PPM ‘concerned’ over Maldives’ vote on Chagos Islands dispute

Opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has stated that Maldives should apologize to the people of Mauritius for voting against handing over Chagos Islands to the Island nation.

On Thursday, the United Nations took a vote on the resolution for Britain to withdraw from the Chagos Islands and reunify it with neighboring Mauritius.

116 nations were in favor of the resolution, while Maldives, along with the United States, Hungary, Israel and Australia voted against.

Britain has leased the Chagos Islands to allow the United States to build a military base.

Foreign Ministry stated that it voted against the resolution because the decision would have serious implications to the Maldives and that the Maldives does not believe that a decision made by any international body that does not reflect the genuine interests of the states concerned can amount to an effective and long-lasting solution.

If the Chagos Islands, located in the south of Maldives, are handed over to Mauritius, Maldives stands to lose a chunk of its exclusive economic zone.

PPM has stated that Maldives’ vote violates the rights of the people of Mauritius, despite PPM’s government on June 22, 2017 voting against Mauritius’ motion to request the international court give a recommendation on the dispute.

Foreign Ministry has stated that every Maldivian government has the same policy on the Chagos Islands dispute.