Maldives President's policies create threat in Indian Ocean

The government of President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom in Maldives is disturbing the balance of power in the Indian Ocean by wooing China, an Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) leader and presidential candidate Mohd Nasheed said.

"Flirting with China for very short-term gains is cheap politics, [it is] not in the best interests of Maldives or the Indian Ocean," he said in an interaction with serving and retired diplomats, and opinion makers, at Observer Research Foundation here, Asian Age reported.

The 41-year-old leader of a fledgling political party said with unusual candour that the "dictatorship" of President Gayoom, his China policy and Islamisation of the Maldivian society were creating security threats in the India Ocean area.

"Maldives' security and stability are linked to India," he added for good measure, to dispel a perception that his party is Eurocentric.

China has established a base in Marao.

It also helped to build the Maldivian foreign ministry in Male.

Nasheed is expected to meet foreign secretary Shivshankar Menon on Friday.

He will hold informal consultations with certain political parties here.

He has sought an appointment with National Security Adviser M.K.

Narayanan.

He sought India's help for ensuring free and fair election in Maldives.

This tiny island nation with a population of three lakh would become the first "Muslim democratic country" in the world, if multi-party elections are held on time.

Gayoom's term ends on November 11 and elections are scheduled in or before October.

The Maldivian Parliament has approved a new Constitution but Gayoom is still to ratify it.

There is a 90-day waiting period for the President to ratify the new Constitution, after which it becomes law.

But Nasheed's party fears Gayoom could refer the Constitution back to Parliament with amendments.

Source: www2.irna.ir