Must investigate allegations of foreign troops boarding local vessels: MDP

Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has strongly condemned reports of foreign military personnel boarding local fishing vessels, and called on the authorities to conduct immediate and serious investigations in to the matter.

A Maldivian fishing vessel, Asuruma 3, reported that foreign military personnel, who they believe to be Indian navy personnel, boarded their boat at 14:30 hrs yesterday.

In a statement released by MDP, they called on the government to consider the case of a foreign military presence halting and boarding a local vessel which was within the Maldives' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as a matter of utmost importance in light of national interest, and to conduct a thorough investigation into the claims.

MDP emphasized that it is crucial for the government to share details of this claim with the governments of neighbouring Sri Lanka and India, and find out if they had any involvement in these events.

The party also called on MNDF to fulfill its responsibilities to ensure safety and protection within the Maldivian ocean territory for travelers and fishermen.

Maldivian Yellowfin Tuna Fishermen's Union told Mihaaru News yesterday that foreign troops, who they suspect are Indian Navy, boarded three separate fishing vessels within the Maldives' EEZ.

These three boats are Asuruma 3, Neru 7 and Maahoara 3.

Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam posted on X stating that he is deeply concerned about a foreign military vessel approaching, and their personnel boarding a Maldivian vessel - Asuruma 3 of Alif Dhaalu Atoll Mahibadhoo - which was engaged in fishing 72 miles east of Haa Alif Atoll Thuraakunu, clearly within Maldives' ocean territory, and questioning the crew.

Shiyam further assured that the ministry's vessel monitoring system clearly showed that the boat in question was within Maldives' ocean territory.

However, Indian journalist Sidhant Sibal posted on social media platform X that "Indian Navy says no Indian Naval Warship in the area, after reports from Maldives emerged that Indian Navy ship was present in Maldives Exclusive Economic Zone".