No one should be allowed to enter the Maldives’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) without permission, former President and the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s interim leader Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has said, weighing in on the recent incident, which took place within the EEZ on Wednesday afternoon, involving Maldivian vessels Asurumaa 3, Niru 7, and Maahoara 3, and has been the subject of widespread discussion since.
Foreign security forces, who had entered Maldivian waters, proceeded to intimidate local fishermen by boarding their vessels while brandishing weapons.
President Solih said that such action was wrong and no country should encroach on the territory of another country.
While the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Coastguard, as well as the administration, had initially been reluctant to name the nationality of the foreign troops, a video circulating on social media showed what looks to be Indian military personnel boarding a local fishing vessel.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed said that Indian troops had entered Maldives’ territory without permission and that the ministry had asked India to clarify the reason for such an act.
Solih said no foreign country should enter the Maldives’ SEZ without permission, highlighting that such an act would clearly contravene international law. It is the responsibility of those in charge to investigate the matter as soon as possible, the former president said.
Meanwhile, no official statement has been issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The social media footage, shared by the Bodukanneli Masveringe Union (Yellowfin Tuna Fishermen’s Union), captured the troops in action aboard the boats. The union, which first highlighted the incident, has played a pivotal role in bringing the matter to the attention of both the government and the public.
MNDF is reportedly conducting investigations into the events that unfolded on Wednesday. The circulated video shows the military personnel, believed to be from the Indian navy or coastguard, aboard the Maldivian vessels, with crew members confined to the sterns of their boats.
Audio from the video captures the voices of fishermen and crew, urging Indian officials to leave the vessels and highlighting the MNDF Coastguard’s stance that the boarding was unlawful.
A crew member is heard saying that the MNDF Coastguard declared the boarding of their vessels by Indian officers as illegal, emphasising that such actions were not permissible without their consent while in Maldivian territory, thereby highlighting the legal and sovereign issues involved.