Civilians obstruct H.R.C.M research team from getting on Gn.Fuahmulah Island
Published on 11-02-2010
A team from Human Rights Commission of the Maldives visiting Gn.Fuahmulah was obstructed from getting on the Island by a group of civilians yesterday. The purpose of this visit was to do a research necessary for the development of the “Universal Periodic Review”; a report that would highlight the human rights situation in the Maldives, which has to be submitted to the United Nations this year. But according to Media reports, the civilians were misinformed about the purpose of this visit; and were under the impression that this team went to investigate a case of physical abuse of a violent criminal.
Addressing the Media on behalf of the Commission, Vice President of HRCM Mohamed Zahid said that spreading false information may confuse the public and that the mission of the team from HRCM was to get information about the human rights situation in Fuahmulah from the citizens of that island, to include it in the report that has to be submitted to the United Nations. He said the HRCM regrets the fact that they had to stop the effort to get the voice of Fuahmulah citizens to the United Nations, but they will continue with this work if the citizens of the island provide them with the opportunity.
The Commission observed that this was an obstruction to the freedom and right to travel within the country guaranteed under Article 41 of the Constitution and was an impediment in fulfilling the responsibilities of the commission under Article 20 of the “Human Rights Commission Act”. The Commission remarked that actions will be taken under ““Human Rights Commission Act”, against those who repeat this offence.