The government of Maldives has committed to strengthening the Commission of National Inquiry, under the guidance of the Commonwealth Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Maldives, Sir Donald McKinnon. The commission was established on 15 May to undertake an independent and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the transfer of power in Maldives in February.
In accordance with the agreement, the commission will be headed by a retired senior judge from Singapore and expert advisors from the United Nations and the Commonwealth will be available to provide support. Three of the original members remain while former President Mohamed Nasheed has been able to nominate his own representative to serve on the committee.
“Now that we have agreement on the reconstituted commission, I look forward to it starting its work and carrying out its important mandate,” said Sir Donald. I hope also that with its enhanced terms of reference and revised composition, the commission will be a more broadly acceptable mechanism and will allow the country to move forward.”
While the former president has agreed to accept the commission’s investigation and ruling, he continues to urge world leaders to acknowledge that he was ousted in a coup and is pressing for presidential elections to be held this year. The current president, Mohammed Waheed Hassan, maintains that the earliest elections can be held under the Maldivian constitution is July 2013.
Nasheed was forced to resign on 7 February under pressure from police and military forces with ties to long-serving ex-President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who ruled Maldives for 30 years before Nasheed’s election in 2008.