Sunday
22nd Dec 2024
Dhivehi Edition
President Yameen
Will revert the decision to accept Mauritius’ sovereignty over Chagos: President Yameen
President Yameen. Photo: PPM
Opposition leader and Former President, Abdulla Yameen Abdul Qayyoom has promised to revert the decision made by the current administration to support Mauritius in its claims over sovereignty on Chagos Islands, if elected.
Speaking at an event held at the PPM headquarters, the 2023 presidential candidate stated that President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih boldly stepped on the privileges of the parliament and sent a letter of acceptance to the Prime Minister of Mauritius, illegally.
President Yameen claimed that India was behind the government's amended stand to let Mauritius have a significant portion of the Maldivian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) over the territorial dispute.
President Yameen stated that it was safe to assume that the contents of the letter hoped to appease the governments of Mauritius and India, however, he refused to accept anything less than the maritime territory already assigned to Maldives. He said that he will not accept or respect any unlawful decisions on part of the government, in his administration.
He assured that he will revert the government's decision if PPM was elected in 2023.
Chagos Islands share a common EEZ with the Maldives, which was why Mauritius initiated a territorial case to the International Tribunal for the Laws of the Sea (ITLOS) against Maldives.
During the ITLOS hearing, Attorney General Riffath Ibrahim told the court that the President had expressed his acceptance of Mauritian claims of sovereignty over Chagos to the Mauritian Prime Minister in a letter, on August 22, this year.
President Yameen has repeatedly called on the government to disclose the contents of the letter sent by the president, on a whim, accepting Mauritius’ claims. He stated that he will not honor a letter sent by the president against the law and protocols.