peace and order of the country,” he said.
“The police are the authorities that have to control demonstrations and questions are always asked about the way protests and demonstrations are controlled, especially by those on the receiving end,” he said.
He called upon parliament to make a law on protesting so that it would be a lot easier for the police to perform their duties under such a law.
Riyaz also highlighted the importance of passing of laws that were vital for the police work: “We ask parliament to pass the bills concerning the duties of the police such as an Evidence Act, Criminal Procedure Act and the Penal Code,” he said. Those bills have stalled at committee stage, in some cases for over a year.
Riyaz said that police were given the full operational independence and insisted that “none of the political figures or the government are trying to influence the police institution.”
He also said that he was trying to assign police officers to the islands after the February 8 arson attacks on police buildings, following a violent police crackdown on demonstrators in Male’.
Riyaz also said it was better if the Human Rights Commission (HRCM) and Police Intergrity Commission (PIC) investigated the events that unfolded on February 8.
Riyaz brushed off all the allegations that some police had come out to control the protests after consuming alchohol as “baseless nonsense”, and said that police were being linked to alcohol because they had been investigating a lot of alcohol cases.
Riyaz was Assistant Commissioner under Nasheed’s government prior to his dismissal in 2010. Asked about the legality of the appointment of a civilian to the post of Commissioner of Police – position usually given to ranked officers – Riyaz said that he had been appointed according to the rules under the police act.
“I was discharged from my duties while I was an assistant commissioner. After the change of government, I was asked to join the police force as they said the government required my services and had requested me to join,” he said Riyaz.
“I was reinstated to the same position I was before, and I was appointed to the Commissioner of Police afterwards,” continued Riyaz.
He praised newly appointed deputy police commissioner Waheed, stating that the Waheed was a “very experienced serviceman” and had done police training abroad. Riyaz assured that he would get full support from Waheed and that under their leadership, the police would “win the people’s trust.”
Deputy Commissioner of Police, Waheed, said that he will give full support to the commissioner and assured that he would remain committed and loyal.
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hehe, Maldives Police Service motto, changed from "To Protect and Serve" to "To be feared by all".
A very good said words look forward for implementation
More like the criminals will fear the Police because they might not get paid by them. This fake image of being pure and strong after their contribution to the coup is quite unbelieveable! They are corrupt as the new regime.
Is this a direct threat to the maldivian People? All the Criminals are in the Govt; Police And Army. They are not there to protect People. SO , WHAT IS THERE TO FEAR!
The very fact that Riyaz was appointed PC, after he was seen with Nazim during President Nasheed's forced resignation, says just how much Riyaz was involved in brining the coup. So he got his reward for overthrowing the government and now he talks about reform and asking PIC and HRC to investigate police brutality as if we are all stupid enough to believe that he is genuine. How easy to dismiss police behavior as baseless allegations and yet, civilians aren't even given the chance to defend themselves before they are beaten up to the point of near death. This new government can sugar coat their words all they like, but the fact remains that they are not our democratically elected government and that they are responsible for the instability of our country today. Who knows, the police and DRP and PPM may even have their thugs among the protesters to create unrest and thereby give the police an opportunity to start beating up people and using pepper spray etc. People who are capable of bringing a coup, will resort to everything and anything to ensure they stay in power.
Don't Bother about me man..am Already Scared!!! Kekek
Well...that's good news then! So far the police was feared by each and every decent person..!
dreaded criminals? - a coded reference to MDP.
Ha, Ha..!!!! somebody fears the people will rise against the police/army. They are criminals and keep arresting peaceful demonstrators. What Fear!
People will fear the Police and the Police will fear the "Iththihad". Iththihad will fear Gayyey who only fear Natti. and thus the order of fear ....
When traitors like Riyaz and Nazim takes over the home and defence nothing will go smoothly.....Police live in fear of criminals, innocent people fear the brutality of police... Well done President Nasheed.... i call for more protests. Maintain the preassure on mutiny police.... Never let them spent time on coffee at 'harbour kadas' They shouldnt get a relief from their duties for their misdeeds on 07th February 2011
Most of the mobile phones used by MNDF personnel and Police get tapped by the spy Nazim... I hope he gets enough fun in doing it
“feared by the most dreaded criminals”: Commissioner Riyaz
There are news from reliable sources that Ex President Nasheed plans to elect Corrupt and drunck Mariya Didi as the next President candidate of MDP! It seems there are recordings, where Nasheed say's Dr.Didi is a useless crap and he should be marginalised! Also he wants Rekko Moosa to be in the margins.
Bravo Police, best of luck in your work and hope you guys do your job well.
The priorities should include discouraging and prevention of coups and rebellion among the police and military officers. They must also include enforcement of the laws to the letter and full respect to and upholding the Constitution.
The recent coup by the nation's military has shattered the Constitution and the Chief Justice and the Speaker of the People's Majlis (Parliament) failed in their responsibilities of doing justice to the people.
Nowadays criminals who set Govt buildings on fire, and loot and plunder and threaten police are defended and promoted by MDP as heroes. This is a tragic thing. No political party should promote violent and criminal acts no matter what their stand is.
Last night, a group of MDP protestors tried to set several STELCO sub-station on fire. They did not succeed, if they had set the substations on fire, the possibility was immense that the fire would not have been possible to control (electrical fires cannot be put out by water spraying, the risk is too great of electrocution). The MDP activists who tried to set the place on fire were probably unaware of the great harm they were could potentially cause to nearby homes and residents. What if the fire had become stronger and spread to a residential area ? What if someone had been burnt to death ? Doesnt MDP senior people consider the severity of their words when they loudly and actively promote violence against Govt, and public property ?
