Ex-Defence Minister and military chief summoned for questioning
The motion was proposed by MP Imthiyaz Fahmy and a committee passed it on Thursday
(R-L) Major General Ahmed Shiyam, former president Abdulla Yameen, and former Defence Minister Adam Shareef
Former Defence Minister Adam Shareef and Major General Ahmed Shiyam have been summoned for parliamentary questioning over the 2017 military ‘siege’ of the People’s Majlis.
A committee on Thursday passed to summon former Home Minister Azleen Ahmed, former parliament speaker Abdulla Maseeh, and Secretary-General Ahmed Mohamed.
Thulusdhoo MP Mohamed Waheed Ibrahim, who chaired the commission, said that the individuals will be summoned and that the matter would be 'thoroughly' investigated.
On 27th March, 2017, officers of the Maldivian military forcibly removed 13 lawmakers from the People’s Majlis chamber ahead of a vote of no-confidence against then speaker Maseeh.
While this prevented members of the house from coming to a vote on the matter, the press was also prevented from entering the premises by barricades set up by riot police.
In July, the military prevented lawmakers entering the premises ahead of a third attempt to impeach the speaker. The gates were locked and anyone who attempted to enter, including parliamentarians, were pepper-sprayed and escorted away.
Villingili MP Saud Hussain expressed robust support for the motion, proposed by North-Maafannu MP Imthiyaz Fahmy, and said that all officers involved in the ‘unlawful and tyrannical siege’ should also be questioned.
