President of Maldives, bomb blast, political purging!

The events of the past month when a supposed bomb exploded on the speed launch of the President of Maldives, Yameen Abdul Gayyoom (YAG) has imploded a political bomb as well. The presidents own vice president, Adheeb Abdul Gafoor, is currently under arrest and the main suspect. The VP's friends and business partners are also being detained and questioned. The President's own party, PPM, is now divided and in chaos.

Is this a real threat on the life of the president by a greedy VP? Or is this a ploy to purge the government and party of all opponents and threats to the current president YAG?

The more 'evidence' the Police and Military 'find' the more scary they make it sound. The recently discovered guns (apparently stolen from the Military store) and ammo and grenades and plastic explosives suggest that there could be a deadly scheme. The Police claim the search is ongoing and that there is no threat to the public. The president in his address to the people said that there was a threat and to be careful on the streets. These two contradicting statements along with the contradictory statements by the Presidents Office (which claims it was a bomb blast on the launch) and the Foreign Minister who told the international community that there was no evidence of such; there is even more controversy and mystery now than before. The unraveling isn't of the true culprits of the Bomb blast but rather of who sides with president YAG and his half brother (the long time dictator Gayyoom ) within his party and government.

The FBI who were called in for the investigation has not concluded that there was a bomb blast on the launch. The Saudi Arabian report of the blast says there was one. Nothing seems certain.

What ever the blast may be, a threat on the life of the president or a ploy to distract and create an excuse to rid those who threaten his power, this situation seems to have created a vacuum for the opposition to play wisely with. Only time will tell how this ;investigation' will continue and what more will be revealed. Prominent businessmen including Hamid Seytu are now under arrest. It just seems like at least now there is a political purge ongoing!

Maldives says "What Democracy?"!

First of all Congratulations to the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) for surviving 10 years in the Maldives as the only party with even the slightest stance towards democratic change :) 

Ex-president and leader of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Mohamed Nasheed is now under house arrest (though for medical reasons), the leader of the religious party that recently left the government coalition, Adhaalath Party (AP) is still locked up on charges of inciting to bring down the government and refusing the orders of the Police. Other opposition persons are self exiled in the UK and Gasim Ibrahim (the rich businessman who basically owns the political party Jumhooree Party,JP) has not been heard of since he left abroad. 

The supposed 'deal' between the opposition MDP and the Regime that is to allow Nasheed to stay at home rather than complete his jail sentence in jail (for the dubious made up charges of terrorism and a 13 year sentence). Then last week we heard the MDP say that it is now ready to work with the regime to change the system of governance to a Parliamentary system under the conditions that current president Abdullah Yameen remains as president and his party, the PPM, will elect the Prime Minister and that the current parliament will remain as it is unchanged. Though no one has clearly said that there would be no public referendum on the decision of a new system, it seems like there wouldn't be any. The PPM and MDP worked together last week to change the age of Vice President from 30- 65 years of age (reducing the age from 35) and are publicly campaigning on social media for the current Minister of Tourism and the ever notorious Ahmed Adheeb to be the new VP. The current VP Mohamed Jameel has also gone to the UK though the PPM has said they will go ahead with the vote of no confidence against him even if he was not in Maldives. 

The question that arises now is if PPM wishes Adheeb to be VP how can they change the system of governance to a parliamentary system and have a ceremonial President elected by the people with a Prime Minister elected from the parliament; then allow for Adheeb to be the PM? Will one of the MP's simply give away his chair for Adheeb since the agreement is for the current members of parliament to remain as they are? What gains does the MDP receive by this decision? Do they hope that the split between the ex-dictator Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom (the head of PPM) and the current president, his half brother will be further emphasized and brought up by pushing Adheeb to a higher position (whom Gayyoom is not a supporter of)? If MDP is betting the change of the constitution so rapidly merely on a whim that PPM will fall into internal chaos if MDP supports Adheeb, then it is one huge bet with the public to loose everything. 

