Three Drafting Panel Members have abstained from work

Friday, March 14th, 2008

3 members of the Drafting Panel of the Drafting Committee of the People’s Special Majlis have abstained from performing their assigned duties.

The 3 members who has stopped carrying out their duties are Hassan Latheef (Hassan ko), Ahmed Abdulla Afeef and Ahmed Amir (Fares).

Speaking to Miadhu Daily yesterday night Hassan Latheef said they have abstained from performing panel duties as Speaker of the Special Majlis has not defended the Panel Members against the rumors and lies being spread by the ruling Dhivehi Rahyithunge Party (DRP) causing the Drafting Panel to lose credibility and stature.

“DRP at their press conferences are claiming that the Drafting Panel of the Drafting Panel is not formed as per the Majlis regulations. They say that the Panel consists of boys from the Drafting Committee’s neighborhood. They claim that the Panel is formed privately by the Chairman without any authority of the Majlis. They are directly telling the people that draft of the Transitional Chapter was formed according to Chairman’s own thinking without any consideration to any other members, and I have information that DRP has even mentioned names of the Panel members at the press conferences” said Hassan.

Hassan said that if DRP is spreading such mindless stories it will certainly affect the credibility of the Panel and may to come to a stage when the public may not accept the work being carried out by the Panel at the Drafting Committee. Hassan said fearing such consequences Panel members has asked Speaker of the Majlis to respond to the DRP’s attack on the panel and to reveal the truth to the public. Hr said it is the responsibility of the Speaker to protect the credibility and integrity of the Majlis.

“When DRP accused the Panel and the Chairman of the Drafting Committee, we asked the Speaker to clarify the matter to the public. We clearly told him that if he not willing to come out and defend the Drafting Panel and reveal the truth to the public, we will not continue with the assigned duties of the panel. Speaker last Wednesday met me and asked me to continue the work. He told me if we stopped carrying out our work it will affect the constitutional reform process. He also said he will make a statement to the media regarding the matter” Hassan said.

Hassan Latheef further revealed that Speaker Qasim has not lived up to his words to clarify the matter to the public. As such any further continuation of panel work is out of the question Hassan said.

Hassan revealed that Drafting Panel of the Drafting Committee was an important part of the Special Majlis. He said he had a letter of appointment to the Panel by the former Speaker Abbsas Ibrahim.

“Speaker’s actions are very conflicting. We do not believe that he has to take so much time to reveal the truth. It may due to his position as the Vice President of DRP, that he does not want to make any statements that might conflict with party interests” Hassan said.

Miadhu Daily was unable to get a comment from the other 2 members as well as a comment from Qasim Ibrahim, Speaker of the Special Majlis on the issue.

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