PPM holds discussions with Nasheed under Yameen’s instruction

Opposition PPM-PNC coalition, on Sunday, held discussions with Parliament Speaker, MDP’s leader Mohamed Nasheed at the instruction of their jailed leader, former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom.

Yameen, presently serving an 11-year prison sentence after being found guilty of money laundering and bribery, has instructed the opposition coalition’s leadership to work alongside all parties possible regarding the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea’s (ITLOS) ruling on the border dispute between Maldives and Mauritius in favor of Maldives which marked an end to the 58-year-long dispute.

Subsequently, PNC’s leader Abdul Raheem (Adhurey), who has been serving as the acting leader of the coalition, alongside the party’s deputy leader, Naifaru MP Ahmed Shiyam and Mahibadhoo MP Ahmed Thoriq met with Nasheed on Monday.

Nasheed was accompanied by STO’s former managing director Hussain Amr Mohamed Rashad during the meeting.

Speaking to Sun following the meeting, Adhurey detailed discussions were held on whether they could collaborate with respect to the Chagos dispute, and if so, how.

“We are holding discussions with everyone who can likely collaborate on the Chagos dispute as per President Yameen’s instructions,” he said.

No decisions were made during Sunday’s meeting, as per Adhurey.

“We will be discussing will everyone following which we will decide on how to proceed, what action to take, and when,” he added.

Nasheed has been criticizing the government in connection to Chagos dispute. He has previously remarked that Maldives, at a time, had exercised sovereignty over the archipelago.

Nasheed, who has turned on the government, had initiated a separate political movement within MDP, whose members met with PPM last Friday. This meeting was also attended by members from MNP and Jumhoory Party.

ITLOS, on April 28^th, concluded that the conflicting Exclusive Economic Zone (EEC) between Mauritius and Maldives will be divided between the two using the equidistance formula as argued by Maldives in the case.

Thus, Maldives gains 47,232 square kilometers from the 95,563 square kilometers of maritime territory in dispute while Mauritius gains 45,331 square kilometers. 

Opposition parties claim Maldives is entitled to the 95,563 square kilometers of maritime territory in dispute.