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Beyond 2003 a window of opportunity for Maldives by Bandaara Koi (psuedonym)
Any Maldivian Government that takes power after 2003 will be forced to dismantle Maumoon Gayyoom's pseudo-Arab dictatorship. Some would say this is rhetoric. Others would say it is gallows humour. While others would curse the darkness and stay in their sitting rooms. Hypocritical standards and rigged rules prevent Maldivians from taking charge of their political and social life. To change this status of deprivation and to bring life to the scattered island communities, Maldivians themselves must search for solutions. Making proper use of the electoral process can be a beginning. Undoubtedly, tourists and foreign governments do not represent sources of help or even inspiration. Hence there's no need to curse them or turn to them for assistance. The first step is to exercise the right to vote by using this opportunity wisely. If one examines the current set of rules and regulations pertaining to Presidential Elections, a window of opportunity can be seen. When the Rayyathunge Majlis/Parliament nominates a candidate by secret ballot , the voters have the right to either vote for that particular person or to reject the candidate by voting 'NO'. This process can continue until the Majlis is able to come up with a candidate the majority of the voters can accept. In 2003, if and when the Majlis performs the usual 'follow the leader' ritual by nominating Maumoon for yet another term in office, members of the public can simply cast a 'NO' vote. The strength to use this right of voting, without fear, is a power that comes from within. If you need to look for inspiration, take an example from Naibu Thuththu or Bodufenvalhuge Seedhi. They made sacrifices so that later generations could benefit. It is time to organize our own destiny. There are also some factors that may help those who are prepared to thwart Maumoon's iron fist, censorship, misplaced nationalism and greed. The arena inside which his regime operates is going through radical transformations. In the post 9/11 world, dictators like Maumoon must tread carefully lest they step on a political landmine. Foreign aid donors have become wary. Even the Arabs have got fed up with the usual theatrical acts of Maumoon and his cronies. For the local business tycoons like Champa Hussain Afeef, Koli Ali Maniku with his Universal Group, Burumaa Gasim with his Villa Group and Waheedudden, the future of their respective businesses may look far more promising without Maumoon to rob them of their profit margins. It is no secret that, from the days of Rajiv Ghandhi, the Indian government has continuously influenced the Maumoon regime. During the recent truncated visit to Maldives by Prime Minister Vajpayee, reports indicate that Maumoon was advised to introduce a multi-party system. But during the last few years, which saw the election of reformer Mohamed Nasheed to one of the two Malé seats in the Majlis and his subsequent imprisonment and exile on fabricated charges, Maumoon Gayyoom has been using his judiciary and security services to suppress any support for of a democratic party system in the Maldives. For Gayyoom, it is no longer feasible to go on spreading lies within the corridors of power by declaring the active presence of extremist elements among those interested in the formation of political parties. When he advocates embracing the noble art of speaking the truth as a shining pillar of Islam, he ought to be ashamed of his own hypocrisy (see President's Office news report below). Turning his back on nepotism and cronyism is too painful a task for Maumoon Gayyoom, a dictator who revels in his unquestionable authority. However reluctant he may be to renounce his power, geopolitical realities may render his authoritarian ideals into yet another anachronistic blunder in the pages of Maldivian history. The UN, IMF and the World Bank may not be willing to grant any more leniency to the Maumoon regime, given the latter's track record of spending habits. The monopolistic colourings that shroud national institutions such as the media, telecom sector and energy must dissolve and be replaced with a properly managed and an open system. To be able to prosper as a compassionate community able to acknowledge and benefit from new technologies, Maldivians must take control of their future political and social threads. No magic wand from the outside world can repair the psychological damage done to our islanders by Maumoon Gayyoom and his paramilitary gangs. We alone must deal with this Rannamaari, by shoving him inside that bottle, where he belongs. Kaashidhoo Kandu awaits his return.  The President says that discipline and good moral conduct are virtues that everyone requires in order to achieve fulfilment and well-being in personal matters, family life and social relations The President's Office Malé 8 November 2002 The President last night said that discipline and good moral conduct were virtues that everyone required in order to achieve fulfilment and well-being in personal matters, family life and social relations. The President said so while addressing the first meeting held this year at the Islamic Centre under the programme to revive and renew the spirit of Ramadan. He was speaking about the fifteen fundamental aspects of Islam as categorised by Muslim theologians and philosophers and, continuing the series of lectures that he had begun earlier on this subject, the President's address last night covered the 13th aspect, which was discipline and moral conduct.
The President stressed the importance of discipline and rectitude for well-ordered social relations, and noted the vital role played in one's personal life by the qualities of good moral character and integrity. He added that a person who spurned such virtues would not find fulfilment in his personal matters, and would not be a person who enjoyed the respect and the esteem of his peers and others. Moreover, the President added that such a person would not be able to contribute to the well-being of his own family or society. The President explained that the Glorious Quran taught in detail what constituted good moral conduct, and said that one of the qualities that was highlighted was honesty. He said that an honest person would be true in both word and deed, and added that those who were honest would achieve success and respect in their lives and would receive the blessings of the Almighty Allah in the hereafter. The President also noted the importance of honesty and truthfulness for well-ordered social relations and harmony. The President said that trustworthiness was a virtue that was related to honesty, and recalled that the Glorious Quran commands the people to become trustworthy. He highlighted the importance of being faithful to matters that were entrusted to a person, especially with regard to property and wealth, and stressed that such trusts should be carefully rendered to their rightful owners. The President counselled everyone to strengthen their personality and conscience with such virtues. He emphasised the importance of everyone contributing to reform in matters that were related to each one, or their area of social interaction and, while stressing the necessity of striving for reform, the President noted that such efforts had reaped success. Two other virtues that the President highlighted in his address last night were humility and modesty. The President said that no person had any justification to be haughty and arrogant, and that all mortals should realise their frailty and weakness. He added that everyone one should aspire to the qualities of humility and modesty. Further, in his address last night, the President noted the importance of the qualities of forgiveness and restraining anger, and counselled that everyone to make it a habit, if angered, to control their temper and to speak with composure. The President also noted that forgiving others was a means of receiving the mercy and forgiveness of the Almighty Allah. |
Maldives Culture is an independent internet magazine of Maldivian cultural issues.
Editors and translators: Michael O'Shea and Fareesha Abdulla, Australia
We invite contributions from Maldivians and others interested in Maldives.
Contributions and comments - mc_editors@hotmail.com
