Maldives' EEZ Dispute: Opposition Party Calls for Delay in ITLOS Judgment

The Maldivian opposition party, People's Progressive Party (PPM), has strongly condemned the recent decision by the Maldivian government to retract its stance on the contentious maritime boundary dispute between the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of the Republic of Maldives and the Chagos Archipelago, claimed by the Republic of Mauritius. The PPM has expressed its concerns over the potential long-lasting socioeconomic impact of the decision on the Maldives and has called for public intervention.

According to the PPM, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's decision to withdraw any claims over the historic EEZ of the Maldives without consulting the wider public is a matter of serious concern. The decision is in direct violation of the Constitution of Maldives, which mandates the President to ensure the territorial integrity of the Republic of Maldives.

The Maldives, being a fishing nation, relies heavily on its rich tuna stocks for both consumption and export. As tuna is a migratory species, industrial fishing activities by Mauritius in the waters surrounding the Chagos Archipelago could result in a depletion of tuna stocks in the region, directly affecting the Maldives' fishing industry.

The opposition party, PPM, has urged all political parties, civil societies, and the public to raise their concerns and appeal to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) to delay passing a judgement on this issue. This would allow the Maldivian people to present their sentiments on this sensitive matter at the tribunal. The ITLOS is set to make a decision on the ongoing dispute between the Maldives and Mauritius over the delimitation of maritime boundaries in the Indian Ocean (Mauritius/Maldives case) on Friday, April 28.

The PPM plans to send a letter to the ITLOS to express their concerns and request a delay in the decision-making process, in order to allow further public discussion and involvement in this crucial matter that could have significant implications on the Maldives' economy and future generations.