Republic of India - Republic of Seychelles Relations

[Hindustani78]

President's Secretariat
9 -January, 2018 18:16 IST
Leader of opposition in the National Assembly of Seychelles calls on the President

Hon’ble Wavel Ramkalawan, Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly of Seychelles, called on President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, at Rashtrapati Bhavan today (January 9, 2018).

During the conversation, the President said that he was happy to note that Mr Wavel Ramkalawan is in India to participate in the PIO Parliamentary Conference. He stated that through the PIO Parliamentary Conference, we hope to reach out to the larger Indian community overseas. This also provides us a platform to engage and connect with parliamentarians of Indian origin the world over.

The President said that India and Seychelles enjoy warm and friendly ties. Our bonds of friendship are rooted in history. Strong people to people and cultural linkages are the bedrock of our relations. He expressed hope that the visit of Mr Ramkalawan to India will further strengthen ties between the two democracies.



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[Hindustani78]

The Leader of Opposition of Seychelles, Mr. Wavel Ramkalawan calling on the President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on January 09, 2018.

 

[Bornubus]

India's Plan To Open Military Base In Indian Ocean Island Runs Aground


Seychelles opposition leader Wavel Ramkalawan said "the deal is dead."

PM Narendra Modi meets with Seychelles President Danny Faure in New Delhi (AFP File)

VICTORIA, SEYCHELLES:
HIGHLIGHTS

1. 
   
   
   • Seychelles' opposition coalition said it would not ratify the deal
   • The deal would see India invest $550 million in building the base
   • The deal had been agreed in principle in 2015 and finalised this January

Seychelles' opposition coalition, which holds a majority in parliament, said Tuesday it would not ratify a deal signed with India to build a military base on one of the archipelago's outlying islands.

The deal would see India invest $550 million dollars in building the base on Assumption island to help it ensure the safety of its vessels in the southern Indian Ocean.


Indian soldiers would be deployed on the island which lies 1,135 kilometres southwest from the capital Victoria, and help train Seychelles' troops.

However, the deal has faced some resistance from locals, and Wavel Ramkalawan, head of the opposition Linyon Demokratik Seselwa (Seychelles Democratic Union in Creole) said the coalition "will not ratify the Assumption deal. This deal is dead".

The LDS had held a majority in parliament since its victory in 2016 legislative elections.

On Monday, President Danny Faure said he would meet with Mr Ramkalawan on March 26 to discuss the deal, which was agreed in principle in 2015 and then finalised in January this year.

The government says the base will help coastguards to patrol its 1.3 million square kilometre exclusive economic zone for illegal fishing, drug trafficking and piracy.


Currently, the remote coral island has a tin shack post office, an air strip and almost no people. Less than seven kilometres long the island has a high point just 30 metres above sea level and is covered in bird excrement.

But its location lends it strategic importance for monitoring shipping in the Mozambique Channel.

4COMMENTS
However, Indian presence in the Seychelles is a sensitive matter. Some fear an influx of Indian workers who, they say, might come to dominate the economy, while others consider a foreign power building a military base an affront to sovereignty and national pride.

Opponents of the plan also cite Assumption's relative proximity to Aldabra atoll, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is home to the world's largest population of giant tortoises.

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ind...e-in-indian-ocean-island-runs-aground-1826426