Colombo/Male, Jan 22 (UNI) Former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed has said he does not see a bigger role for China in the Maldives and his government’s “India First” policy must remain Male’s foreign policy, even as he slammed the “India Out” campaign of former president Abdulla Yameen as “very misguided” and “very unpopular”.
Parliament Speaker Nasheed, who is visiting Colombo, in an interview to the Daily Mirror, when asked about a bigger role for China in the Maldives, said: “I don’t see a bigger role for China. I think our “India First” policy must remain the foreign policy of the Maldives. And it is.”
Asked about the “India Out” campaign being actively promoted by Yameen, he said: “I think it’s very misguided. Very unpopular.
“For whatever reason President Yameen feels that he can whip-up anti-Indian sentiment in the Maldives, a xenophobic, nationalistic tendency.
“But I don’t think the people are buying it. I don’t think there will be popular support for any movement against India or for that matter any country. I think it’s very misguided,” he said, and added that “President Yameen must stop it.”
He also said his Maldivian Democratic Party will continue to pursue the India First policy.
“Yes, that will be the policy that the MDP will always pursue and for the last 3-4 years we have done that. And I am sure we will continue doing that.”
Asked about his views on President’s Ibrahim Solih’s government, he said: “First, it is a Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Government. The President is fulfilling the pledges that we made to the people.
“I believe that the Government is successful in doing much of what we have promised. But, of course there are shortcomings and we have a lot of work to do. But I do believe that we have delivered on much of the pledges that we promised to the people when we came to Government this time.”
Asked if the Maldives administration was doing enough to fight against extremism, he said: “Yes, they are. The President has formulated a counter terrorism unit in the President’s office.
“It is now co-ordinated. The Police and military are both engaged in the work and I believe that we are addressing the issue and we will be able to root out the violent elements within.”
On concerns that Maldives is becoming a haven for Islamist extremists, he said: “Throughout the world there are extremist views. Especially extremist religious views.
“Yes, our young people are being indoctrinated to these extreme views. And it is happening in many places. We have to be very careful about it. We have to have programmes that would educate our people, that would enlighten our people on how things should work.
“And I think this is a very serious issue for all our governments, including the Maldives Government and other regions, the Sri Lankan Government and everyone. We must join our hands and fight against extremism and terrorism.”
Nasheed had been the target of a bomb attack in May last year and had suffered serious injuries.
He said he is much better and that all the injuries and all the wounds have healed. And his health is now fine. “I am good.”
UNI/RN