CSOs Renew their Call to End Impunity Against Journos

A coalition of civil society organisations is urging the government of Maldives once again to expedite investigations and for relevant authorities to pursue, where evidence permits, prosecutions to end impunity for serious crimes against journalists of the country.

The press statement released by the CSOs were signed by the Maldives Journalists Association (MJA), Transparency Maldives, Association for Democracy in the Maldives (ADM), International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Human Rights Watch (HRW), and Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

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The coalition expressed concern over the dropped charges on November 22, 2023, against the accused in the murders of journalist Ahmed Rilwan and blogger Yameen Rasheed. Previous court proceedings highlighted alleged negligence on the part of investigating agencies and prosecutors, raising questions about the effectiveness of the investigations conducted over the years.

Despite the previous government’s promise to promptly resolve these cases, the dismissal of charges due to insufficient evidence has prompted skepticism. The coalition emphasises the need for transparency in the investigation details and notes the exploitation of these cases for political purposes by multiple governments, contributing to a decline in public trust in the judicial processes.

To address these concerns, the coalition outlines specific calls to action:

Publish Complete Information: The government is urged to release comprehensive information and reports from the Commission on Deaths and Disappearances covering the years 2018-2023.

Expedite Investigations and Prosecutions:Swift and urgent completion of the investigation process in high-profile cases is emphasized, with a call to prosecute perpetrators without delay.

Launch Fresh Investigations: The coalition demands fresh investigations into agencies and individuals whose alleged negligence has raised questions about the integrity of the cases from the beginning to the current stages.

Public Disclosure of Decisions: There is a call for the public disclosure of the reasons behind the Prosecutor General’s decision not to appeal the cases following their dismissal by the court.

The lack of resolution and perceived impunity in these high-profile cases have implications for press freedom, and the coalition emphasizes the importance of addressing these concerns promptly to maintain public trust in the investigative and judicial processes in the Maldives.