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Day of Judgment problems loom for Maldives' President Gayyoom Anonymous author(s) Maldives 2001 Translated from Dhivehi Right-click, select 'save target as' and download 85k pdf Dhivehi original, or 129k zipped English translation with graphics
and Peace in society Establishing a political party system is an intensely discussed topic these days in Maldives. Some people believe the idea is a grave mistake, and that it will divide the nation. They claim the current government system is soundly based, and it is the real reason why the country has been experiencing stability and development. In fact, they claim that Maldives is an example of a perfect democracy. However, others hold the view that the establishment of political parties is essential, and just part of the reforming changes needed for the nation's ruling apparatus. They say Maldives' political development is in limbo, while the present system allows the entire country to become the private property of the leader, and provides no way of removing that person from power regardless of how unpopular he or she becomes. They also point out there is no opportunity at all for people to express their opinions because freedom of speech does not exist in Maldives. Criticism of the government is not possible under the present system, and if someone happens to say something in the presence of the wrong person, that criticism then poses a serious threat to life and property.
Take for example the case of Umar Jamal who stood as a Majlis candidate for Gaaf Dhaal (southern Huvadhu) atoll in the last election. The police took him away in exactly that manner and he wasn't released from prison until 7 months later. He had to remain in Malé for a further two months awaiting trial. Finally, in court the prosecutor could not produce any witnesses, and he was released. This is what happens to anyone the regime dislikes. All the basic rights of the people are subject to the powers of the police. This is the rule of the fist. A fist which smashes the power of the law. How can something like this take place in a country claiming to be just and fair? When former President Ibrahim Nasir resigned from his position with dignity, a person could be held for questioning for no longer than 15 days. It was unlawful to hold a person without charges for longer than that. But today's dictator abolished this law in his first year of office because he saw it as an obstacle to his rule. [ The 15 day limit law is dated 11th March 1978, since then it has been gradually ignored. Translators ]
If you had heard what Shaheed Zaki had to say you would have noticed it was obvious that someone unlearned in matters of law was making an attempt to create a fiction to placate the members. Despite the full approval of Maanu's loving father-in-law [Speaker Abdullah Hameed], his speech was so silly he had to be reprimanded, albeit with great reluctance. Zakariya also opposed the bill. He is a man who has displayed his integrity by collecting money from people for an Umrah trip to Mecca. He used that money in some deal with Radium Mohamed Didi, and then pretended he knew nothing about his own promises while accusing Mohamed Didi of impropriety. This Zakariya began his speech in the name of the Prophet. For a small fee, and a position from Maumoon Gayyoom, he has sold his life after death. Despite his Sheikh's title he has failed to realise that his attempts to trick people would only reveal his own hypocrisy. These men, who have been chosen purely to support Gayyoom, openly oppose human rights and made sure that the bill failed. B. A. Naseem was also imprisoned using the regime's police powers. Sheikh Hussein Rasheed Ahmed was repeatedly arrested as well. Just as Ariel Sharon uses heavy artillery to 'pacify' Palestinians, in Maldives police power is used to supress 'the beloved people of this peaceful country'. Shafeeg (Night Jasmine house, Henveiru ward, Malé), Ali Moosa Didi, Koli Hassan Manik, and Latheef (Kalhuhuraa house) were arrested in this way. These police powers are one of Gayyoom's most important traditions, and the list of people hurt by their implementation is very long.  Anyway, to get back to the issue of a party system, it is obvious from the discussions and happenings around the place there are already two strongly competing political parties in the Maldives, although you won't find them registered anywhere. The problem is that the party in power is refusing to legally acknowledge the situation. It is true that the debate about the parties has subsided slightly, because the matter has been handled in such a surprising fashion.
It was claimed it couldn't be done within the current constitutional framework. Others said parties would create divisions in the nation, and that this was like paving a path to conflict and violence. Those people who had petitioned for the registration of a party, and believed in its importance, were outside the chamber. Gayyoom's younger brother, in his wisdom, had reduced the number of seats in the public gallery prior to the session, so only a few could get in. There are numerous things a house-owner can do to ban people from entering his abode.
