Arrest of parliamentarians “unlawful” alleges DRP; Vows legal action against police - President’s office denies accusations

The main Opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) called the Thursday night arrest of the three parliamentarians “unlawful and arbitrary” ahead of a crucial vote of no confidence against the Auditor General -- a charge denied by the President’s Office saying the government had “no role in their detention.”

Calling the arrest “arbitrary” and “unlawful” the Opposition accused the government of violating parliamentary regulations by arresting parliamentarians when a vote of no-confidence is due in the House.

“Under Clause 202 (d) of the Regulations of the Parliament (with full statutory powers) clearly states that no Member of Parliament can be arrested or detained, under any condition, during a period in which a parliamentary no-confidence motion is under debate or deliberation in Parliament,” a statement said.

Parliament has been deliberating, over the past three days, on the issue of taking a vote of no-confidence against the Auditor General Ibrahim Naeem.

Naeem faces allegations of corruption and embezzlement of state funds and resources.

The fiery debate also saw parliamentary sessions being ended midst disruption for days in a row.

Press Secretary to the President’s office Mohamed Zuhair, told the Asian Tribune yesterday that the “three MPs taken into temporary custody at around 11 pm Thursday night have been released by police around 3 am Friday.”

“The Government had no role in their detention,” he noted.

On the vote of no-confidence, the Press Secretary said that “DRP are agitating to oust the Auditor General Ibrahim Naeem who was appointed by Mr. Gayoom’s government and a DRP majority Majlis (Parliament).”

Alleging that “some DRP MPs got hysterical and overzealous in their quest to oust the Auditor General,” Zuhair said “they led a crowd of supporters that pelted stones, water bottles etc at an MDP gathering” Thursday night at the artificial beach.

Clashes between the ruling MDP supporters and the Opposition DRP supported led to the arrest of key opposition members including parliamentarians.

Three Parliamentarians Ilham Ahmed, Ahmed Mahloof , Ali Waheed, DRP Deputy Leader Umar Naseer and Senior activist Ahmed Saleem (Marz) were amongst those arrested.

Zuhair said the DRP mistakenly think that “if they are able to oust the Auditor General, all his reports of corruption in the past regime of 30 years can be dismissed as not credible.”

Naeem had the past year published a number of reports implicating many DRP officials.

Yet the DRP has insisted that there are enough votes to support the vote of no-confidence against the Auditor General.

The DRP also has vowed to take legal action against the police over the arrest of their members.

“The party has stated that it would hold the Police to account, both in parliament
and possibly in the court of law, for its unlawful actions tonight [Thursday night],” the DRP statement added.

- Asian Tribune -