Muslim Maldives joins China's-string of pearls-threat to India

Posted on 16 July 2008. Tags: Indian Ocean, Maldives

Maldives is an independent Muslim country. Consistent with the “India Doctrine”, as eloquently described by Dr. Munshi, a few years ago, India tried to take it over. It lost the war for the Maldives, but the invasion left many Muslims seeking out their religion more. Former President Gayoom wants Maldives to remain 100% Muslim.

Maldives and China’s string of pearl strategy

To bring the smaller Independent States/countries in the Indian sphere of influence with the use of RAW, the case of Maldives makes an important example. In November 1988, the Eilam Peoples’ Liberation Front comprising about 200 Tamil secessionists on the pay roll of RAW were tasked to stage the drama of an uprising on that peaceful island. At the request of the President of Maldives, Mr Mamoon Abdul Qayyum, Indian Armed Forces ‘quelled’ the insurgency engineered by themselves and thus tried to sneak into the administrative mechanism of that peace-loving country. Summary of operation (Dhaka Diary: RAW 2008: An Instrument of Indian Imperialism by Isha Khan Dhaka Bangladesh ). Details in BOOK REVIEW: The India Doctrine by Munshi

: Maldives location

Today the Maldives are experiencing what the president of Maldives calls “The Renaissance”. As part of this renaissance the Maldives are experiencing an intense for desire for independence from India.

Maldives location map

BACKGROUND OF MALDIVES

Islamic Rule in Maldives
Maldives islands are situated in the Indian Ocean four hundred miles to the south of Sri Lanka. The official name of the country is the Republic of Maldives. It comprises, 2,000 small and big islands. None of these is bigger than four or five miles. Underneath the islands are located volcanoes in the ocean. As the level of the earth is too low, fierce floods and severe storms often assume dangerous proportions. Majority of the population is Muslim. The literacy rate is 82%. Millet, coconut and fruits are the main crops. Important industries include fishing, ship-building, coconut oil extraction, tourism, etc. In 1965, Maldives achieved complete freedom.

Presidential form of government is current since 1968.
Islam reached Maldives during the first century Hijrah through Arab traders. In 1214, all inhabitants embraced Islam at the hands of the Sufi saint, Abu’l-Barakat Berberi. Even the Hindu ruler of those times, Dharam Sant, accepted Islam. He was renamed as Sultan Muhammad Ibn ‘Abdullah. The Maldivians refer to this historic event as ‘the Spiritual Revolution’. The famous Muslim tourist-historian, Ibn Batutah, visited the islands during the fourteenth century. He even served the Maldives government as a Qadi (judge). His interesting travelogues throw a floodlight on the island’s life-style. Except for brief ruling periods of the Portugese, the Dutch and the British, Maldives has always remained an independent Muslim state.

Maldives is now in the grip of Islamic renaissance. Addressing a SAARC session in July 1984, the republic’s President, Mamun ‘Abdu’l-Rashid said proudly: ‘Islam is my faith. Islam alone is an ideal way of life. Islam is so dynamic and so adaptable that it can serve anyone, anywhere, anytime. Islamic system alone is suited to the human society.’ In November 1984, the president laid the foundation of a Jami‘ Masjid complex, estimated to cost a total of seven million dollars. The biggest problem of Maldives is the constant fear that if the sea-level rises a bit further, the entire country will be washed away.

Tourism is progressing rapidly in Maldives. This lively little island has been the centre of interest of many a genuine as well as fake tourist. From November 1985, India has also started a sea service between Bombay and Maldives. http://www.renaissance.com.pk/aprnevi20.htm

Maldives cosying up to China a warning for India

New Delhi: Is India losing out to Chinese interests in it’s neighbourhood? After Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh, where the governments share better relations with Beijing than New Delhi, next in line could be strategically located Maldives.

Maldives location map

Maldives is the world’s most popular honeymoon destination and a picture-perfect archipelago on the Indian Ocean, where the rich and famous from all corners of the world come on holiday.

And at the same time Maldives was home to Asia’s longest running president. For the past 30 years President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom ruled the tiny nation with an iron-hand.

Widespread allegations of human rights violations forced people like Maldivian Democratic Party’s presidential candidate Mohammed Nasheed on the streets three years back.

Nasheed visited India to garner support from the Indian government to help ensure a free and fair election in his country three months later.

And there was a grave warning too. President Gayoom was actively courting China for the past one year, creating a security for threat for India in the Indian Ocean.

“Gayoom is trying to shift his friendship ties from India towards China with the belief that it would be difficult for him to maintain a strong friendly relationship, personal relationship with India while there is call for democracy at home,” Nasheed says.

There is now talk about the Chinese setting up a military bases in one of the Maldivian islands. (http://rupeenews.com/2008/07/08/encircling-india-chinas-string-of-pearl-strategy/). Nasheed insists that his party would not let that happen if they come to power.

Nasheed along with a five-member delegation of his Maldivian Democratic Party met Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon and briefed him about the situation.

“It’s a country of immense strategic importance to us. I hope not (that we are losing the strategic importance to China),” Kuldeep Sahdev, former Indian diplomat, says.

It’s this new equation that President Gayoom fears the most. India even sent commandos [ostensibly] to fight back a coup against him in 1988 but now China is not only giving aid but also helping President Gayoom build his government offices. http://www.ibnlive.com/news/maldives-cosying-up-to-china-a-warning-for-india/68915-2.html

How long can Nasheed survi ve?