Ministry of Defence Unable to Answer Who Poses Threat as a Result of India Out Movement

The delegation from the Ministry of Defence and the Maldives National Defence Force had been unable to identify who would actually pose a national security threat to the Maldives as a result of the "India Out" movement.

The Parliament Committee on National Security Services (also known as the 241 Committee) have launched a full-scale inquiry into the possible ill effects the "India Out" movement may have on the Maldives. The inquiry was launched by the request of Majlis Speaker Mohamed Nasheed, who is also the president of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

At the session, and on other occasions, the Ministry of Defence and the MNDF had stated that the "India Out" movement posed a threat to national security. Minister Mariay said that the movement had been discussed in all of the military councils, and all members of all of the councils were unanimous that the movement posed a threat to national security.

Once the session was open for questions, MP Ali Hussain (JP-Kendhoo) had asked who exactly posed a national security threat to the Maldives as a result of the "India Out" movement.

"Who is posing this threat to national security?" he asked. "Are they people from Tanzania or the Cayman islands? I am not necessarily for or against the campaign, but who is threatening national security as a result of this capmaign? I want an answer to that question."

Although the delegation from the Ministry of Defence and the MNDF had repeatedly stated that the movement posed a national security threat, they had not mentioned who actually posed this threat.

Chief of Defence Force Maj. Gen. Abdullah Shamal stated that the Indian military was not present in the Maldives to defend Maldivian sovereignty and independence. They did not operate in the Maldives for the purposes of defence. However, he had said, a lot of work with regards to security was being done with India. Most of this work involved humanitarian aid, he had said. He said that the Indian military's helicopter and the Dornier was used "everyday" to transport sick people throughout the country.