Indian Joint Secretary meets with Yameen and Nazim

Indian Joint Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla has met with Defence Minister Colonel (Rtd) Mohamed Nazim and Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) Parliamentary Group Leader Abdulla Yameen today.

Joint Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla is the head of delegation sent by the Indian government to hold talks in attempts to find an amicable resolution to a standoff after former president Nasheed decided to stay inside Indian High Commission in Male'.

An official from the Indian High Commission told Sun today that Shringla’s meeting with Yameen took place in the parliament, and that his meeting with Nazim was held in the Defence Ministry.

The official said that the purpose of the meetings was for Shringla to properly assess the situation.

When asked if the Joint Secretary would be meeting with more officials, the official said that Shringla is scheduled to meet with the Foreign Minister again today and that there are no more meetings scheduled afterwards.

Indian High Commission said that Joint Secretary Shringla is scheduled to leave Maldives sometime tomorrow.

An official from the Foreign Ministry said that the talks with First Secretary Political Affairs of the Indian High Commission Karthigeyan will still be continued and that India is willing to work with Maldives to come to a resolution.

Karthigeyan earlier said that India does not want problems to persist in the Maldives and that talks will still continue. He assured that India wants to a find resolution to the current problem. He added that India wants to help Maldives.

One week ago Nasheed sought refuge in the Indian High Commission following police efforts to implement an order by Hulhumale’ Court to arrest him to bring him before court. He has stayed in the High Commission since then. After harsh exchanges from both sides, India and Maldives have finally commenced talks regarding the issue.

Nasheed is being sought by the Hulhumale’ Court for the trial of charges taken against him by state for the illegal detention of the Criminal Court Judge Abdulla Mohamed during Nasheed’s presidency.

Although Nasheed has sought refuge as granted under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, the Indian government has not acknowledged that they have officially given protection to Nasheed.