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Progressive Congress Coalition declares UTF agreement unconstitutional and illegal- calls for immediate termination of agreement

MNN

Published

3 years ago

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The opposition alliance Progressive Congress Coalition has released a statement calling for the termination of the UthuruThilafalhu Agreement with India.

Under the controversial agreement, the strategic and vital Uthuruthilafalhu (UTF)naval base would be essentially handed over to India for development, maintenance and other vital tasks for a period of 60 years, according to leaked drafts of the agreement.

In their statement, the Progressive Congress Coalition noted that the Defense Ministry did not submit a copy of the agreement to the Parliament’s Committee of National Security Services which is currently investigating the agreement. They further raised concern on the committee not taking the initiative to procure a copy of the agreement.

They also noted that showing excerpts of the clauses from the agreement in a closed door meeting does not is not enough to convince the public that the agreement does not pose a danger to the independence and sovereignty of the Maldives.

The Progressive Congress Coalition continued on to state that according to the information given by the Defense Ministry at the committee meeting, all Indians stationed at UTF naval base in the Maldives would be given diplomatic immunity and would be able to extend their stay for up to 15 years.

They also stated that under this agreement, Indian military personnel would be allowed to reside at the UTF naval base and that the agreement was made in contravention to Article 115 (K) (2) of the Constitution of Maldives which states that the Maldives may not enter into any treaty or agreement with any international organization or country without the express approval of the Parliament. The Progressive Congress Coalition stated that the UTF agreement was a threat to the continued wellbeing of the sovereignty and independence of the country.

They also noted that under the agreement UTF naval base would be operated by a committee led by the Indian High Commissioner and another Indian for the next 15 years. They alleged that this would result in the Maldives losing full control of the UTF naval base and stated that the opposition alliance cannot accept any such agreements.

They also rejected the accusations that the agreement was made under President Abdulla Yameen’s administration. This claim has been backed by the fact that the agreement was signed at a public ceremony between Defense Minister Mariya Didi and Indian Foreign Minister Dr S. Jaishankar on the 19th of February 2020.

They also noted that President Abdulla Yameen’s administration had ordered for the removal of the Indian helicopters along with the technicians and pilots handling the vehicle. They also revealed that the former President’s administration had ordered to refuse to renew the Visa of the Indian military personnel attached to the helicopters due to stationing foreign solider being illegal under the Constitution of Maldives.

The Progressive Congress Coalition declared the agreement as unconstitutional and illegal and called for the immediate resignation of all involved including President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid and Speaker of the Parliament Mohamed Nasheed. They also described as those involved being traitors to the nation and assured that they would terminate all such agreements under a government led by the opposition alliance.

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Nasheed to form new party

FI

Published

12 months ago

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17/05/2023

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The main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s leader Mohamed Nasheed has decided to form a new political party.

Nasheed initiated a separate political movement within MDP, ‘Fikuregge Dhirun’, following his loss in MDP’s presidential primary held back in January. After major conflicts with the government and its policies – all lawmakers from the faction tendered their resignation from MDP on Wednesday.

The move came after Central Henveiru MP Ali Azim was expelled from the party on Tuesday and banned from rejoining for at least one year over involvement in opposition political activities surrounding the Chagos archipelago dispute.

The 12 members who resigned from MDP on Wednesday are;

Parliament’s Deputy Speaker, North Galolhu MP Eva Abdulla
Ungoofaaru MP Mohamed Waheed (Wadde)
North Maafannu MP Imthiyaz Fahumy (Inthi)
West Henveiru MP Hassan Latheef
Hulhudhoo MP Ilyas Labeeb
North Kulhudhuffushi MP Yasir Abdul Latheef
Vilufushi MP Hassan Afeef
Central Maafannu MP Ibrahim Rasheed (Bonde)
Madaveli MP Hussain Firushan
Thoddoo MP Hassan Shiyan (Gita)
North Mahchangoalhi MP Mohamed Rasheed (Boadhigu)
Gadhdhoo MP Ahmed Zahir
All 12 members are close acquittances of Nasheed. MP Hassan Latheef, during a meeting at Bodufenvalhuge on Wednesday, announced Nasheed’s decision to form a new political party. The meeting was attended by supporters of Nasheed.

Should Nasheed form a new political party, that party would be the largest opposition party in terms of members in the parliament, thereby, the minority party. The minority party at present, opposition PPM-PNC coalition has only eight members in the parliament.

Despite the resignation of the 12 MPs, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih continues to hold full control of the Parliament with 56 MPs.

Source(s): sun.mv

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MPs loyal to Nasheed leave MDP

FI

Published

12 months ago

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17/05/2023

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Multiple members of the main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) loyal to the party’s leader Mohamed Nasheed have left the party.

The members who resigned from MDP include 12 MPs. They include Deputy Speaker Eva Abdulla, MP Mohamed Waheed, MP Imthiyaz Fahmy (Inthi), MP Hassan Latheef, MP Ilyas Labeeb, MP Yasir Abdul Latheef, MP Hassan Afeef, MP Ibrahim Rasheed (Bonde), MP Hussain Firushan, MP Hassan Shiyan, MP Mohamed Rasheed (Boadhigu), and MP Ahmed Zahir.

They submitted their resignation letters Wednesday.

The move comes after MDP’s parliamentary group had requested action against Inthi, Hassan Latheef, Ilyas, Yasir, and Central Henveiru MP Ali Azim earlier this week, for forming an alliance with the opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), Jumhoory Party (JP) and Maldives National Party (MNP), after accusing the government of failure to protect the interests of the Maldivian people in the case lodged with the International Tribunal of the Law of the Seas (ITLOS) over the disputed maritime territory between Maldives and Mauritius.

The party’s disciplinary committee decided to expel Azim from the party on Tuesday.

They are all members of Nasheed’s ‘Fikuregge Dhirun’ faction.

However, Nasheed has yet to resign from the party.

Despite the resignation of the 12 MPs, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih continues to hold full control of the Parliament with 56 MPs.

Source(s): sun.mv

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The Cambodian Prime Minister arrives in the Maldives on an official visit

FI

Published

1 year ago

on

15/01/2023

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The Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, arrived Sunday morning on an official visit to the Maldives at the invitation of H.E. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. It is Samdech Techo Prime Minister Hun Sen’s first visit to the Maldives.

The Cambodian Prime Minister and accompanying delegation were received at Velana International Airport (VIA) by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdulla Shahid (ODRI). The government will hold a ceremony on Monday to officially welcome the Cambodian Prime Minister to the Maldives.

During the visit, President Solih would meet with Samdech Techo Prime Minister Hun Sen and hold official talks on strengthening bilateral cooperation, followed by the exchange of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) between the two countries. President Solih and the Cambodian Prime Minister would also deliver a joint statement on the outcomes of their discussions.

The Maldives and Cambodia established diplomatic relations on September 21, 1995.

Source(s): President Office.

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