The Law Will Catch Up With General Shamal: Yameen

Opposition leader, former President Abdullah Yameen Abdul Gayyoom has warned Chief of Defence Force Maj. Gen. Abdullah Shamal that "the law will catch up" with him.

The former President said this while addressing the crowd that had gathered at an event to campaign for the India Out movement held in Mahibadhoo (Alifu Dhaalu Atoll).

Speaking about the Uthuru Thila Falhu agreement, former President Yameen said that people "who knew what India was like" would not invite India to carry out such "dangerous work". He pointed out that the Uthuru Thila Falhu agreement, that had been signed between the Maldivian and Indian governments in early 2021, was "dangerous"; he said that the Uthuru Thila Falhu agreement would not be disclosed to the Majlis, no matter how much parliamentarians were to request for an opportunity to study the agreement. He said that this was because the text of the agreement contained a clause that prohibited it from being disclosed to any third party.

The former President said that the Maldives would have no power over the facilities at Uthuru Thila Falhu, and that the facilities were being developed because the Indian navy currently did not have any harbours to dock their deep water vessels. In addition, Indian naval vessels would no longer have to seek permission from the Maldivian government to enter Maldivian waters, and would only have to "inform" the Maldives of the entry. As long as the agreement remained in force, and as long as an Indian puppet governs the Maldives, Uthuru Thila Falhu will remain Indian property.

"Indian naval vessels have always had to seek permission before entering Maldivian territory", said the former President. "Regardless of the urgency, no naval vessel can enter without permission. As per the agreement, Indian naval vessels will no longer need permission to enter".

He also pointed out that the agreement permitted the Indian military to bring in weapons, without restriction, to arm the soldiers stationed there. He said that Defence Minister Mariya Ahmed Didi and Chief of Defence Force Maj. Gen. Abdullah Shamal could not deny this.

The former President described the problem of Indian soldiers in the Maldives as a threat more dangerous than COVID-19.

He said that Maj. Gen. Abdullah Shamal and the other generals who worked with him should take responsibility for it. "I remind General Shamal and those generals who work with him that a day will come when the law will catch up with you and you will be forced to explain to the Maldivian people who well you carried out your duties".

He said that the Maldivian military did not swear an oath to protect the government. Rather, he said, the Maldivian military had sworn an oath to defend the Islamic faith and Maldivian sovereignty. He said that no Maldivian soldier had the option to betray his oath out of fear of losing his job.