One might get criticized by MDP supporters for creating such doubt over their decision but it is the ability of a party to communicate and involve larger amounts of persons in their decision making that makes them more democratic. When the few elite tell the public that they will do everything in our interest and merely carry out decisions that the lay public are left feeling confused and disillusioned then there is something wrong. Not everybody will understand the games and moves of a political party but what everybody does understand is that the elite of the party work FOR the people and not the other way around! I Pray we see something positive within the next few weeks.

Ex-president Mohamed Nasheed’s Arrest and days ahead:

The Maldives has seen radical changes within the past 7 years. From a 30 year old dictatorship to a elected democracy to the toppling of that government to a Supreme Court that is way too powerful than it should be. 

My two cents on the arrest of Nasheed are as follows. Firstly, he is being charged under the Terrorism Act for the “Kidnapping” of a Criminal Court chief judge, Abdullah, which happened in 2012. It has taken two years, and sudden call for street protests with government coalition parties abandoning the government to support the opposition MDP, for the government to suddenly arrest him. The Criminal Court issued an Order to the Police to lock him up for ‘he might flee”. This is a clear political decision. In fact, this now means there will be no free, unbiased investigation or court case with regards to the arrest of the Judge by Nasheed. 

Secondly, the government, especially the President Abdullah Yameen, is quite rapidly alienating himself and backing himself into a corner. Parliamentarians are defecting and leaving his party as well (while it has to be acknowledged that one MP has signed over form opposition JP to PPM, the governing party as well). The opposition coalition will hold a street protest on the 27th to show their strength. These are ploys by Nasheed, who says that the CONI report, done with support from the Commonwealth to investigate his own “forced resignation”, has legitimized the methods that the opposition will utilize to over throw the current government. The government has played into their hands by arresting Nasheed and being intimidated by the oppositions ‘show of strength’. Nasheed has clearly stated in an interview to a leading newspaper that while MDP accepts the CONI report they do not believe it is how things happened and that there was a Coup on February 2012. Nasheed seem to have to do very little, since the government has manged to entangle themselves in their own personal agendas. The Defence Minister is being tried under the Terrorism Act and being accused of trying to “Kill” certain government officials by smuggling in a pistol and three bullets, which the Police found at a midnight raid of his apartment. The Home Minister who commands the Police has not been heard of nor have we seen or heard from the Vice President as well. The only Prominent minister is the Tourism Minister and the rest are either unheard of or keeping themselves out of the politics. The government organized a street rally with Gang Members with their faces covered and this probably lost them a lot of public sympathy. Nasheed is now once more locked up, and so is the minister of Defense, Nazim, and the new Defense minister, Moosa Jaleel, of the government is being tried for being part of the Nasheed government and for ordering the Military to take up arms during the whole events of the day of Nasheeds resignation. It is like a Hindhi Drama, the Defense Minister Nazim who is being tried now, was the one who was key to stand against Nasheed and lead the Police and Military to riot against Nasheed’s government; but now the current government has him locked up. The newly appointed defense minister, Jaleel, (who is also a war hero as close to it as it gets in Maldives) was the one who stood with Nasheed back in 2012. The roles have been reversed so badly I am certain that these persons themselves at times forget which side they are on. 

Future of the country is full of chaos but it is not hopeless. With current rumors that Nasheed will not compete for presidency but lead the movement to change the current government is good news. It means the MDP will now have a chance to provide a new leadership that is open to any of its members. Nasheed also could set an example and precedence for the rest of the old dinosaurs of politics in other parties to step aside and let a new generation take over. Some people say this conflict is the worst in our history. I say that there is much more hardship ahead with more refining required of our constitution and our models of governance and economy. There is much more work that will be required after the government has changed. For we have seen how the first elected government of MDP, with president Nasheed, failed after toppling the dictator. We need to elarn from the mistakes of the past. We need more educated persons involved in societal change and development. We need more educational opportunities and increase our local food production and agriculture, reduce our dependency on imports and tax the rich and provide opportunities for the poor. We need to lead the youth away from gangs and drugs and violence and confusion by providing jobs. Island councils need to be of the people and accountable to the people and the utility companies be owned and run by the people. The unhealthy competition created by the privatization of utility companies has been a bad experience. Nasheed was successful in so many ways as a champion of free speech and a democracy activist and much more. I would hold much greater respect for him if he pushes new people to lead his party and praise him for his humility. The future looks stormy but there is always new growth and life and fertility after the rains. 

