New Delhi:

Former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed on Friday expressed concerns over the repercussions of India’s recent boycott call, particularly in the realm of tourism. Mr Nasheed, currently in India, also issued an apology on behalf of the Maldivian people.

The diplomatic strain between India and the Maldives, simmering for a while, hit another low as President Mohamed Muizzu, perceived as pro-China, announced plans to expel all Indian military personnel from the country by March 10. This move raised tensions and prompted a boycott call from India, impacting various sectors, notably tourism, a crucial component of the Maldivian economy.

“It has impacted the Maldives a lot, and I am actually here in India. I’m very worried about this. I want to say the people of the Maldives are sorry, we are sorry that this has happened. We want Indian people to come on their holidays to the Maldives, and there will not be any change in our hospitality,” Mr Nasheed said as quoted by news agency ANI. 

Mr Nasheed acknowledged India’s historically responsible approach in dealing with such matters, stating that instead of exerting pressure, India proposed a diplomatic discussion.

“When the president of the Maldives wanted Indian military personnel to leave, you know what India did? They did not twist their arms. They did not display muscle, but just simply told the government of Maldives, ‘Okay, let’s have a discussion on that’,” he said. 

On the recent defence agreement between Maldives and China, Mr Nasheed dismissed it as not being a defence pact but rather an acquisition of equipment. 

“I think that Muizzu wanted to buy some equipment, mainly rubber bullets and tear gas. It is very unfortunate that the government thought that there is a need for more tear gas and more rubber bullets. Governance is not through the barrel of the gun,” he said. 

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar recently stated that misunderstandings can arise between nations and expressed optimism in resolving the dispute through diplomatic means.

“Humanity is humanity. Diplomacy is diplomacy, and politics is politics. The whole world doesn’t always run with obligation…so if we have encountered such a situation, the solution will come through diplomacy only,” Mr Jaishankar said.

“We have to make people understand, sometimes people don’t even have complete knowledge of things, sometimes people get misguided on what others say,” he added.

Earlier, the Maldives announced that it would not extend the agreement that permitted India to conduct hydrographic surveys in collaboration with the Maldives.

President Muizzu broke from the established tradition by opting not to visit India on his first official trip, instead choosing to visit Turkey and then China.

New Delhi:

Former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed on Friday expressed concerns over the repercussions of India’s recent boycott call, particularly in the realm of tourism. Mr Nasheed, currently in India, also issued an apology on behalf of the Maldivian people.

The diplomatic strain between India and the Maldives, simmering for a while, hit another low as President Mohamed Muizzu, perceived as pro-China, announced plans to expel all Indian military personnel from the country by March 10. This move raised tensions and prompted a boycott call from India, impacting various sectors, notably tourism, a crucial component of the Maldivian economy.

“It has impacted the Maldives a lot, and I am actually here in India. I’m very worried about this. I want to say the people of the Maldives are sorry, we are sorry that this has happened. We want Indian people to come on their holidays to the Maldives, and there will not be any change in our hospitality,” Mr Nasheed said as quoted by news agency ANI. 

Mr Nasheed acknowledged India’s historically responsible approach in dealing with such matters, stating that instead of exerting pressure, India proposed a diplomatic discussion.

“When the president of the Maldives wanted Indian military personnel to leave, you know what India did? They did not twist their arms. They did not display muscle, but just simply told the government of Maldives, ‘Okay, let’s have a discussion on that’,” he said. 

On the recent defence agreement between Maldives and China, Mr Nasheed dismissed it as not being a defence pact but rather an acquisition of equipment. 

“I think that Muizzu wanted to buy some equipment, mainly rubber bullets and tear gas. It is very unfortunate that the government thought that there is a need for more tear gas and more rubber bullets. Governance is not through the barrel of the gun,” he said. 

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar recently stated that misunderstandings can arise between nations and expressed optimism in resolving the dispute through diplomatic means.

“Humanity is humanity. Diplomacy is diplomacy, and politics is politics. The whole world doesn’t always run with obligation…so if we have encountered such a situation, the solution will come through diplomacy only,” Mr Jaishankar said.

“We have to make people understand, sometimes people don’t even have complete knowledge of things, sometimes people get misguided on what others say,” he added.

Earlier, the Maldives announced that it would not extend the agreement that permitted India to conduct hydrographic surveys in collaboration with the Maldives.

President Muizzu broke from the established tradition by opting not to visit India on his first official trip, instead choosing to visit Turkey and then China.

A commuter takes pictures with his mobile phone of a decorated wall along a street ahead of the country’s presidential election, in Male.
| Photo Credit: AFP

Over 2,80,000 people of the Maldives will have a say in the presidential polls on Saturday [September 9, 2023], a race that has been shaped by three presidents – the incumbent, a breakaway leader, and a jailed politician.  

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih is seeking a record second term amid a host of political challenges, including a diminished party, after his former colleague Mohamed Nasheed — Parliamentary Speaker and former President — quit the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) earlier this year amid growing political differences.

Following the split that sharply divided party loyalists, Mr. Nasheed’s backers set up a new party called The Democrats, whose candidate, legislator Ilyas Labeeb, is among seven rivals challenging President Solih.  Male Mayor Mohamed Muizzu, who is running from the People’s National Congress — jailed President Abdulla Yameen was barred from contesting — has drawn considerable support, locals note.

Two other candidates drawing attention are Jumhooree Party leader Qasim Ibrahim and Ahmed Faris Maumoon, son of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom who ruled Maldives with an iron first for three decades until the Indian Ocean Archipelago’s shift to democracy in 2008. In a likely scenario where no candidate secures over 50 % of the mandate, a second round of elections will be held.

During his term, India-friendly President Solih has focussed on education, health and civic infrastructure, carrying out a host of projects in capital Male and the atolls, many of which are backed by grants and loans from New Delhi.

While Indian assistance in defence, infrastructure and education have grown, critics of the Solih administration question its “over-reliance” on India.  Former President Abdulla Yameen, whose regime was known for its China tilt, sought to mobilise popular support against “Indian intervention”, leading the ‘India Out’ campaign between his two court convictions.

Days before the election, government critics circulated a letter on social media claiming it was communication between the foreign ministers of India and Maldives, on India using Maldivian land for Indian military operations. Both, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maldives, and the High Commission of India in Male rejected the letter as fake and fabricated.

Key issues

While the world observes elections in the island nation for its geopolitical stakes in the region, for Maldivians, the election is more about concerns surrounding land in the congested capital, and their economic fortunes in an economy strained by debt and rapid, asymmetric development.

On the penultimate day of campaign on Thursday, Male’s streets were lit up with some characteristic late-night rallies, as bold posters of candidates pop up every few yards. “We have seen the voter turn out increase in the last three presidential elections from 86.58 % (2003), 87.20 % (2013) and 89.22 % (2018),” an official of the Election Commission said on Monday.

In addition to capital Male, polling stations have been set up in 189 atolls, apart from tourist resorts to enable the scattered population exercise their franchise in the country’s fourth presidential election since its  switch to democracy in 2008.