MP Azim recalls MNDF's failure in sharing details reg. extremism with 241 committee

Central-Henveiru constituency MP Ali Azim has stated that, although Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) had information about extremists, it was not shared with the parliament's committee on national security forces previously.

While the committee's, also known as the 241 committee, report on the May 6 assassination attempt on Speaker and former President Mohamed Nasheed was passed by the People's Majlis late Thursday night, Azim made the claim during the debate held prior to the vote.

In his statement, Azim that MNDF had previously revealed to the 241 committee that they had heard about extremists to some extent and that they had also heard that extremists were being trained in islands. While Azim also claimed that the security forces had not wanted to confirm the issue to the committee, the lawmaker was unable to recall the exact date this happened. He remembered it as something that had happened a while ago, in 'either one of 18th or 19th parliament meetings'.

Azim, who is also the main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)'s parliamentary group leader, further stated that the parliament was the one body that was working to better the country's systems, adding that not sharing crucial information with the 241 committee is equivalent to hiding information.

Azim went on to say that former President Nasheed continued to warn about extremism as well 'a deep state', and that the 241 committee's report on the security breach that led to attack highlights the security service's failure in controlling the issue.

Stressing that he was not accusing all police and MNDF officers of wrongdoing, MP Azim said that it was just his way of bringing to everyone’s attention the reality of the situation so that it can be resolved.

Azim concluded by saying that attacks like this will keep on happening in the Maldives if parties responsible are not held accountable at the earliest.