Former Maldivian President Nasheed warns of issues with Indian Ocean geopolitics over intensifying C

By Chathuri Dissanayake

Exiled Former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed yesterday warned the intensifying Chinese presence through acquisition of land in Maldives may affect peace and stability in the Indian Ocean. 

Calling the Maldivian Presidential Election the last chance to safeguard democracy, Nasheed who spoke to local and international media from Sri Lanka claimed that the nature of the elections will also affect the security in the region, stating: “If we do not have free, fair and inclusive elections in August this year, we will not have free and fair elections in the country for the next 30 years.”

Nasheed, currently living in exile in the UK, claimed the peace and stability of the Indian Ocean is at stake due to intensified Chinese engagement in his country, which he referred to as a ‘land grab’. The presidential elections, Nasheed said, is the last change to safeguard the security of the Indian Ocean as well. “The land grab going on that threatens not just the Maldives but the peace and the stability of the entire region,” he continued.

Nasheed claimed that China, which has already acquired 16 (out of 1200) Maldivian islands through 100-year leases - made possible through an amendment to the Maldivian Constitution - is engaged in systematic land grabbing through Foreign Direct Investments (FDI).

“They are buying up our islands, buying up our key infrastructure and effectively buying up our sovereignty. This land grab is very worrying,” he claimed, likening the trend to colonisation.

During the last 10 to 15 years, more land has changed hands through FDIs and other negotiated settlements in comparison to the colonial era, he claimed.

Nasheed claimed that the Maldivian Government has facilitated the moves through the amendments to the constitution. However, he insisted that his faction is not opposed to FDIs or international trade, adding, “But we do not subscribe to the idea of relinquishing our sovereignty.”

However Nasheed was not able to give the extent of the purchases, as he claimed that no details of the agreements are available. If elected back to office of President, Nasheed plans to review the agreements, he said.

Nasheed also sounded warning bells against the escalating religious extremism in the country, explaining that if Maldivian fighters engaged in Syria and Iraq establish themselves in Maldives upon their return there is little other countries in the region can do to stop spreading of the movement.

He also spoke of moves by the opposition to field a common candidate for the upcoming presidential elections in the country, if he is not allowed to run for elections this year.

Nasheed is awaiting a decision from the UN Human Rights Committee, which he hopes would ask the Maldivian Government to allow him to contest the upcoming Presidential Elections in Maldives. He said that if his candidature is not accepted by the current regime, the Opposition will work together to field a common candidate determined not to boycott the elections. “Yameen’s rivals are either in jail or exile. We will not boycott the election,” he assured.