The Presidential Commission established a few days by President Nasheed to allegedly investigate embezzlement of state funds has been heavily criticized by top legal experts in the country. The key argument is that President Nasheed’s Witch Hunt Commission is unconstitutional and in direct conflict with independent democratic institutions created by law such as the Anti Corruption Commission, the Prosecutor General and the Police Service.In addition to criticisms of the Commission by former Attorney General Diyana Saeed, former Legal Reform Minister Mohamed Nasheed has pointed out that the powers given by President Nasheed to his Witch Hunt Commission are excessive and overlap with the jurisdiction of the judiciary and police. These powers are delegated under the constitution by law, and it remains to be seen how the Commission can summarily exercise such powers, the former Legal Reform Minister stated.
Noting that the membership of the new Commission is full of highly active MDP members who have very vocally expressed their hatred of ex-president Gayoom, the former Legal Reform Minister too concluded that the true purpose of creating such a commission at this time was evident. “In such circumstances, it is highly questionable, as to the real reason for creating a presidential commission with a team of loyalists on it to investigate the wrongdoings of the former government”, he said in his blog.
Ali Shiyam, appointed as Chair of Nasheed’s Witch Hunt Commission, is a high profile and close associate of President Nasheed. He has been with Nasheed ever since the formation of Maldivian Democratic Party. He has been in the very front line of all MDP activism and opposition to the previous government.
Hussain Rasheed, the homosexual leader of Adhaalath Party, continuously violates the edicts of Islam by publicly slandering the good name of the ex-president with his baseless and vindictive attacks on the ex- president. He has gone to the extent of questioning even the faith of the former president, an accusation challenged in court by the former president.
Idham Muiz Adnan was a visible MDP activist during its riots. He also occupied the position of shadow law minister in the MDP shadow cabinet. He is also a known and vocal critic of the former government and its president.
Mohamed Aswan is a state minister in Nasheed’s lame duck government, and used his powers to help Nasheed in his campaign to win parliamentary elections with timely announcements of fabricated customs duty frauds by persons allegedly linked to some DRP candidates.
Shabab Rasheed is a known MDP lawyer active behind the scenes.
Abdulla Haseen, started out as a journalist associated first with Adduvas and later on with Manas weeklies, is also a known opponent of the former regime. He ran a public campaign to entice people to gather at the residence of the former president continually until the latter is arrested or his wrongdoings investigated.
With this move President Nasheed has formally brought into his governance arena the hate politics traditionally practiced by his party, Maldivian Democratic Party. Faced with legal opposition to his Witch Hunt Commission, Nasheed is now encouraging MDP hardliners to take to the streets to implement his brand of vengeance. However, as seen by the final result of the recent parliamentary elections, Maldivians are more discerning and just to be misled by the dictatorial MDP government led by Nasheed.