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Political Parties - a natural system Kashi Alanaasi (pseudonym)
Not having a proper and appropriate party system is causing severe problems in modern Maldives. Historically there have been cases like the 'Big Fire' and 'Goadhee Raja' and several others. When government is left to ruling families, individual rivalries end up causing a lot of unwanted problems to the people of the country. Moreover, the current regime is a living example of a party that took over the country's administration. Well, let's go back to last few years of Nasir's rule (1970s). We saw Arab diplomatic missions in the Maldives, including a Palestinian one. The Libyan mission was very active and much involved in giving assistance, donations etc. for the people of Maldives. Our current regime's core people were educated in Egypt, and they prepared themselves to take over and rule the country immediately after they finished their studies. The Maldivian student association of Azhar university in Cairo was the place where this idea was floated, and where these activities were organised. The leader was undoubtedly Maumoon Gayyoom, and the core people were Fathulla Jameel, Zahir Hussain, Ahmed Adam and so on. Since they were educated in Arabic, they had a good knowledge of the Arabic language and had established connections with the Libyan and Iraqi regimes, and others. So the President was correct in saying in the Parliament that he and his associates had pistols in their pockets when he took the oath as President for the first time in 1978. These weapons were given to them by a friendly country.  Testdrive for the Libyan ambassador's launch, 1981 I feel this is a similar case to that of Ibrahim Dhoshimeyna Kilegefaanu when he took power. At that time (1887), the British Governor in Sri Lanka sent a naval vessel and asked the Maldivian king to accept British Protection and make Ibrahim Dhoshimeynaa Kilegefaanu the Prime Minister. How could we know this wasn't the arrangement with Nasir too? He might have been forced to give power to Gayyoom, and depart. This is the vacuum that occurs when we do not engage the Maldivian people in politics. It becomes the business of someone else! The people of this country must be involved in decision making, and this process should start immediately. This should not be delayed, especially in the 21st century. We Maldivians of all ages should wake up and must seriously attend to this. The system has to change for the good of the community, for the good of the economy, for the good of fairness and justice. We should become civilized people, not only in what we wear. A peaceful and harmonious society can only be established by having a civilized system of ruling. Just imagine what's happening to our economy, and notice what is happening to family businesses. We have a system where there is not a proper atmosphere for these businesses to change hands from one generation to the other. The Koli Empire is existing now, but this is only for the current rulers and it will die with them. Is it the same with countries which have proper political institutions? Think of our neighbours and go to Europe, Australia and so on. It is with the entreprenuers and business people that a country can be built properly. Otherwise our conditions will not change. Businessmen will not risk their hard-earned money. They will safeguard it whichever way they can. If proper laws and regulations to protect their interest don't exist, they will find safe places elsewhere to keep their money. The country now operates in such a way that foreign bankers enjoy huge benefits which they are taking home. People's buying power has been reduced. The monopoly telephone company, Dhiraagu, is taking a big chunk of earnings from the Maldivian people. The public are taxed on all their services - telephone, power, water etc. Public companies have major government share holdings, and are managed by the government-controlled CEO's. These companies are making fat benefits from their involvement in small trading as well. And big private businesses have 'good contacts', so small businesses are going bankrupt every day. I think it's time that some capable Maldivians, in Maldives or abroad, took the initiative and got involved in the process of changing the current system to a more civilized political system. Today these things are not so difficult, people just need the will. We have enough educated people; a proper system can be devised; the blueprints are readily available. And we need to have some courageous people to face this problem with the strong will, wisdom and professionalism that will eliminate the vacuum. |
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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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