Maldives government comments on autopsy report

For Immediate Release

MDP/2007/PR-051

Date: 21 April 2007 (Saturday)

Maldives government comments on autopsy report

of Mr. Hussain Salah premature prevarication

The Maldivian Democratic Party regards public comments made by Maldives Foreign Minister Dr. Ahmed Shaheed on 21 April 2007 on the autopsy report of Mr. Hussain Salah as premature prevarication and an attempt to distort the larger truth surrounding the cause of death of the deceased.

Mr. Hussain Salah's post-mortem examination was completed in Colombo in the afternoon of 21 April 2007. The autopsy report was handed over to the Maldives High Commission with strict instructions for the sealed envelope to be opened in the concurrent presence of the deceased’s family members and Maldives Police personnel. The family of the deceased is yet to be summoned to the High Maldives High Commission in Sri Lanka to open the autopsy report.

Maldives Foreign Minister Dr. Ahmed Shaheed made a statement to the Maldives and international media from 1715 Hrs on 21 April that the preliminary results of Mr. Salah's post-mortem has ruled out violence and establishes death by drowning. However, the preliminary report was at the time yet to be opened in the presence of family representatives and the Maldives Police. The Maldivian Democratic Party condemns this obvious prevarication by the Maldivian government.

The Maldivian Democratic Party believes that decisions and official public announcements on the cause and circumstances surrounding the death of the late Mr. Hussain Salah should be based on a legal review of all the results outlined in the autopsy report.

Statement issued on behalf of the Maldivian Democratic Party by MDP Secretary-General Hamid Abdul Ghafoor. For enquiries please call+960 3340044 , email: secretariat@mdp.org.mv