Cabinet discuss to investigate Maafushi Jail shootout

Cabinet has discussed to investigate if the 20^th September 2003 shoot out in Maafushi Jail was carried out under the direct orders of any top personnel of the armed forces.

In the cabinet meeting held yesterday the ministers discussed to investigate the perpetrators of the jail shoot out. And also they discussed to investigate the people who gave the order to shoot the prisoners in Maafushi jail.

Meanwhile, the killing of the inmate Evan Naseem by Prison Guards on 19 September, 2003, resulted in a violent protest in Maldives which then lead to unrest in Maafushi Prison. To control this unrest NSS personnel at Maafushi shot several unarmed prisoners killing 3 and injuring 17 others.

News of the death of Evan broke out quickly in the capital city Malé. A large number of people gathered at his burial service. While people were at the cemetery, news of the shooting incident reached the already angry public. Civil unrest in Malé grew with this news. Several police stations were set on fire, government buildings were attacked, and government vehicles were set on fire or destroyed by the angry mob. The government of Gayoom controlled the unrest by around 2300hrs and declared a State of Emergency, for the first time in the country’s history, in Malé and nearby islands. A curfew was imposed in Malé.