After the Indian High Commission in Malé raised concerns about several local media houses and social media users attacking the dignity of its staff members and other Indian diplomats, the Maldivian Foreign Ministry has urged these platforms to refrain from spreading information that could harm foreign relations with allies.
The High Commission’s reaction came after a local media platform, Dhiyares, which is popularly known as the mouthpiece of the opposition coalition in the Maldives, published articles critical of Indian diplomats in the island nation.
The Business Standard reported that, on June 24, the Indian Mission wrote to the Maldivian Foreign Ministry, requesting them to take action against local media houses publishing “malicious” and “personal” articles about the Indian High Commissions and other diplomats. In the letter, the Indian side accused the media houses of using “motivated attacks, recurring articles, and social media posts” to attack “the dignity” of the Indian diplomats. Furthermore, it called on the Maldivian Foreign Ministry to comply with the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations and ensure the protection of the Indian officials. The letter added that this would help the diplomats perform their functions as representatives of the Indian state.
Speaking to ANI, official sources said, “[The] government of Maldives is fully supportive and recognises that there is an issue about irresponsible and malicious reporting.” Another source remarked, “India-Maldives developmental projects and other aspects of bilateral relations during President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s time have been very successful. This is causing jitters to the opposition.”
Consequently, on Friday, Hindustan Times reported that the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party expressed concern about the “disparaging and ill-founded remarks about Indian diplomats” in Dhiyares, saying they could detrimentally impact “long-standing friendly relations” between India and the Maldives. Moreover, Arindam Bagchi, the spokesperson for the Maldivian Foreign Ministry, said the government had taken note of the articles “published repeatedly on local media, levelling false accusations at foreign ambassadors, missions and diplomats in the Maldives.” To this end, the spokesperson urged local media houses to “report in a manner that does not affect the relations between the Maldives and other countries.”
Dhiyares, along with its partnering outlet The Maldives Journal, has reportedly posted several articles with “unsubstantiated allegations” against Indian officials in the country. In 2018, the opposition coalition in the Maldives launched an “India out” campaign, criticising the government’s decision to sign “secret agreements” with India and allowing it to establish military bases in the country. The campaign also resulted in several protests in August 2020 that called for the immediate expulsion of the Indian military from the country. In January, several demonstrators gathered outside the Indian High Commissioner’s residence, holding up “India out” signs; the movement is also gaining traction on social media.
Since President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih replaced Abdulla Yameen, the Maldives has realigned its policies to develop closer ties with India compared to Yameen’s pro-China approach. Furthermore, due to its “Neighbourhood First” policy, India has been working with the Maldives to boost infrastructure and connectivity. In June 2020, India announced the commencement of a cargo ferry service, which was seen as an opportunity for India to emerge as the Maldives’ largest trade partner. Therefore, ensuring public support for India’s friendship with the Maldives is critical for New Delhi, which seeks to develop closer ties with the island nation and push it further away from China’s influence.
India Calls for Action Against Maldivian Media Houses Publishing Anti-India Content
The Maldivian Foreign Ministry urged local media houses to refrain from spreading information that would affect foreign relations.
July 8, 2021
SOURCE: EAST INDIA FORUM