According to those few observers and registration supporters who were allowed into the scene of the discussion, those who opposed the bill were very angry. It was as if someone was trying to steal their own private property. But to say the law does not allow for registration is not good enough. A country should be run according to the will of its people. It is the responsibility of the parliament to amend the documentation to allow for registration. And there is no basis for the argument that registration will lead to conflict and economic ruin. They held up neighbouring countries as examples - Sri Lanka's problems and ethnic civil war; Pakistan's disputes between religious factions; Bangladesh's problems of poverty and ignorance.  But these problems are not due to the multi-party political system. Such a system may not be the solution to all society's difficulties, however it is system which is seen as desirable by many human beings. Places without the multi-party system have problems too. The 'group from Egypt' would know the problems of that country very well. Egypt's problems have become so intense it has become a dangerous place to live. The assassination of Anwar Sadat is a clear example of the danger of not allowing room for the opinions of others. Though there has been no exchange of gunfire or lance-thrusts in Maldives, the political atmosphere is bleak and haunted. The country has entered a state of fear. We can see clear signs of this. 'Sports for All' is an expensive program aimed at young people. What are its real intentions and purposes? Is the regime acting in good faith in these matters? If it is, then why was there opposition to an education system in the 1980s? The Junior School Certificate was introduced, but why was higher education actively stopped? This same dark shadow fell on the country's only A level class at the SEC in Malé. That is why the students failed. Later, things changed. Trained people were needed for the projects funded by foreign assistance, and when this outside pressure increased there was some relief for the education problem. But later still, things went bad again. The best students among the school-leavers were taken into the police force, and under the regime's direct control. Many are now drug users. Due to the problem of being unable to find Maldivians with appropriate skills to fill the high level jobs in the private sector, how much money goes out of the country every year? A large proportion of the $US 45 million that is paid to expatriates is paid to highly skilled employees. Look at the huge numbers of expatriate teachers. After 23 years of bad government policy, the incompetency of the regime is completely transparent. The 'Sheikh from Egypt' [Zahir Hussein] responsible for controlling Maldivian education in the 1980s now has the responsibility of leading all the youth astray, and making them work around the clock without rest or sleep. The 'Sports Professor' has started a lot of programs designed to corrupt the minds of the people and mesmerise them. Just as thieves steal at night from behind the curtain of darkness, so this regime keeps the people blinded with its tricks, as it devours the treasury of the nation. In a similar way programs are being designed to coincide with the Presidential election campaign and further lead people astray.
Here is the role played in this by the Commissioner of Police. When the complaints of his fellow drugtakers began to mount, he went off to Singapore, while spreading the rumour that he was on a training course. At this stage he had become prey to drugs, and he tried to escape with the help of rehabilitation. This was his so-called 'training' course! He supplements his income by dealing in drugs on a large scale. Selling what the government has seized from its people. What Gayyoom wants is to get rid of anyone who is intelligent, and to surround himself with people like Umar Zahir, Abdullah Jameel, and Ahmed Abdullah - cretins who chant 'this is my country, my paradise' and 'be praised'. At every opportunity Ahmed Abdullah and the rest of them perform this ritual so passionately! And while the path is being paved to inculcate society with these undesirable habits, instructions have also been given to all authorised preachers not to mention alcohol in an Islamic context. It is also forbidden to speak of hell because children might get frightened. Women's fashions and the veil must not be discussed under any circumstances. Speaking about bank interest is also totally banned. All these prohibitions have been passed onto the authorised preachers by Mohamed Rasheed Ibrahim during a gathering, and under direct instructions from the 'Great King'. Anyway, it is difficult to believe that any political party will be registered in the near future. But one cannot help wondering if such vigorous denial of human logic and rational desires can continue just for the sake of position, bonuses and promotions. What cheap souls! What a dirty bunch of henchmen! Just think for a moment of all the world's developed countries which function with a party system. Military and economic superpower, the U.S.A., has this type of government. And so does Japan, Singapore, Germany, France, Italy, Britain etc... All the countries in the prestigious G-8 follow the multi-party system. Now we shall consider the role of Islam in this system. When we use the term 'party', some people understand it to mean some sort of 'army'. The party to which we are referring is not an armoured group devoted to war. Rather, it is a patriotic association that supports society and helps to run the country. This is a party that respects the ideas and views of others, and acts in consultation with them. The intention of the party is to establish justice and equality among the nation's people. Thus, from an Islamic viewpoint a political party is an excellent thing. In many of his speeches the President has claimed that he welcomes constructive criticism. And he has sent a letter to the Office of the Parliament saying that members of the parliament will not be liable for what they say during debates. What these speeches teach us is that freedom of expression is something we can only practice with his permission. And from the letter we learn that even in Parliament there is no freedom. Even there, we are not able to express our views on matters of national importance. In short, this country is ruled with an iron fist, more strictly than anywhere else in the world. If a party system is introduced, things will be different from the way they are now. The news media won't be controlled by my brother-in-law, my classmate and other people under my thumb. Who are the owners of Haveeru, Miadhu, and Aafathis newspapers? And who owns all the magazines published now? These citadels of indecency contain writings not fit to be circulated among mothers and children, yet they don't have any trouble with the law. But the publication of 'Dharuma' causes a pain in the the regimes' bones, and there are warnings that this magazine will soon be caught in a legal trap. If the party system was established the present ruler would not have received the title of 'Personality of the 20th century', that's for sure! And this country wouldn't be the private property of his brothers-in-law, and classmates. The President wouldn't have to donate computer systems for the people. The tradition of the leader 'donating' state assets to the people will be abolished. As well, all these lies about the Dhivehi translation of the Holy Quran will be stopped. About 8 years ago that stupid man Rasheed, who is in the High Court, said they were unable to publish a translation of the Quran because they could not type some of its words into a computer! He said this in an address broadcast on TV. Sometime later Moosa Fathy said that they had sent a translation to a Saudi publisher.
