We have not given legal advice to the Speaker of Deputy Speaker of the Majlis: MNDF

Maldives National Defense Forces (MNDF) has rejected allegations claiming that MNDF Major Zubair Ahmed “gave a legal advice to the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the People’s Majlis stating that it was within MNDF’s lawful authority to use force to evict MPs from Majlis meetings by the use of force, when such MPs refused to comply with the Speaker’s call out of the chamber”. MNDF today said that no such “legal advice” had been give to anyone by any officer in the Forces.

The “legal advice” in question was shared with the media by the Z-Faction of the Divehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP), main opposition party in the Maldives, and the Z Faction claimed that it was sent to the Speaker of the People’s Majlis by the MNDF. The MNDF published a statement today, rejecting this claim. According to the MNDF statement, the “legal advice” was given by a team of legal experts to the Chief of Defense Force Major General Moosa Ali Jaleel before he met with the Speaker of the People’s Majlis and a number of MPs few days ago.

Speaking to the press, Lieutenant Abdullah Ali, Media Officer at MNDF said today that the MNDF worked in compliance with legal advice given by a legal team just as other such institutions, and that the particular legal advice referred to by the Z Faction was also given by a team of legal officers to the Chief of the Defense Forces.

MNDF Statement stressed the point that it was the duty of the armed forces to protect the Legislature and other institutions of the state, and that any steps to fulfill that function would be taken. “MNDF shall take whatever actions that may become necessary in order to protect the Legislature, the Judiciary, or the Executive, as it is a legal duty upon the MNDF”, the statement read.

The statement also assured that the MNDF would not involve in any actions that would disrupt the functioning of the Legislature.

The question of using the MNDF to forcefully evict members heedless of the Speaker’s instruction to leave chamber during Majlis sessions has arisen after the Z Faction of the DRP warned that they would disrupt Majlis sessions to protest illegal actions by the ruling MDP to get control over the Standing Committees of the Majlis. President Mohamed Nasheed said that if necessary, the MNDF would be employed to ensure the smooth functioning of the Legislative body of the state in furtherance of public interest.