The original Dhivehi article was published on Mihaaru.com website on 5th March 2018.
The following is a loose translation:
It is the same problem with every government. The injustice of the police who are being given the role of assuring protection for its citizens. The ongoing complaint is of police following orders of the respective government. The accusation of using political influence from the point of investigation to the arrest. In it’s 14 years, the institution faced the same complaint.
During the tenure of President Maumoon, the opposition of that time strongly condemned the police abuse. During President Nasheed’s tenure, there was complaint of release of those arrested by the police upon orders by MDP parliament members. Looking at President Yameen’s administration, the accusations were even worse. Using police to commit criminal offences, framing people and punishment were among them.
Similar allegations has been made against Colonel (Rtd.) Mohamed Nazim who had been sentenced for possessing war weaponry. According to Nazim’s family, the pistol found in his house was placed by the police. And the family claims that a policeman’s DNA has also been found on that pistol.
Police coming into MDP rally hq while members celebrating Supreme Court order
Former Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem while referring to the recent police investigations, raised questions on the black box found as evidence in connection with President Maumoon, for alleged bribery and attempting to bring a coup. He said that the police found such a box, after President Abdulla Yameen mentioned that such a box will be found.
He is also concerned that the police has found evidences in similar fashion, even in the past. When Shameem said that, the police initiated a criminal investigation against him. Apart from Shameem, it is also something that the other lawyers has also noted and is concerned about.
The next is about various political activities. Many criticisms has been aimed at police for their unfair way of handling the recent political activities. Whenever the opposition starts a gathering, the police comes and uses force to disperse it. However, whenever the ruling party holds a political activity, the police block the roads and manages the security for them. According to the opposition, the ruling party dominates the police.
Addu Meedhoo constituency MP Rozaina Adam said it is saddening that the Maldivian Defence Force and the police are now under PPM Parliamentary Group Leader Ahmed Nihan and PPM Parliamentary Group’s Deputy Leader Abdul Raheem Abdulla’s control. During MDP’s administration, the accusation was also the same, denoting to the party’s control.
Police at MDP rally headquarters
Why does this happen?
There are major reasons why the police institutions lose their independence and falls under the control of politicians. The main reason is that police commissioner who organizes the activities to perform the police’s 1roles and all the day to day activities, always is under the president.
According to police law, the appointment and dismissal of the commissioner of police is under the discretion of the president.
The top official being commissioner of police as per law, and the president being a politician, having the powers to dismiss him anytime as he pleases, will result in the commissioner siding ways according to the likes of the politician in charge. When the commissioner turns, the whole institution changes to the direction that the politician wants.
‘In most recently, we have witnessed within 24 hours, the appointment of 2 police commissioners. How would a commissioner work independently in such a situation? A person who is fulfilling the role of the commissioner must follow the political orders. That is what is happening.’ said a former policeman who had worked in senior police posts.
Acting Police Commissioner Nawaz
According to the police law, whenever a policeman is dismissed from his post, it opens up a number of options for him. After his removal and when the case investigation is done, then it is submitted to disciplinary board, which gives him the opportunity to answer to 2 authorities. If he is not satisfied with the decision of the board, then he can also appeal to a board.
That is the procedure followed in the case of a removal of an ordinary policeman. However, for top police commander he isn’t left with any such options.
System change effort, unsuccessful
Due to the above mentioned reasons, police commissioner unable to work independently, in 2011, a lot of work was done. The police had tried to add changes to the laws to include a procedure for the dismissal of the police commissioner.
Among the efforts were, the commissioner of police can be removed with the executive board’s advice and through the parliament. However, that amendment has not yet been implemented.
In the Maldives law, the above mentioned actions are already included to make the institutions independent. In the justice law, it is stipulated that a judge can be removed after 2/3 of the parliament members present has voted. Heads of independent institutions can also be removed in similar way, as prescribed in the law.
The responsibility of safety and protection of the citizens that has been tasked to the police, are being influenced by politicians and the image of the police force are being tarnished by them, It is already too late to take measures to remedy this. The parliament and the government needs to take those actions, earnestly.