Regime Defection's Once more!

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) is the largest political party by public support and activism for one party. They are the first democratic political party to come to be in the Maldives. Now people raise questions on how democratic the party is today. 

ISSUE 1: the regime defections of old political elites of the ex-president Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom’s government, when MDP formed, was the first such incident. The members were confused as to support these defections to the party. There would be some who had been wronged and rights violated directly by these people. Some members justified the acceptance of the defections as a necessitous action to allow the MDP to stay a movement with a lot of support from non-members as well; towards the change of the 30 year old regime. The party and its members accepted the defections simply to keep the movement strong, to defy Gayyoom. It has to be said the defections had some level of power and public support to MDP and disappointment and defeat for the regime. 

ISSUE 2: MDP had to make a coalition to win the election in 2008, and it also pushed for the rush to complete the new constitution. These two issues combined would later come to test the resolve and strength of MDP government and president, from the day of his election in the first multi party election in 2008. The coalition would be dissolved soon after taking over, and they joined the old regime elements to stand up against the MDP government. They raised the issue of illegitimacy of the government after breaking up of the coalition and also claimed President Nasheed was supporting non Islamic ways. Nasheed by then had appointed his close friends and activists of the party, to key political positions and his government was facing issues of corruption and mismanagement. Some of his power elites included old regime members as well. 
ISSUE3: After being removed from power via a Coup De’etat, MDP faced the issue of holding its members together and uniting against the new ‘elected’ government lead by the younger brother of the old dictator. MDP had to elect a new party president, and no one contested against Mohmamed Nasheed. As an onlooker it seems to depict a ‘yes sir’ attitude towards Nasheed rather than a democratic process within the party. This was exactly one issue that MDP raised against the old dictator. MDP lost many of its Council members and Parliamentarians, who switched too quickly to the government party. Some of these members who switched, were ones whom Nasheed had himself campaigned for their election. 
ISSUE 4: after the government of MDP was overthrown, the CONI, report supported by the Commonwealth stated there was no Coup and MDP accepted the report and reduced their street protests but maintained that there was a Coup in their opinion. Then the key figures of the Coup, who included the new Defense Minister and the Commissioner of Police, are removed from the newly ‘elected’ government of the Progressive Party (dictator’s party). Then these Coup leaders, now have joined in coalition with MDP against the current government. Is MDP going to justify that these members of the very Coup that they had criticized and ridiculed before can now be their partners? Then again is this any different from the situation when they first began? They could be accepted if MDP believes that the current government need to be overthrown and changed before its constitutional term; then it is once more a movement for change rather than a political process. Should they not decide which of it it is? Can MDP hold on to Democratic values and refuse acceptance of such defections, stay strong to their convictions? 

CONCLUSION: the current system of Politics that is in Maldives, is where we will accept all those whom we hate and despise, if we see fit they can be ‘used’ to gain more power. It is all about power, with little regard for the constitution or education and empowering the public and upholding their rights. If they do in fact, involve and allow the public to realize and accept the situation we face (which is quite dire), then would not the public once more come together against a new regime? Or do we really need the support of colluded and despised defecting members of the current regime to support us? Is MDP so weak that it needs their support? The public are not STUPID nor BLIND, but a lot of them are apathetic to the Politics and disillusioned. Independent institutions and bodies need to have more teeth and the ‘unions’ stand up for their members and the Journalists mature and be more responsible.The disappearance of the Journalist and Blogger and Rights activist Ahmed Rilwan, showed how the various entities used the issue to their own needs. Will it be another mistake to rush and make a change or are we in such a dire state we need to do it? If so the public needs to know for they are the most powerful of all institutions and bodies and entities of the nation! 

