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MP Ghassan Maumoon poses serious questions to the Defence Ministry on Hydrographic Surveying agreement.

MNN

Published

2 years ago

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Opposition Deputy Leader MP Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon has posed critical questions to the Defence Ministry on the inquiry by the Parliament’s Committee on National Security Service into the hydrographic surveying agreement between the Maldives and India.

While the inquiry was launched after a complaint was submitted alleging that the agreement poses a threat to national security of the nation, this is the first time members from the Defence Ministry and the military were summoned on the subject.

At the inquiry, MP Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon requested the ministry to provide the committee with the amendments brought to the initial hydrographic surveying agreement made under former President Abdulla Yameen’s administration. He also questioned on what basis the ministry believed that the agreement would bring in massive revenues for the state and why the changes were made to the agreement.

According to the current agreement, the Government of Maldives will only be entitled to a 35% commission if the data from the survey is sold in the Maldives and if it is sold elsewhere, the Government of Maldives would receive only 25% commission as royalty.

“I have just noticed that in your presentation you emphasized that the surveying would bring in massive income for the state and I find that disturbing. What is the purpose of that? Are you developing a policy based on the sale of strategic information?” questioned MP Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon.

While the members of the military did not answer to the question MP Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon further stated that “This is not President Yameen’s administration. President Yameen did what he wanted to, but he did not sign any agreements (hydrographic surveying agreement with India). This administration has made changes to what President Yameen had intended to do”.

He further noted regrettably that the government had politicized the agreement, referring to the Defence Ministry’s narrative that the agreement was the product of the previous administration. However, the agreement along with the UTF agreement was a part of a Defence action plan signed under President Abdulla Yameen’s administration. According to sources close to the matter, the agreements proposed then did not include any foreign military presence and only accepted was technical and financial aid.

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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

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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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