MNDF told to disclose part of UTF agreement

Information Commissioner’s Office has instructed Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) to disclose some of the contents of the agreement between the Maldivian and Indian military to develop the Uthuru Thila Falhu (UTF) base. 

The Information Commissioner’s Office issued the instructions in response to a case lodged by a reporter following lack of response from MNDF to a letter seeking details on six aspects of the UTF agreement. 

In a hearing on Thursday morning to make a decision in the case, Information Commissioner Ahid Rasheed said that MNDF had refused to disclose the information citing national security concerns, but the information the reporter sought does not pose a threat to national security. 

“Some of this information has also been disclosed in a press briefing by MNDF,” he said. 

Ahid said that the MNDF has already publicly stated that there will be technical personnel and not military personnel at the base, and that it will take three years for the project, after which they will remained stationed at the base for 15 additional years. 

THE INFORMATION SOUGHT: 

• The institutions to which the technical personnel belong to 

• Their duration of stay in Maldives 

• The number of technical personnel who will be stationed at the base 

• Details of diplomatic immunity to the personnel, if applicable 

• Details of accommodation and other expenses 

• Details of the USD 50 million loan under the agreement 

“We therefore instruct for this office to be informed after releasing the requested information within seven days,” said Ahid. 

Maldivian government has stated that Maldives will have full ownership of the facilities established at the UTF base under the project, and that the facilities will be operated by Maldives.