Yameen accuses Shahid of influencing UK policy change on Chagos

Former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom on Sunday alleged that the British were prepared for talks to accept Mauritius' sovereignty over the Chagos islands following assurances given by Maldivian foreign minister Abdulla Shahid who was in London last week. 

Yameen made the allegations while campaigning for next year's presidential election in Feydhoo, saying Shahid was involved in changing the old British stand.

Yameen's comments were linked to president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's letter to the Prime Minister of Mauritius, announcing the change in the Maldives' stand during the ongoing Maldives-Mauritius sea-demarcation dispute.

Opposition members as well as members of the ruling party in parliament have demanded that the letter be made public. However, the government says it will not disclose the letter. The issue of disclosing the letter is currently pending in parliament.

Speaking at a rally in Feydhoo, Yameen said the British had changed their mind after some confirmation on the "other side" of the president's letter. He alleged that the assurance was given by Shahid, who was in the UK three days prior to that.

"That's what is on the other side of the letter. Abdullah Shahid had gone to confirm and implement what was in the letter. It was decided when Abdulla Shahid was there and then the British believed in the sovereignty of Mauritius over Chagos,"  Yameen said.

Shahid was in the UK during the days Yameen indicated. UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly informed their parliament on Friday that the British were ready for talks to find a solution to the Chagos issue as early as next year. 

In a statement issued on Shahid's visit, the Maldivian foreign ministry said he had met with Cleverly and discussed the issues already being worked out by the two countries and duty-cuts for fish imports from the Maldives.

Yameen said that this was a well-planned decision. Attributing to UK foreign secretary Cleverly’s name, Yameen said in English that the decision was taken "cleverly" to dishearten Maldivians with a lot of sharp thinking.

"At the moment, the British foreign minister is someone called Cleverly. Very ‘Cleverly’ this has been done. And to our utmost disappointment this has been decided and done with," Yameen said.

Following that, Yameen reiterated that if his party won the next presidential election, his government would resolve to throw back the Mauritian-friendly stand Maldives has taken in recognising Chagos as a part of Mauritius.