Speaker Shahid meets with IPU missions currently visiting
Maldives
Speaker of the People’s Majlis Abdulla Shahid has met with the Human Rights Mission and South African parliamentary expert of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) currently visiting Maldives.
The Human Rights Mission is in Maldives to further investigate issues filed by Majlis members, following the adoption of a series of resolutions recommended by the IPU Committee at the 127th Assembly of IPU, held from 21 – 26 October 2012 in Quebec City, Canada.
The Speaker thanked the IPU missions for visiting Maldives, and discussed the privileges of Members of Parliament and the drafted Privileges Bill which is currently before the Committee on Privileges. The IPU parliamentary expert will be working closely with the Committee on Privileges, and providing technical advice to finalize the draft bill.
Responding to questions put forward by the IPU missions, the Speaker conveyed details of last week’s arrest of two MPs. The Speaker noted that as soon as he was informed of the arrests, he telephoned the Commissioner of Police, and asked for the immediate release of the detained MPs. He also said that an emergency meeting of the Committee on Privileges was held following the detainments, and that the committee had asked for the immediate release of the MPs as well.
He highlighted that Article 202 of the Standing Orders state that no Member of Parliament could be arrested when a motion of no-confidence against the President, Members of the Cabinet, or Members of Independent Institutions is before parliament.
The Speaker also spoke of obstacles faced by the parliament. He elaborated on progressing and planned parliamentary work and significant bills currently before parliament.
Concluding the meeting, Abdulla Shahid thanked the IPU for its continued assistance to the People’s Majlis.
The Human Rights Mission will depart on 23 November 2012, and the IPUs parliamentary expert will leave on 28 November 2012. Before departure, the IPU Human Rights Mission will host a Press Conference on 22 November 2012.