Minister of Defence Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon has assured that Indian Army doctors working at the MNDF Hospital Senahiya have no military functions.
Minister of Defence Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon has assured that Indian Army doctors working at the MNDF Hospital Senahiya have no military functions.
In a press conference held at the President's Office yesterday, Ghassan stated that the Indian Army doctors stationed in Senahiya are professionals sent by India following a request sent by MNDF on September 10, 2012.
He explained that these doctors work in the Maldives on short duration visas, at the expiration of which they are replaced by newcomers on a rotating basis.
"Their duties are solely to provide health services to MNDF personnel and others who seek medical treatment from Senahiya," the Minister said.
"They are people who are here on our request. They don't have any military functions," he assured.
Ghassan assured that even in the case of these doctors, if any actions that may threaten the independence and sovereignty of the Maldives are observed from them, deliberations will be held with the Indian government to send them back.
When asked by media about previous claims from People's National Congress (PNC) and Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) that there were Indian military personnel stationed in Uthuru Thilafalhu, in which the previous government had announced an MNDF naval dockyard and harbour, as well as residential landplots, Ghassan asserted that documents from the time indicated that this had been the case.
He, however, stated that since this administration has assumed office, there are no longer any Indian military personnel stationed in Uthuru Thilafalhu.
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