MDP files separate complaints against individual officers

Opposition, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has filed separate complaints against individual police officers with Police Integrity Commission.

MDP Secretary-General Anas Abdul Sattar said during a press conference held by the party on Tuesday that the party file complaints against individual officers in four separate cases to PIC last Monday.

They are:

1. MPD Deputy Leader Mohamed Shifaz being taken in by police while on his way to join the MDP rally to celebrate its 11-year anniversary on July 11, 2016.

2. Police officers allegedly attempting to push Deputy Leader of MDP Parliamentary Group, MP Rozaina Adam to a side-street while she had been in Majeedhee Magu on July 11, 2016.

3. Police interfering the prayer led by MDP after every Friday prayer at Islamic Center.

4. Police manhandling those who joined in reading the prayer at Islamic Center after Friday prayer on July 8, 2016 and pepper spraying some in their eyes.

Anas said during the press conference said that Maldivian Constitution and Police Act condemns police officers who issue illegal orders, as well as those who follow them.

MP Rozaina said that most police officers were ignorant of what was written in the Constitution and Police Act, and blindly followed the orders of their superiors.

“They cannot answer for the orders. The person who led the talks with us regarding the rally, he himself said when we asked what the laws said, that it says so in some place, to look it up when we go home. But when an officer orders a civilian, the officer needs to know the law or rule which backs the order. They need to be able to answer, when questioned,” said Rozaina.

“The police institution will go on. But it’s a damage that’s of everyone’s patriotic duty to resolve when the country’s citizens lose faith in it. It will not be easy to regain trust it all faith for the entire institution is lost,” she said.

Rozaina said that she was hopeful to get justice one day or another, as the party files the cases.