Local

“India first” policy in action: Maldives Foreign Ministry & Indian media voice against the people of Maldives.

Published

2 years ago

20/11/2021

On 17^th November 2021 the Foreign Ministry of Maldives published a statement, denouncing and disregarding the public concerns surrounding the controversial and secretive military agreements between the Maldives and India. The statement is being used as fuel by Indian media to spread misinformation surrounding the legitimate concerns of the Maldivians who are calling for the removal of Indian military presence in the Maldives.

The statement, which curiously mislabeled the “Indian Military Out” as “India Out” has been espoused by Indian media as the statement fundamentally disregarded the concerns of a vast majority of the public, labeling the calls for removal of Indian military presence in the Maldives and transparency surrounding the agreement as “False Allegations” and the sentiments of a “Small group of individuals”.

The legitimacy of the concerns are validated by the acknowledgement from several high-profile individuals even within the current administration including Chairperson of the current ruling party MP Hassan Latheef.

O 13^th November 2021 the Chairperson of the current main ruling party MDP’s MP Hassan Latheef also acknowledged the legitimacy of the public concerns and called for transparency in the military agreements. Tweeting on the issue, MP Hassan Latheef noted that it is imperative that the government adopts a transparent approach, to clear the doubts and concerns of the public on the military agreement.

Moreover, based on the overwhelming support for the movement, it cannot be simply dismissed as the sentiments of a “small group of individuals” as the 5 largest rallies held since the 2018 Presidential Election has been to call for the removal of Indian military presence in the Maldives.

While Indian ultra-nationalistic new channels like WION has used this statement to discredit the “Indian Military Out” movement, the truth of the matter is to the contrary.

In a segment by the WION, they claimed that there was no Indian military presence in Malé. While this is technically true, the Indian military presence is stationed around in other key parts of the Maldives such as the Hanimaadhoo Airport, Villingili Indian Radar stations, Kaadehdhoo Airport and Gan International Airport and the UTF naval base.

Another key misinformation disseminated by Indian media based on the statement by the Foreign Ministry of Maldives is that the “small group of individuals” were calling for “India Out” instead of “Indian military Out”. Indian media groups did not hesitate to label the Maldivian public concerns as anti-Indian sentiments targeted at the Indian expat population in the Maldives.

Ultra-right-wing media groups such as WION labelled the calls for the removal of Indian military presence in the Maldives as an attack against the Indian expat population in the Maldives. Their coverage of the issue portrayed the Maldives according to their age-old image of the Maldives being their “backyard”.

Moreover, while the Indian media groups are stating that there is no Indian military presence in the Maldives, the current Maldivian Defence Minister Mariya Didi confirms to the contrary. According to the Defence Minister Mariya Didi, Indian military personnel are present in the Maldives. On 3^rd November 2021 Mariya Didi stated that Indian military personnel in the Maldives were unarmed, confirming their presence.

The statement by the current administration is testament to their resolve to hold on to the military agreements with India, even if it is at the cost of its own people. When President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih stated on 17^th December 2018 that his administration will adopt a “India first” policy, many assumed it would be in terms of foreign policy shifting towards India and its allies. However, the true meaning of “India first” now seems to be that the President Solih administration will value Indian interests over all, even those of its own citizens.

Local

Nasheed to form new party

Published

11 months ago

17/05/2023

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

Local

MPs loyal to Nasheed leave MDP

Published

11 months ago

17/05/2023

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

Local

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

Published

1 year ago

15/01/2023

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.