Chagos Claim Hits Saudi, Pakistan Missions

Abdulla Rasheed: Administrative Custodian

MC-UPDATE: 007: The Maldivians4Chagos movement made a notable step forward by submitting a detailed Sovereignty Dossier to both the Saudi Arabian Embassy and the Pakistani High Commission in Malé this past Sunday. This initiative reflects the Maldivians' determination to assert their claims over the Chagos Archipelago. The submission included essential documents, such as legal research that supports Maldivian sovereignty claims, a letter emphasising national interests, and a political appeal letter, all of which the team created following proper protocols. Leading Islamic allies have supported this initiative. A representative for the movement remarked, "We're not waiting for endorsements from the usual players." We've made our case to those who understand justice beyond colonial legacies."

The development comes at a time when the issue of who owns Chagos still draws silence in some quarters, too scared or too diminished to speak openly. The bowing to Riyadh and Islamabad, however, is not a courtesy call. It's a call to conscience.

The symbolic target was the Saudi Embassy; that was the responsible one. As Custodians of the Two Holy Mosques in Saudi Arabia, it has no moral weight in the Muslim world when one Muslim nation's integrity is forcefully violated under the shadow of British imperial debris, for Riyadh to remain aloof.

Pakistan, a decolonisation-era nation itself, was also a deliberate choice. "If Pakistan forgets how empires create, divide and rule over Muslim countries, then who remembers?" the movement's spokesperson asks pointedly.

The legal memorandum also describes historical records spanning hundreds of years, which establish Maldivian connections to the Chagos Archipelago and dispel the myth that Mauritius is the rightful successor, based on erstwhile calculations. "Self-determination does not start with map makers in London," he said with a laugh. "It starts with history and blood and truth."

And, notably, the tone of the letter delivered was hardly meek. In language that was scathing and strategic, the movement assailed double standards on the global stage and accused some foreign missions of "diplomatic amnesia." It called on Islamic powers to "do more than offer warm smiles while cold treaties make our maritime rights uncertain."

The next step, the movement signalled, is to engage on a broader regional scale, including with OIC members, ASEAN members, and African Union members.

"Our message to the Saudis and the Pakistanis is straightforward: If you are ready to speak for the Ummah, now is the time for you to act because the enemies are wiping an integral part of your nation off the map," he said.

Sunday's handovers mark more than just a milestone; they are a signal flare, fired high as the movement tightens its diplomatic web. The Maldives has stopped asking politely. The next chapter will unfold boldly in courtrooms, councils, and embassies rather than being detailed in footnotes.