Maldives NEEDS Change Once MORE!

AT SOME POINT we start to find ourselves looking back; at what we have accomplished and what we have failed at. The chances are we will repeat our own mistakes over and over again, unless we do something drastic about it. Eventually we have to break free from this circle of repetitive mistakes. Such is life.

MARCH 2014, we are back to where we once started. We are with the uttermost need for change once more. The only difference is, this time we need to change ourselves. Maybe Mahatma Gandhi was right; we should become the change we wish to see in this world. Maybe, that was our mistake then; we can correct it now. 

TODAY WE ENJOY the luxuries of technology and freedoms we did not have 5 years back, we only lack the luxury of time. The goals of yesterday are once more goals for us today. It would be easy to say forget the differences and unite to change the government; but we know that is not the way. We cannot forget how we came back to this situation once more, in full circle. We cannot let apathy grip the nation to its last breath. We cannot let a minority govern the majority simply due to mere lack of will and blatant laziness. We can easily say the past is the past and move on; but that will not be enough for history and the sake of our future generations.

THE ONLY WAY to do this, would be to educate and be aware. To learn and crate a knowledge based society that is strong in their beliefs and even stronger in their determination for development; of self and the nation. The duty owed to ourselves and the nation are ones we need to fulfill for we shall be judged on these duties.

UNLESS WE CAN EDUCATE and protect our younger generations we cannot create a future generation. If the political parties fail in creating younger generation of leading politicians and statesmen, and the withering veterans remain in power; there will be no future. There is almost no hope for the current failed politicians and if we are to wait until they; very likely pass away; then what would happen to the parties themselves? Wither and waste as well?

 NO WE CANNOT! The Parties need stronger programs for youth development and recruitment. Our education system needs an overhaul as we need more thinking and questioning and curious young adults. People who will not take anyone’s words merely for the sake but research and learn and make an educated decision. We need young adults that balance life, enriching their soul, physical body and life as a whole. Young people who are passionate in their beliefs, and love their nation.

THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE! We cannot just throw in the towel now! We have been lead to this moment by visionaries and idealists and believers in freedom and democracy and strong faith. It is time that we all chip in and collectively carry that torch. A nation is a structure that never finishes being built; we need to reinforce and redecorate regularly. It is a tree that needs constant watering, and a book that has to be carefully handled and read with an open mind. A Nation is an empty vase unless we plant the flowers of different colors and shades. A Nation is a boat that sails against and with the wind, depending on who is steering. 

Death Penalty in the Maldives- is it being used as a political statement for the Parliamentary elections?

