Malé, Maldives – Chairperson of Parliamentary Committee on National Security (241 Committee) and MP for North Hithadhoo Constituency, Mohamed Aslam has stated that 29 MNDF officers will be summoned for inquiry and that the institution has assured that they will provide full support.
29 MNDF officers are to be summoned to the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (241 Committee) for questioning over the security breach of Former President and Current Speaker of the Parliament Mohamed Nasheed during May 6 terror attack.
Aslam stated that the talk of 40 MNDF Officers to be summoned to the 241 Committee is inaccurate and that he never saw a list consisting of that many Officers.
Even I don’t know what 40 Officers you are talking about. I did not see that list, it is not the correct amount.
Committee Chair and the MP for North Hithadhoo Constituency, Mohamed Aslam.
Aslam stated that they had previously thought of first inquiring the lower ranked Officers and later the higher ranks, however, he said that the Committee has begun inquiring higher ranked Officers so the Committee is likely to get answers before they reach the lower ranks.
Although there were slight issues in summoning individual officers of MNDF, Aslam stated that everything is clear now and they have received assurance from a superior member of MNDF that they will cooperate in the inquiry.
Earlier when the parliament called to summoned individual officers of MNDF, a letter with the signature of Deputy Minister of the Defence Ministry, Hassan Zameel was sent denying the request of the parliament and stating that MNDF would answer on behalf of the individual officers.
An issue against Deputy Minister of Defence, Hassan Zameel was then presented to the PGO and the Parliament’s Committee on Member’s Privileges and Ethics. The committee decided during last night’s meeting that the case against Zameel will not be forwaded as the Minister of Defence, Mariya Ahmed Didi should be held responsible for the letter sent to parliament instead.
MP for Dhangathi Constituency, Mohamed Nazim who had previously served as the Defense Minister of Maldives backed up the statement released by MNDF and agreed that individual MNDF officers cannoted be summoned under the guidelines of MNDF but the superiors of that force can be summoned in behalf of them.
Defending the ministry’s decision, Minister Mariya had explained the reason why it is not allowed for individual MNDF officers to be summoned for inquiries.
Minister Mariya stated that under sector 24 of the MNDF guidelines, any information the officers recieved while in service is forbidden to be shared with anyone else other than those mentioned. They are the superiors of MNDF, the court, the most superior members of the Police department.
Chief of Defence Force Major General Abdullah Shamaal was summoned to the Parliamentary Committee on National Security yesterday to question over the security breach of Former President and Current Speaker of the Parliament Mohamed Nasheed during May 6 terror attack. The committee has also decided to summon Defence Minister Maria Didi to the committee although a certain date has not yet been announced.
Following the terror attack against the Former President on May 6, criticism has been aimed mainly at MNDF with allegations that they have failed to provide necessary security for the Speaker.
The police is currently investigating the cause behind the attack on the Former President. 4 individuals have been arrested so far, all of them indicating radicalisation. The Parliamentary Committee is investigating into the security breach of the Speaker following the terror attack.
