Committee rejects disclosure of full May 6 bombing report

Oct 23, 2023, 11:36 AM
Committee meeting for inquiry into attack on President Nasheed. -- Photo: Hussain Shayaah

Committee meeting for inquiry into attack on President Nasheed. -- Photo: Hussain Shayaah

After considering a request from a member of the public, parliament's security services committee has decided not to disclose the full report of its inquiry into the bomb attack to assassinate Speaker Mohamed Nasheed.

The decision by the 241 committee, which was formed under Article 241 of the constitution, came in response to a request for the full report filed under the right to information law.

The committee released the report in July 2021 with some information kept classified.

A committee meeting held on Monday to consider the request to share the full report with the redacted parts took place behind closed doors without either access to the media or a live stream from the parliament secretariat.

After the meeting, some members of the committee confirmed to Adhadhu that MPs voted not to disclose the report.

The information was previously kept secret on national security grounds and MPs decided to maintain the stance.

After deliberations at a committee meeting last Wednesday, MPs decided to review the redacted information in the inquiry report before making a decision on disclosure.

The parliamentary inquiry report proposed a total of 45 recommendations to the government on strengthening intelligence and security mechanisms and countering terrorism and radicalism.

The 45 recommendations included 29 recommendations on countering extremism, 10 recommendations related to Nasheed's security and six recommendations related to financial intelligence.

Recommendations on countering extremism included enacting a new law on intelligence, allocating a separate budget for counter-terrorism and setting up a strong mechanism for sharing confidential information among state agencies.

Recommendations related to Nasheed's security included stationing armed soldiers for 24-hour security operations at his residence, transporting Nasheed in an armored car, vetting the security team and conducting regular refresher courses for the security team.

The bomb attack to assassinate Nasheed on May 6, 2021 came as he walked with security officials from his home to his car waiting on Majeedhee Magu. An improvised explosive device attached to a parked motorcycle on the corner was remotely detonated.

Adhuham Ahmed Rasheed, a principal actor who operated the remote in the area, was later found guilty and sentenced to prison.

In addition to Adhuham, who confessed to the crime, the trials of other suspects charged in the case are ongoing at the Criminal Court.

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