Yameen: Action taken against Maldivians based on Indian intelligence reports without verification

Opposition leader, former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom has alleged that Maldivian government takes action against locals based on intelligence reports sent by India, without verifying the contents of the report.

Yameen has remarked this whilst speaking at an ‘India Out’ rally held at ADh. Mahibadhoo this evening.

He said that for the purpose of taking action against Maldivians, Parliament has passed a bill allowing the detention of individuals arrested for 48-hours without being presented before the court, in the name of terrorism or something else.

Yameen is referring to the bill passed by the Parliament last November, approving major amendments to Anti-Terrorism Act.

The amendments were ratified by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in December, ultimately allowing Police to detain individuals arrested for investigations in terrorism-related cases for 48-hours without a court order, or being presented before the court.

“(I) am saying the huge influence of India in all these areas has caused difficulties in the lives of normal Maldivian citizens,” he had said.

Yameen also alleged at the Maldivian government will not be able to deport Indian criminals arriving in the Maldives without the permission from Indian government, no matter how severe their crimes are.

“But after arrival at India, being deported from an airport instantly. There are people who traveled from another country, that are deported after 22 hours as well,” he had said.

Speaking further, Yameen underscored that flights of the Maldivian flag carrier has to spend hours without being able to land at Hanimaadhoo Airport. He said that the flights carry Maldivian citizens, thus should be able to land at the airport.

“It is said that the airport is closed being that Indian military personnel stationed there is doing some work,” he added.

Yameen stressed Hanimaadhoo is a Maldivian land, and Hanimaadhoo Airport is a Maldivian airport – adding that the Indian military personnel there were just welcomed guests.

“But a Maldivian flight cannot be landed there. Should that flight be carrying the Maldivian president even, it cannot land,” he had said.

Apart from these, Yameen also repeatedly criticized the agreements made between Maldives and Indian military, as well as the difficulties posed by the stationing of Indian military personnel in the country during his speech.