Presidential Commission on Investigating Murders and Enforced Disappearances has gazetted its Articles of Association that requires members to be confidential on matters investigated by the commission.
The Articles of Association of the commission states no party attending the commission meetings shall reveal information of the investigation it carries. Commission members have also been mandated to observe confidentiality in all matters, unless otherwise the information is classified public by the commission. In addition, the regulation also requires to be efficient and practice integrity in carrying out investigations and taking necessary measures after investigating the cases.
The Articles of Association of the commission also requires members to practice professional standards in carrying out the duties of a member. Members cannot use any information or power to benefit one's self interest or the interest of another. Members must always observe a professional discipline and character all times and not be influenced in carrying out the duties and exercising power of a commission member.
The commission has been granted legal authority and can now exercise the same powers of implementation agencies stated in the Criminal Procedures Act in addition to warranting people for investigations. The Articles of Association also states the commission can also seek court warrants to produce them to the commission in police custody, if individuals fail to obey commission's orders to attend investigations. The commission has also been granted the power to seek documents in government institutions on matters related to investigations.
The Articles of Association mandating confidentiality on commission members follows disputes when the chair of the commission Husnu Suood shared the findings of the commission with the speaker of parliament and members of the parliament. The speaker has since stated parliamentarians would not reveal sensitive information to public.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has also requested authorities not to reveal sensitive information of commission's findings on investigation of murdered journalist Rilwan Abdulla to the public.