By Elishya Perera
MALE, Maldives (CWBN)_ A motion proposed by Member of Parliament and senior opposition figure Ahmed Shiyam, to disclose details of the agreements between Maldives and India, was rejected by the Speaker of the Parliament Mohamed Nasheed, yesterday (7th October). Nasheed pointed out that such matters of national security and foreign relations are under the mandate of the president and affirmed that agreements relevant to the public would be signed with the approval of the parliament.
The issue comes after the Defence Ministry refused to disclose information regarding Indian forces stationed in Maldives. During a press conference held on Tuesday (6th October), Defence Ministry’s spokesperson Mohamed Shimaah said the information was a matter of national security and that such matters can be classified from public inquiries based on the potential consequences affecting bilateral relations.
Concerns were also extended regarding the Dornier aircraft, recently gifted by India to Maldives, four-years after the agreement was signed during the former president’s administration. MP Shiyam pointed out that while Indian militants are currently stationed in Maldives for the operations and maintenance of the aircraft, the government has failed to disclose the details of the agreement.
However, Nasheed announced that the motion “cannot be accepted by parliament”, and pointed out that the information could be accessed through the Parliamentary Committee on National Security.
Nasheed’s rejection was met with strong disagreement, with MP Abdulla Jabir questioning the Speaker’s decision against taking a vote on the issue, and further questioned the parliamentary regulations that permitted Nasheed to do so. Nasheed responded, “They are all the articles of the regulations”.
MP Shiyam marked the day as one where “the Parliament took a step back from democracy”, claiming that “the Parliament should be locked up as long as this government remains in power”.
