Issue of Somalis to be discussed in cabinet

President Office informs that the issue of 34 Somalis found in Maldivian water within the last two years and what measures have to be taken in order to repatriate them to their country will be discussed in the cabinet.

President’s press secretary Mohamed Zuhair today said that since the people do not have any official identification document, there are lots of difficulties in repatriating them to their own country. He said that the information has been shared with the cabinet.

“They don’t have any document. So even if we call them Somalis, there are certain legal points we have to consider. Legally we have to be certain about their nationality. Though we found them on the sea, there is no way that we can send them back. We have to deal with them as humans,” said Zuhar.

Press secretary said that the 34 people are still under police custody in Dhoonidhoo Detention Centre. Maldives Police Service says that they have finished the investigation of most of them. Sub Inspector of Police Ahmed Shiyam said that since the people do not carry any travel document, there is a difficulty in sending them back to their home. He also said that police is coordinating the matter with other government institutions.