The Police Integrity Commission (PIC) has decided to take action against individual Police Officers who assaulted and injured former President Mohamed Nasheed and Members of Parliament (MPs) of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) during the protest held by MDP on 8 February 2012.
A report publicised today by PIC after its investigation of Police activities of 8 February states that on that day, some Police Officers violated the Police regulation on possession and use of weapons.
“The Commission has decided, based on the following reasons, that individual Police Officers assaulted and used offensive language against some protesters in violation of article 16(a) and (d) of the regulation on possession and use of weapons. The Commission has decided to conduct separate investigations into the identified cases, and take legal action against the Police Officers involved,” says the nine-page report.
The report, which shows that the Commission President Shahinda Ismail’s view on the matter differs from that of the Commission, highlights twelve incidents of violence by the Police on 8 February.
This includes assault of MDP Chairperson Reeko Moosa Manik and use of force as Police chased former President Mohamed Nasheed and Mahchangolhi-uthuru MP Mariya Ahmed Didi who were hiding inside Niyaz Store. The report says that Mariya was beaten by two Police Officers, and that MDP members Imthiyaz Fahmy, Mohamed Gasam and Ibrahim Rasheed were also assaulted by the Police.
“Videos received by the Commission show that fifteen unidentified supposed MDP members were assaulted. Videos show Police beating fourteen protesters using batons, and hitting one person on the head with a baton,” says the report.
It says, nonetheless, that the Police’s decision to break up the protest without prior warning was in line with articles 6, 4 and 8 of the Police Act, as further damage would have been caused if protest had been allowed to continue.
According to the report, heads of the Police Institution are not responsible for the actions of Police Officers on 8 February, because senior officers advised the Officers who went out to control the protest prior to their dispatch, to refrain from such activities.
Moreover, the Specialist Operations Officer went to the area and regained command and control within ten minutes of losing command and control.