Human Rights Groups Call on DDCom to Release Findings of Investigations

A coalition of national and international human rights and free speech advocacy groups has called on the Maldivian Presidential Commission on Deaths and Disappearances (DDCom) to share its findings with the families of the victims and disclose them to the public.

This appeal comes in the wake of DDCom’s imminent dissolution on 31st May.

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In a joint press statement released on Tuesday, twelve organisations—including the Maldives Journalists Association (MJA), Transparency Maldives (TM) as well as international entities such as Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and Human Rights Watch (HRW) —urged President Mohamed Muizzu and the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives to ensure that DDCom’s findings are made public and shared with the victims’ families.

The statement calls to attention a meeting between DDCom and civil society groups earlier this month, when DDCom allegedly stated that it was instructed by the President’s Office to share findings exclusively with the President, and not to disclose them publicly.

The coalition insisted that DDCom is legally obliged to reveal its findings to the families, citing Section 13(a) of the Presidential Commissions Act, which supports the dissemination of investigation outcomes.

Aishath Rasheed, sister of murdered blogger Yameen Rasheed, expressed her frustration: “It was implied to us that a redacted report will be shared with the affected families. The last-minute decision not to do so is unacceptable. It is our only avenue for justice.”

“We have always extended our support to DDCom throughout the years, but the DDCom has not only failed in their legal duties but in their moral duties to the truth as well. We are left with nothing”

Yameen Rasheed, who led the campaign for justice for disappeared journalist Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla, was murdered in his residence on 23 April 2017. Both Yameen and Rilwan were vocal critics of successive governments and opponents of violent extremism. In September 2019, DDCom concluded that Rilwan was killed the day after his disappearance in August 2014. However, the Criminal Court dismissed charges against three men linked to both cases in late 2023, citing insufficient evidence.

Formed in November 2018 following President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s election, DDCom was tasked with investigating unresolved cases of deaths and disappearances. Despite initial promises to complete its work within two years, DDCom has not delivered justice in any case over its five-and-a-half-year tenure. The exact number of cases it has handled remains unclear, with commission members quoting between 24 and 27 in various public appearances.

The statement highlights the urgency of revealing the findings to over 20 families who have awaited justice for years. Although President Muizzu extended DDCom’s dissolution date to 31 May 2024 at the victims’ families’ request, the organisations stress the necessity of transparency. They argue that withholding this information violates the families’ rights to information and access to justice.

The coalition emphasises the importance of transparency in matters of public safety and the need for the Maldivian public to understand how DDCom’s significant funding—amounting to approximately 5.5 million MVR (US$ 357,000) between 2018 and 2021—has been utilised.

Additionally, the coalition calls attention to the Maldives’ ratification of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance in July 2023, urging the government to implement all necessary measures for the Convention’s full execution.

The statement also critiques the effectiveness of presidential commissions lacking independence from the government, questioning their ability to deliver justice and access to information. The coalition urges President Muizzu to honour his electoral promises of transparency and accountability by ensuring DDCom’s findings are disclosed to the public.