Emergency motion seeking action against fabrications reg. UTF Harbor agreement, submitted to Majlis

An emergency motion seeking action against those fabricating lies regarding the Uthuru Thila Falhu (UTF) Harbor Development Project agreement, has been submitted to the People’s Majlis.

During Tuesday’s parliament sitting, MP for Alifushi constituency, Mohamed Rasheed Hussain submitted motion, urging the government to take the necessary action against those who have circulated “fake” drafts and fabrications regarding the UTF Harbor Development Project Agreement.

Submitting the motion, the parliamentarian stressed that there have been no facilities arranged to ensure the protection of the Maldivian waters, halt the drug trafficking system in its waters or acts of terrorism and human trafficking, while 97 percent of the Maldives is enclaved in the ocean.

He stressed that some are attempting to soil the respect and reputation of Maldives armed forces, create enmity towards them in the hearts of citizens, disrupt the peace in the Indian Ocea as well as interfere with efforts to develop the country’s military.

This comes at a time the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) has confirmed that the UTF Harbor Development Project agreement drafts being circulated across social media are fake.

Further, MNDF advised against using illegitimate documents to obstruct the relationships Maldives has with neighboring countries.

Some media outlets have also been reporting that the agreement’s contents are a threat to the country’s national security and sovereignty. Claims by the opposition highlight that Indian military personnel as well as land and sea military vessels will be stationed at the UTF Harbor. The claims also indicate that the agreement was signed for a period of 30 years.

In mid-February, the parliament accepted an emergency motion regarding the publication of the agreement as well.

The agreement was signed between Maldives Minister of Defense and National Security Mariya Ahmed Didi and India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. The agreement in question comes in succession of India-sourced development projects being launched in the island nation during the External Affairs Minister’s two-day official trip to Maldives.

The harbor and dockyard being developed under the agreement comes under the "Defense Action Plan on Defense Cooperation" signed between both countries back in 2016 during now incarcerated former President Abdulla Yameen's first official trip to the neighboring country.

During a presser to clarify uncertainties regarding the role India plays in the development project, Vice-Chief of Defense Force Brigadier General Abdul Raheem Abdul Latheef had reaffirmed that no foreign military personnel will be stationed at the harbor and confirmed that only Maldivian CG and officers of Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) would be active following the completion of the project.

Under the said agreement lasting for a period of 15 years, experts from India will be active in training Maldivians to work at the harbor alongside providing maintenance aid for equipment.