IPU to send human rights mission to Maldives

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) will send a fact-finding mission to the Maldives as part of renewed efforts to resolve cases involving the human rights of parliamentarians, IPU in a statement said on Thursday. The decision was taken by the IPU during its 127th Assembly in Quebec City, Canada, upon the recommendation of its Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians, the statement noted. "IPU is deeply concerned at the on-going climate of violence and confrontation in the Maldives, expressing shock at the recent killing of MP Afrasheem Ali," it stated. In a resolution on the case of 19 MPs from the former President Mohamed Nasheed led opposition, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), alleged victims of excessive violence, arbitrary arrests and criminal charges believed to be politically motivated, the organization is similarly perturbed by reports of renewed ill- treatment, detention and harassment by law enforcement officers. Maldives has been in political crisis since February when incumbent President Mohamed Nasheed was replaced by his Vice President Mohamed Waheed. There has been growing international concern at political intimidation and serious outbreaks of violence in the country. The IPU mission to the Maldives is to gather first-hand information and meet parliamentary, government and judicial authorities as well as the MPs concerned. The IPU Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians examined 37 cases involving 135 MPs from 21 different countries in this session and took decisions on 20 of the cases. Over four days, the Committee held hearings with delegations from Maldives, Turkey, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia.