HRCM, PPM trade blame over opposition visit to commission office

Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) and opposition PPM on Wednesday trade blames, with the commission accusing PPM leaders of storming its office and the party demanding the resignation of HRCM members, alleging that the commission's conduct was wrong.

The opposition coalition leadership on Wednesday went to the HRCM to share their concerns about the government's inhuman treatment of former President Abdullah Yameen, who is currently serving a jail sentence in an MMPRC corruption case. They waited inside the office for a long time as they could not meet any commission members.

The HRCM issued a statement on the matter, while PPM responded by issuing a statement of their own on Wednesday night.

The PPM-PNC has issued a statement saying that the commission has acted in an 'inhuman' manner when the coalition's leadership visited the HRCM.

The purpose of the visit to the HRCM office was to share its concerns over the 'inhuman breach of the dignity of the party's presidential candidate, Yameen, who is being violated and inhumanly tortured' on the 'order' of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

“When asked to meet at the earliest opportunity, the chairman and members of the commission said they did not have time. We then requested to meet with a responsible, accountable person of the commission," the statement said.

Without giving even that opportunity, police were brought there and the door of the commission was closed while the leadership was inside the office, the statement said.

"It is also unacceptable to say that the Progressive Congress Coalition can only meet anyone with a necessary permission from the government," the statement said.

"The leaders of this coalition wish to meet with a responsible and accountable person of the commission as soon as possible to share the concerns of this coalition and the people and fulfil the legal duty of the commission in these matters”.

The statement added:

"They did not offer a drop of drinking water or the use of a toilet. The leadership of the coalition that came to meet the commission includes MPs," the statement said.

"In no way did the leadership of this coalition come to the commission to ask its members or staff to do things outside the responsibilities entrusted to them”.

The HRCM said in a statement that the opposition PPM-PNC entered the office after failing to attend the meeting time they were given. The commission has condemned their actions, saying their behaviour has caused unease and threatened workplace security.