Muizzu to appeal ITLOS ruling in first 100 days
Week-14' include withdrawing foreign troops and starting the process of scrapping secret agreements this government had made with other countries.
By
Mariyam Umna Ismail
Muizzu has made it one of his 100-day pledges to appeal the decision of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Seas (ITLOS) on the territorial dispute between Maldives and Chagos within the first three months of his administration.
The announcement was made at the launch of the 'Week 14' policy, which outlines the implementation of president-elect Dr Mohammed Muizzu's first 100 days in office.
'Week-14' says it will appeal the ITLOS ruling that caused this country to lose part of the southern sea within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the first three months of its tenure. This promise is included in the 'Sovereignty and Independence' section of the plan.
In the case of sea demarcation, ITLOS had concluded that, as advocated by the Maldives, the separation from the sea should be considered from the shores of the islands of Chagos. ITLOS supported what the Maldives had asked for.
ITLOS's decision has been criticised by the PNC-PPM coalition, which Muizzu belongs to, saying it will not be accepted. They also demanded that the letters exchanged between President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and the Mauritian President be made public in connection with the case. The parties had earlier said they would release the letter if elected to power.
Besides appealing the ITLOS verdict, key commitments under 'Sovereignty and Independence' of 'Week-14' include withdrawing foreign troops and starting the process of scrapping secret agreements this government had made with other countries that threaten Maldives's independence and sovereignty.
One of their biggest concerns is the presence of Indian troops in Maldives.
The Transtition Office said last week that although it was certain that Indian troops were in Maldives, it had not yet received accurate information on their numbers.
The interim government has said that the Indian troops in Maldives have always acted on the instructions of the Maldivian government and the MNDF and there is no threat to Maldives's independence and sovereignty.
