3 November '88 coup documents can be declassified after Sunday, says Police Commissioner Riyaz

Commissioner of Police Abdulla Riyaz has said investigation documents surrounding the attempted coup d'état of 3 November 1988 can be declassified starting Sunday, the date marking 25 years to the attack.

CP Riyaz told Sun today that the police regulation states that confidential documents pertaining to such events maybe declassified after 25 years.

Confidential documents of Nov 3rd, 88 operation can be declassified any time after tomorrow, 25 years to the incident!!

— Abdulla Riyaz (@riyazabdulla) November 2, 2013

He said the police are now trying to find possible ways to declassify the documents, but said they have not made a strict decision yet. He said the police have declassified other witness statements and investigation reports on earlier occasions.

Riyaz said declassification is important as the information on such documents can be used for academic purposes.

Nineteen people died in 3 November 1988 when armed mercenaries from Sri Lanka’s People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) attacked the capital Male’ in an attempt to overthrow the Maldives government.