The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has expressed concern over violent protests and use of “excessive force” against demonstrators.
At a press briefing on Tuesday, Spokesperson for High Commissioner Navi Pillay, Rupert Colville, observed that “instances of apparent brutality have been captured on camera. These include the seemingly deliberate and uncalled-for use of some kind of spray on former President [Mohamed] Nasheed, and the driving of police vehicles at high speed into crowds of protesters.”
“Such actions deserve immediate investigation, and firm action should be taken by the authorities against those responsible for excessive use of force,” stated Colville. “We appeal to all parties to refrain from violence and create conditions for political dialogue and reconciliation.”
Police initially denied pepper-spraying former President Nasheed during a rally on July 14.
“Maldives Police did not use any excessive force nor was pepper spray directed to anyone’s face,” police said in a statement.
However a video released of the incident showed a riot police officer reaching over a crowd of people surrounding Nasheed and spraying him in the face. Nasheed turns away as the spray hits him, and is taken away by his supporters, but later returned to the protest.
President’s Office Spokesperson Abbas Adil Riza said the government had no comment on the matter as it was under investigation, “and in due course the Human Rights Minister [Dhiyana Saeed] will address the concerns.”
The UN Office for Human Rights also noted the criminal charges that had been brought against Nasheed concerning his detention of Chief Criminal Court Judge Abdulla Mohamed during his final days in office.
“We… stress that any such matters must be handled with full respect to the due process rights and fair trial safeguards guaranteed by the Maldives’ Constitution and international human rights treaty obligations,” Colville stated.
In a statement, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) criticised the charges as “politically-motivated, and designed to remove the current regime’s political opponents from the public sphere.”
“International bodies including the UN Human Rights Committee and the International Committee of Jurists have also voiced serious doubts as to the independence and impartiality of the judiciary; showing that it will be impossible to conduct a fair trial,” the party said.
During the Maldives’ defence of its human rights record before the UN Human Rights Committee earlier this week, a panel member noted the “troubling role of the judiciary at the center” of the controversial transfer of power on February 7.
“The judiciary – which is admittedly in serious need of training and qualifications – is yet seemingly playing a role leading to the falling of governments,” he observed.
In a preliminary statement following the Maldives’ appearance, the Committee said it was “deeply concerned” about the state of the judiciary.
The State has admitted that this body’s independence is seriously compromised. The Committee has said the judiciary is desperately in need of more serious training, and higher standards of qualification. As 6 of 7 Supreme Court judges are experts in Sharia law and nothing more, this court in particular is in need of radical readjustment. This must be done to guarantee just trials, and fair judgments for the people of Maldives,” the Committee stated.
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these international bodies should have said something when Nasheed was literally locking the court up or locking up the judge without due process or ordering the police to leave a protest that was about to turn violent. we might not have been in this mess. the judiciary wasn't the only problem, it was also a corrupt government.
Also the country's Judiciary should have taken action against the so called judge for the crime he committed....to-date he is sitting in the courtroom....Dr Hassan did write to Gayyoom that he was not fit to be sitting in the courtroom when he was the Maldives Attorney General....salhi dhow!!!!hehehh
ff did you know that they WILL NOT be able to prosecute Nasheed's case against the Judge ??
Hahaha... is this that time of the year, when the hibernating HRCM wakes up and yawns?
Where was this UN human right commons when Anni used the water cannon in the first time in our history against those peaceful demonstrators.
Why we find double standards here ? It is very clear that Anni as usual plays double games and had promised these westerners that he will at any cost will allow multi religion in this country .
These anti-muslim sentiments are being strongly supported by the cult and that is why those guys kept quite for all wrong doing that was done during anni regime.
@Mode
We all know who you are and who pays you to write this rubbish and filth. Shut up!
DO not forget about the violent ways Arabia parents were treated by the police at Seyku Nasheeds time
He met with the Baibalaa thugs instead of these poor parents wanting an education for their kids.(even the police was against giving permission to play as these thugs were creating havoc at and after the matches.
what about all the murders that happened at seyku Nasheeds time including the brutal one at kudahuvadhoo??
UN human rights commission did not exist then. and does only exist for people who are against Religion especially Islam (sorry for bringing up Islam but by watching the UN live telecast and the way the experts were questioning anybody can understand that they hate Islam and they want to rid the country from it)
At a press briefing on Tuesday, Spokesperson for High Commissioner Navi Pillay, Rupert Colville, observed that “instances of apparent brutality have been captured on camera. These include the seemingly deliberate and uncalled-for use of some kind of spray on former President [Mohamed] Nasheed, and the driving of police vehicles at high speed into crowds of protesters.”
What is wrong with these fucking UN and US Agencies? Can't they f"£$%^g mind their own businesses? Do they expect the Maldivian armed forces to sit and watch silently as these f"£$%^g MDP lunatics pelt cops, and non supporters of MDP with stones and slice non supporters and cops and their families with knives? Go f£$k yourselves and leave our country alone! You have no f£$%^&g right to meddles in our affairs! MDP people and Mohamed Nasheed are liars and retarded!
Keep talking. You all will soon realize our country is going down in everyway everyday under the rule of President Mohamed Waheed.
AND SERIOUSLY i cannot believe how uneducated these people are! Dont you know what's happening here? I'm a student and I know way better than you guys. Stop posting lies DAMN UNEDUCATED PEOPLE WHO DOESN'T KNOW SHIT WHEN THEY ARE TALKING