Petition to Oppose the Presence of Indian Military Personnel and the Establishment of an Indian Consulate.

On 25 May, 2021 the Cabinet of the Republic of India approved the opening of a new Consulate General of India in Addu City. The decision had been made without any consideration of the wishes and consent of the citizens of Addu.

We, concerned citizens of Addu, demand that the final decision on whether or not an Indian Consulate can be established within Addu Atoll shall be the right of the citizens and residents of Addu City.

Furthermore, we call upon the Government of the Republic of Maldives to cease from granting the Government of India a Consulate General in Addu atoll prior to transparently and systematically seeking out the opinion of the people of Addu through an agreed-upon mechanism, such as a referendum. We further call upon the Government of the Republic of Maldives to respect and honour the majority opinion of the people of Addu City over and above that of the demands of a foreign power, namely the Government of the Republic of India.

Many Indian military personnel are currently stationed in Addu atoll with diplomatic immunity; their presence with such immunity has become a matter of concern to many residents of Addu City. Such military personnel have been stationed here, and in other parts of the nation, without any prior consent of the Maldivian people. 

We therefore call upon the Government of the Republic of Maldives to remove all aspects of an Indian military presence from Addu atoll, and from the entire country as a whole.

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