Member of Parliament for Galolhu Uthuru constituency, Mohamed Ibrahim (Kudoo), has submitted a request to summon top officials of the security forces to the Parliament’s Committee on National Security Services to clarify whether inquiries or investigations are being conducted regarding incidents during maritime operations in the past four months that resulted in the deaths of four officers.
In a letter sent to the Speaker of Parliament, Abdul Raheem Abdulla, Ibrahim expressed deep concern over the tragic incidents occurring during maritime operations conducted by the security services.
Ibrahim's letter highlighted the incident in May where Sergeant Mahdhy passed away while attempting to locate Italian divers, as well as the case on June 11 where Sergeant Ahmed Asif died during a police drug operation at sea.
Additionally, the letter pointed out an incident on the 6th of this month where MNDF's Ibrahim Ahmed and Police Officer Ahmed Nafiu went missing at sea while attempting to rescue a sinking vessel.
Ibrahim stated that following these consecutive incidents involving military and police officers, it remains unknown whether any inquiry or investigation was conducted to determine the causes, to ensure such events do not recur, or to check if there was any negligence or failure of responsibility by any party.
Therefore, MP Ibrahim requested that relevant police and military authorities be summoned to the Parliament's Committee on National Security Services.
He requested clarification on 12 specific matters. They are:
- Whether any investigation or inquiry into how these incidents occurred was conducted by any official government agency or not? If not, the reason why it was not conducted. If conducted, whether any measures were taken based on the investigation's findings for reform or accountability.
- How officer safety and other security standards are determined in conducting such maritime operations? Are such standards or procedures written and being followed? And what is the mechanism to ensure these standards are enforced?
- Whether an administrative or other investigation or inquiry was conducted to ascertain if operational safety standards were followed?
- Whether maritime operation centers operated by the police and military possess modern and adequate tools and equipment, whether the personnel working there are specifically trained for conducting maritime operations, and particularly whether officers active in high-seas enforcement operations and rescue missions are provided with specialized training required for such work?
- After investigating incidents such as the cave diving incident and the incident involving the Police Drug Enforcement Department officer, what measures were taken to rectify issues if negligence was involved?
- Regarding the incident near GA. Atoll where a military officer and a police officer went missing during a salvage operation, what are the procedures followed in conducting risk assessments when embarking on such dangerous operations?
- Whether the required training for security services personnel and the safety equipment used in operations are developed to keep pace with modern technology?
- What assurance will be given regarding public concerns raised over the security procedures of these institutions due to the repeated occurrence of such incidents?
- What are the planned changes to current safety policies to minimize such operational incidents?
- What are the challenges in rectifying issues identified through internal reviews conducted after each such incident?
- Given that the four officers of the MNDF and Police died while performing their official duties, whether this has been officially declared, and whether the government has decided to provide the legally mandated benefits and financial compensation to their heirs? If this has not been done, state the reasons.
- Whether institutions play any role in managing the psychological and emotional trauma faced by their families and loved ones following these incidents, and what policy is in place to adequately share information with them and provide necessary support?
- In maritime incidents where the two security service institutions operate together jointly, whether there is a protocol or doctrine for command execution, risk assessment, and decision-making in controlling and managing such incidents?
