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Maldives Presidential election — democracy or farce? by Nadhuru Koi (pseudonym) November 2002
Immediately after Nasir left Maldives to live in Singapore, the whole thing changed and the new President labelled him as the biggest traitor in the history of Maldives, claiming Nasir had taken large sums of money from the people. There were demonstrations on the roads, and Nasir's photographs were burnt. Many people gathered at meetings which included the high level politicians. They all spoke at these gatherings against Nasir, including people who in the past had received personal help from him. Then there was Nasir's lengthy trial, and finally he was sentenced in absentia. Nasir's children left Maldives because they did not feel secure, and they have lived overseas, in some ways like refugees. Is this how we want our country to be? Is this how we would like to treat the past leaders who had served our nation? Surely Nasir also did some good things for the country. Should he be cursed by the people? What should we do to prevent the repetition of such things? Why can't our leadership have the vision to rule more decently, like civilized people? Why can't they allow party politics or allow more than one party to take decisions of the state, its laws and regulations for the betterment of the people? It was said by the people closest to President Gayyoom, that he would transform the Majlis into a democratic parliament. But we see him controlling the country as his own invented 'unique democracy' which has one party ruling, and the Majlis remains a timid advisory committee and obedient rubber stamp for his regime. There are only three families and some independants in this regime. Yet the Maldivian government tells the world it is a democracy! Our previous constitution was deemed unsuitable when Maumoon Gayyoom came to power. Gayyoom planned to have two houses of Parliament — a People's Special Majlis and a People's Majlis, i.e. an upper house and a lower house. For the Special Majlis, he recruited people from all walks of life — retired island chiefs, shop managers etc.. These fine people started their work, and two Majlis bodies made up of 84 people took 17 years to create this 'perfect' constitution. However, we find that 60% of the constitution is concerned with the powers and immunities of the President, and only 40% deals with the responsibilities of the state and the rights of the Maldivian people. According to this constitution (Maldives Constitution, Articles: 34 & 35), many people can contest the Presidential election. But this election is not a national one. It occurs only among the Majlis members who select the final nominee for the Presidency. Only God and the Majlis members know how this person is selected. The only time the Maldivian people are involved is after the Majlis has chosen the new President. The so-called public presidential vote by 'secret ballot' is only a referendum where people can say yes or no to the President that the Majlis has already chosen. No person of high integrity and with an experienced political background dares to contest for the Presidential nomination by the Majlis, due to fear that he would be harrassed by Gayyoom and his supporters. Any man who can realistically compete against Maumoon Gayyoom must be prepared to face jail and the destruction of his life and career. Hence we see the degradation of the nation's highest position. We see tailors, DJ's, divers, and electricians nominated for the presidency. These are the only people who dare to mount some sort of challenge to Gayyoom. And the President tolerates their nominations because he knows they are not an acceptable alternative to his rule. At the same time, Gayyoom enjoys the farce because it appears the Presidency is open to any man. In fact, these actions undermine the status of the Presidency itself. Shouldn't we have more trust in our own people? Isn't there any way out of this one horse race? I do not see any great danger from political pluralism. Other parts of the world have party systems, including small Island nations with even tinier populations than Maldives. And those countries are in fact doing well. The truly democratic world has proved that their systems have much to offer. That is why we get education, and other technical know-how from them. Our infrastructure is designed from their models and constructed using their brains. We get our military trained by them. And we send our children to their educational institutions. What has happened to the Maldives democratic party now? Were they given a chance to form the party? Were they given the right to register? No, they were treated like criminals! A party could be legally registered, but the regime did not permit it. In the 21st century, when Maldivians boast that we are civilized and allow freedom of speech and criticism, why does the government forbid the creation of political parties? Some elderly people used to say that Maumoon Gayyoom was a top student at Azhar University. I am sure that Gayyoom wasn't the only student there. There were thousands of others from all around the world. It's also said that people have got fed up with President Gayyoom and his regime, and they do not want him any more. I am sure that like Saddam he will win with 100% support this time (2003 referendum). But some people are openly calling for him to step down. In a recent court case, Ibrahim Luthfee and others were imprisoned for life for criticising the government. Would the people of Maldives really want Luthfee to go through this sort of pain? Do the people want their money spent to punish such people? But what can people do? They are helpless; living like hostages and captives in their own islands. |
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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.
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