CMAG will not take any action against Maldives: President

President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik has said that he does not believe that Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) might take any action against Maldives.

Speaking to reporters at Ibrahim Nasir International Airport after his five-day visit to India, the President said that the government had complied with CMAG’s requests in relation to how the Inquiry Commission carried out its work.

“I don’t believe that CMAG might take any action. We were working according to their requests; which leaves them no room to take action. It would be very strange if they did,” the President said.

The President said that he met with Commonwealth Envoy Sir Don McKinnon before he departed to India, and formed a four-member ministerial committee to hold discussions, and these discussions had taken place.

President Waheed said that following Commonwealth’s request, discussions had been held regarding the commission’s terms of reference and to include a co-chair in the commission, and that the government had complied in relation to these issues.

“We have nothing to hide. We will give all assistance that’s required from us. For example, following the agreement with Commonwealth, the Inquiry Commission’s terms of reference has been rewritten. It’s not much different from what it was before. We have also agreed to include a co-chair in the commission. That person has already been identified by us, and Commonwealth has accepted. He is a Singaporean retired Judge,” the President said.

He also said that former President Nasheed has been given two weeks to propose a member to the commission, and that the names suggested by him so far are people with political affiliations and therefore not acceptable to the government.

The Inquiry Commission was earlier supposed to complete its tasks by the end of this month; this period has now been extended by two months.