This is not about the application or implementation of the death penalty; this is whether the death penalty is used as a political tool to identify specific groups as being more "Islamic" than the others, by supporting it. The disturbing truth of the matter is the apathy towards the discussion and the fear of being labelled. This is a serious matter since we have not had anyone put to death by the state under a justice system since the early 1950's.
The issue had never been discussed or brought up by anyone other than religious persons who preached in the shadows during ex-president Gayyoom's presidency. Gayyoom had the scholars shunned and disgraced and belittled and ensured that they were not vocal enough. Then with the available freedoms of a democracy, brought about by the MDP and the Democratic movements and the first multi party elections; all scholars and preachers now had a voice. Still, the issue of death penalty was not raised at sermons or preachers on stage, at least not to the level that it made news headlines.
Many of our unfortunate young people had been murdered on the streets; no issue raised. Innocent Policemen and young girls being raped; no one batted an eye. A member of parliament and religious scholar was murdered on the streets and still no issue. Then it is time for the parliamentary elections, the government is afraid that opposition MDP will be stronger in the parliamentary elections; suddenly the issue is raised.
It is raised by Umar Naseer who once made a political party called Islamic Party and advocated for Shari-ah to be implemented. The man who lost his first bid for presidency in 2008 and then left his party and joined his then opposition, PPM and now is a minister of the PPM coalition government. The man raised the issue as Home Minister, via a special declaration, or directive to the authorities to start preparing for implementation of the death penalty via lethal injection. The Current President Abdullah Yameen, who is not known to be a strong advocate for Islamic law, was away and on his return to Male' furiously said that Umar had not consulted the cabinet. Today the cabinet has also advised the president that Umar was right and that we need to use lethal injection.
Then we saw MP Mahloof present to the parliament a request to have a public referendum on the matter, if we would want to implement lethal injection. Then he takes it back and apologises saying religious scholars have enlightened him on the matter, and calls upon the government to begin capital punishment.
It seems PPM or President Yameen cannot make up their mind, if they would implement the death penalty and gain support of the religious advocates for it or if they should, as their president of the party, ex-president Gayyoom did, ignore the religious voices and implement their own views. It seems now the final decision lies with the president. Ex-president Nasheed would be having a laugh imagining the turmoil within Yameen's self, for he had to face similar decisions. It was Nasheed in 2009 who created the Islamic Ministry and supported Adhaalath Party in the beginning;, for he once said, there was nothing better than politicizing the "scholars" who wanted power.
So it is a political decision,clearly! So does it mean, the government merely wishes to implement the policy for political gains rather than fear of God? Is the issue of implementation already decided, or will this be dragged on till the end of the parliamentary elections? Even MDP now has said that they have nothing against the implementation of lethal injection for those to be put to death.Does it mean the government and the opposition aligned already for the implementation? I believe so; this is not a matter of if the Death Penalty is allowed in Islam and has to be implemented but rather the way it is being used in Maldives Politics!

The parliament DOES represent the Society!

Sometimes i hear people say there should be a minimum qualification for members of parliament; especially since there is a minimum qualification for Judges as well. The Judges are not elected by the people but the parliament is!The parliament is representing the society!

Democracy is where the people elect their rulers and the people elect persons to represent their views and translate them into laws and regulations. The majority of the elected members of the parliament then legislate. If the members of parliament legislate with no conference or participation of their constituencies; then the public who elected them can vote against that person in the next election. 

Hence, the parliament truly represents the society in general. If we call the parliamentarians names we are very well calling names to ourselves. If the parliamentarians are ineffective then it is due to a bad choice of the public. Of course there are those who came with adequate qualifications and moving campaigns and lots of promises and simply fail to deliver. These persons we can rid ourselves of by not electing them the next election. 

Maybe we can put in a special clause that states after 6 months in through their term, if 2 thirds of the electorate wish to remove their representative, via a petition, or a referendum they can be removed. I am not sure of the efficacy or feasibility of this process, especially with financial constraints. Maybe it can happen in the future but not right now.

So, when we go to the polls in March 2014 to elect our representatives; the persons who represents our voices, let is be someone reflective of your beliefs. Not one who represents the party that you belong to; nor your relative or good friend. At the end of the day it is the public that decides who governs them in Democracy.

Then there is the issue of a vote of no confidence by the current opposition, Maldivian Democratic Party [MDP] against the government if they win a parliamentary majority this election. Ex-president Nasheed's statement saying they would do it seems more like an empty threat of a tired and defeated politician. His contributions for the democracy and governance establishment of political systems within the Maldives will always be remembered fondly, but his "threat" seems one if is a reality, to destabilize an already polarised nation. I  believe that if the current government is given their 5 year term, [by being the bigger person and not doing what they did wrong-two wrongs do not make a right and all that] he would simply fail as a politician or become a true dictator. There is no need for the change of the government until the next election.

MDP needs to focus on their parliamentary election campaign; for the primaries seemed too tainted with allegations of corruption and anti-democratic tactics. 

So elect who governs you carefully!!!