MDP should sincerely warn its activists against all acts of arson and setting vehicles and buildings on fire. As a Maldivian who wishes no harm to come to a fellow Maldivian, i urge the MDP people with some intelligence to talk sense into their activists who are committing these arson acts.
Peace.
My word is to Riyaz, please don't try fool on our people, If I could, I will fight against u, Riyaz I am a friend of u but I decided go far from coup creating friends.
Great words from a true Maldivian son...we need police to maintain order and law in this country..in our neighboring countries of srilanka and india police are feared by criminals....We need a police force that the criminals are feared of...
This is not a coup Mr.Nasheed was drunk and he resigned...after his resigned his closed aids started to complain so he unleashed a wave of terror on the poor citizens of Male'
Well said, Sabina and Rationale.
Riyaz, fear is a disease, one you have contracted as well. but you are too ignorant to understand how to pass it over.
@Simple: Billooriboa(one of his school days' names) Nazim wouldn't know the difference between a phone and a tap. But another high ranking figure is privy to all phone and internet traffic from Dhiraagu and Wathaniya.
Good to see police being so professional. Keep up the good work!
So today's violent dispersal of women is your way of welcoming peaceful protests???????
@Maldivian 1
Don't talk bullshit. Those days when people's loluga andhun elhuvun are gone. We know who intends harm and uses gangsters to uphold a piece of illgotten power.
muad mz. its people like you who will turn this country into an afghanistan. people dont do this sort of threats in this age and time. taking part in a coup, and threatening statements is a sign of a dictator, a psychopath, how can one confuse it with professionalism....the stupidity and naivity of some people never ceases to amaze me
Read, Riyaz, read: " ..a harassed, terrified man suddenly breaks his terror, stops being afraid. Man gets rid of fear and feels free. Without that there would be no revolution." By the respected journalist the late R.Kapuscinski. With your talk of fear you are out of date with whats going on in your own country and in the world.And this regime had better stop paying thugs to commit arson and violence in order to blame it on MDP activists, its far too obvious and downright destructive: we can all see through it except for those who don't want to see, who wouldn't see anything if it hit them in the face.Like your police. Its futile, people aren't as stupid as you'd like to think they still are.
This is a threat to ALL MAldivians to warn them NOT to RESIST an UN-AUTHORIZED ROUGE SELF-MADE REGIME. Maldivians, BE TRUE TO YOUR HEART. AND FEAR NOT! TO DO THE RIGHT THING. ROUGE POLICE? WHY FEAR THEM? wHEN THEY ARE THE ONE'S CREATING AND ORGANIOSING TROUBLE TO INNOCENT AND PEACEFUL PROTESTERS. IT WILL BE THE MOST WELCOME DAY WHEN THIS ROUGE COUP-GOVERNMENT AND THE ROUGE POLICE, ROUGE ARMY CRUMBLES AND BREAK UP. ITS NOT FAR AWAY! CONFISCATE THESE IDIOTS' WEALTH AND GIVE IT TO THE PEOPLE. PUT ALL THE COUP LEADERS IN JAIL AND FREEZE THEIR WEALTH!
There are activits from all political parties who are setting fire to public and private property and trying to incite violence. All party leaders should advise their activists to refrain from carrying out such activities.
“I was discharged (This is broken English from a professional) from my duties while I was an assistant commissioner. After the change of government, I was asked to join the police force as they said the government required my services and had requested me to join,” he said Riyaz.
“I was reinstated to the same position I was before, and I was appointed to the Commissioner of Police afterwards,” continued Riyaz. This guy is living in time warp of the old regime. liberate your mind man
Former President Nasheed has Antisocial personality disorder
Antisocial personality disorder is a mental health condition in which a person has a long-term pattern of manipulating, exploiting, or violating the rights of others. This behavior is often criminal.
Symptoms
A person with antisocial personality disorder may:
•
Be able to act witty and charming
•
Be good at flattery and manipulating other people’s emotions
•
Break the law repeatedly
•
Disregard the safety of self and others
•
Have problems with substance abuse
•
Lie, steal, and fight often
•
Not show guilt or remorse
•
Often be angry or arrogant
ey Riyaz, how much money you got from burma ehh?
Armchair psychos diagnosing Anti-social personality disorder all over the place and targeting just one individual: diagnose yourself first, then apply same diagnosis to this motley crew in charge right now: plenty of research there to keep you busy instead of cutting and pasting all the time. Presenting points as facts will fool only the fools.Lets face it: Riyaz's comments are out of date- even his role models, the Burmese generals, seem to be more ahead of the game.That's sad. Times are changing whether you like it or not. Adapt - or face eventual extinction.The sooner the better.
I only wish that Riyaz's comments could become truth, but I... ... ...
hear hear!
Waiting for that day! when the streets will be cleansed off stray dogs and peace returns to this otherwise beautiful place.
Are those of you who call for peace and call human beings stray dogs, saying you are willing to trade stability for your conscience? That's the simple truth: your own interests against the national interest.Before you collude with murderers (for that is what they are- look at their human rights record) look into your consciences. If you have no respect for humanity, you are doomed.Early elections - its already a compromise, but the best chance this nation has of winning back its lost soul. There is more to things than this life:if you are true believers you will know this simple truth instead of bleating dogma.Line up with your own conscience before its too late.. then only will this place be truly beautiful.