Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) on Monday denied incumbent Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed's claims that the armed forces informed him that Maldives Police Service was tailing him.
Former President Nasheed made the claims at Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)'s national council meeting held at Dharubaaruge convention centre in capital city Male' late Sunday.
According to Nasheed, MNDF relayed information that Police was tailing him last Thursday.
While he did not directly disclose a reason behind the alleged Police conduct, the majority of his speech was related to the enforced disappearance of Maldives Independent journalist Ahmed Rilwan.
Therefore, speculation arose that Nasheed was suggesting that he was being tailed in relation to the report on the case drafted by the presidential commission.
The Speaker of Parliament has remained critical and expressed discontentment over the duration with which measures are being taken over the case by relevant institutions. The institutions have since provided legal reasons behind the time taken to implement measures in the case.
Nasheed claimed that Rilwan's enforced disappearance was orchestrated during major disputes between extremists and liberals. He further alleged that certain individuals within MNDF and Police were accessories to the crime.
Reiterating that he was informed of Police tailing him by MNDF three days prior, he suggested that it is a plausible course of action for Police, "as tailing might realise an ulterior goal. However, I am unwilling to stop having that conversation [about seeking justice for Rilwan and victims of murder and to uncover the truth behind missing persons]".
He declared that reforming and strengthening law enforcement institutions is the first mandatory course of action to seek justice for victims of murder and missing persons.
With Husnu al-Suood as president, the Commission on Investigation of Murders and Enforced Disappearances, recently disclosed the draft report compiling the evidence collected thus far that implied that Rilwan was murdered.
The findings of the draft implicated several Police Officers of being complicit.
Maldives Police Service is currently facing stark criticism and scrutiny over their inaction against the officers.
In response, Police stated that Rilwan's case is solely under the jurisdiction of the Commission, as per the Presidential Commissions Bill, and as such Police would not be able to request court orders for their arrest.
After Nasheed made the comments, MNDF issued a statement refuting his claims.
MNDF stated that they work jointly with Police to enforce security in matters concerning the safety of officials entrusted to them.
However, MNDF elaborated that they collaborates with Police after a thorough assessment of the threat levels on individuals, and that there is no security threat against Nasheed identified by MNDF or the Parliament.
Police further issued a statement early Monday refuting his claims, stating that the service also did not identify any threats against the Speaker of Parliament.
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