Emergency motion on Indian 'spies' dismissed
Opposition MP Saeed alleged that they were preparing to carry out an "act that will threaten national security".
By
Mohamed Muzayyin Nazim
Parliament on Monday dismissed an emergency motion submitted by the opposition, calling to strengthen security at Velana International Airport (VIA), in relation to the case of the alleged spy suspects arrested in late August.
On August 28, two Indian nationals believed to be spying were arrested at the airport.
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They were alleged for spying on what the Aviation Security had discovered during a search
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Court remanded them for 10 days; there has been no news of their custody since then
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Spy cameras that could be used for espionage were found from the suspects
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Sources confirmed that more people who were believed to have been accomplices, had left the country that night
The motion, submitted by PNC Deputy Leader Mohamed Saeed, was dismissed with the vote of 34 MPs belonging to the ruling MDP, which has a super majority in the parliament. Six MPs voted to debate on the issue.
Noting that VIA is the main gateway in and out of the country and is being used by thousands of foreigners and locals every day, Maavashu MP Saeed said that it is a matter of huge concern that such an incident had taken place at one of the main economic hubs of the country.
"This is a very dangerous planned act and there is risk of it happening to some neighbouring countries as well," he said.
Saeed alleged that they were preparing to carry out an "act that will threaten national security" of Maldives.
Saeed's allegations include:
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A meeting was held in the Maldives before the suspects were arrested
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An Indian government official had arrived in the Maldives after the arrest and requested the release of the two suspects.
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Following the meeting with the Indian official, the police had modified their original incident report
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Those arrested were live-streaming the airport's operations via video
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The escaped suspects had allegedly passed through check-in points and the security gates of the airport without the knowledge of customs, immigration, airport security, police and MNDF
Police have not revealed much information about the incident. They have not said whether those arrested were currently in custody either. Saeed expressed concern over this.
"The Maldivian police do not know where the two arrested peopel are, and have not been transparent on the case with the public," Saeed said in the motion.
Saeed, who was also the economic minister of the previous administration, noted that such a move could lead to "irreversible damage to a small country like the Maldives, which is dependent on tourism". He also noted that no concrete measures have been taken to strengthen security at the airport following this incident.
He called the government to:
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conduct a transparent investigation of the incident
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share details of the matter with the parliament
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beef up security at the airport
