The United Nations today said it is "important" that the circumstances leading to last week's "traumatic" events should be probed as part of a national reconciliation process.
The United Nations today said it is "important" that the circumstances leading to last week's "traumatic" events should be probed as part of a national reconciliation process, but made it clear that it should be a Maldivian-led process.
Stressing on the need for a probe, UN assistant secretary-general for political affairs Oscar Fernandez-Taranco said: "The constitution has provisions as to how this should happen. As we have seen, the President has announced his intention to open an investigation".
Fernandez-Taranco said the UN did not come to Maldives to undertake an investigation as this would require mandate either from the General Assembly, the Security Council or the Human Rights Council.
"For us it is extremely important that this (probe) be a Maldivian process," he told reporters at the UN office here adding that there cannot be an external solution.
"We believe that it is important that events and circumstances leading to the event should be investigated, it should be an important part of a national reconciliation process.
"It is extremely important that uncertainties that have surrounded these events shall be clarified," he said.
Asked if the UN was in favour of early polls as demanded by ousted President Mohamed Nasheed, he said: "The election is something that the Maldivian must decide. The UN has no opinion as to matter when it should be held".
He also stressed on the need for an inclusive political dialogue to deal with the situation.
He spoke against the alleged human rights violation by the Maldivian police and called for restraint from all sides.
In a statement, Fernandez-Taranco said that since his arrival on Thursday, he held discussions with key political actors, representatives of state and civil society to hear different perspectives in relation to these developments.
"Throughout, I have emphasized the need for calm. Both demonstrators and security forces must exercise utmost restraint. There is a need for sufficient space for a peaceful solution to the present crisis to take hold. Therefore I call upon all parties to ensure that no incitements to violence and acts of violence occur," he said.
Fernandez-Taranco pointed out that Maldives cannot afford a descent into violence and protracted instability that would jeopardize the progress achieved by the country since 2008, and its economic future.
"While considerable controversy persists about the events of recent days, all actors I spoke with agreed on the importance of preserving the democratic gains that have been made. All said they were committed to the constitution, which is widely held up as a model of reform," he said.
He said there was a broad consensus on the need to protect human rights and strengthen the rule of law throughout the Maldives, including the performance of the judiciary.
"There is an urgent need for all sides concerned to come to an agreement on forming a government, based on the principle of inclusiveness and national unity, and reach a consensus on the way forward.
"There needs to be a credible and independent investigation by a national mechanism into the developments of the past weeks, and the events that led up to them.
"As I have emphasized throughout, only the people of the Maldives can find the way forward. There are no external solutions to internal problems of the kind we have witnessed here".
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