Is it appropriate to trust a leader who tells such huge lies about the Quran? Gayyoom has purposely avoided publishing the Quran because he is worried that people like Seena Zahir, Munawar and Shahid may begin to fear Another more than they fear him! According to Koli Ali Manik it took about two years to build the $US 75 million Palace. But for the last 18 years they have been unable to publish a translation of the Quran. There is no doubt that someone [Gayyoom] who said the veil is not compulsory is not a person who believes in the Quran. This is an issue that is fundamental to the Quran, which has many verses saying that visible hair on the head is a sign of nakedness. Therefore it is religiously essential for women to cover their hair.
Gee, doesn't this 'democracy' provide great opportunities for thieves and liars! There is evidence that Abdul Rasheed stole a block of land at Viligili island west of Malé. This isn't just a rumour. When he was questioned in Parliament he said he was unaware of any foundation for the allegation. But this land is still left vacant and has not been given to anybody. The regime was nowhere to be seen when Malé was captured [1988] by men using only 60 light weapons. No one questioned their irresponsibility and later they all awarded medals to each other, and some even obtained 'National Hero' titles. Regardless of how much pomp surrounds Anbaree the fact remains he has no tertiary education, nor any real experience. He just takes positions for which he has no ability, and no hope of ever fulfilling his duties properly. It was a stupid thing for him to become the Chairman of Air Maldives. When there is no integrity in these promotion matters, this is the sort of thing that happens. People should take responsibility along with the title of office. And when a loss [to Air Maldives] of about $US 70 million occurs he simply stops coming to his office! From that moment his responsibility vanished. His personality and charisma could not sustain him there. Despite his lack of qualifications this man holds many important positions and stands high and mighty above the law. Is this our 'peaceful and tranquil paradise'? The only paradise around here has as its holy gardens the palace of Mohamed Rasheed Ibrahim and Shahid's high-rise! The buildings and domes that tower above the canopy of Malé give some indication of the 'perfection' of this democracy. Wow! And congratulations to all those who work to defend this democracy. Special congratulations must be extended to Dr Shaheed and Dr Munuwar who have managed to do their government work and avoid reference to anything they learnt during their studies. Now let us turn some of the pages of the Maldivian memory and see if we can get some measure of this great democracy. Remember the first Gayyoom parliament? Members who opposed the bills introduced by Gayyoom were blacklisted and started finding themselves in gaol. Hence the cases involving Vaikaradhoo Ali Katheeb, Sheikh Hussein Yoosuf and Meedhoo Azi. Meedhoo Azi was crippled by the torture he suffered in gaol. After this first parliament, people needed a ticket from the regime before they were allowed to stand as a candidate. Island chiefs and mudhims who did not support the government team just happened to lose their jobs. Other individuals, known to be critical of the regime, found themselves spending time in prison. As a result of these 'terrorist' acts, fear of the government was strong in the minds of the people. 'Worry just about myself, myself, myself,' became everybody's mantra. Except for one exceptionally brave person, nobody dare to stand as a reforming candidate. GoGo Latheef once campaigned for the rights of the people and was elected. After a difference of opinion with the regime, he was sent to gaol. After that Addu Ahmed Didi stood as a candidate, and as his support grew and it became apparent he would be elected, he was sent away to Dhoonidhoo on the pretext he had said something wrong, and kept gaoled there until Gayyoom's chosen one was elected. During the last parliamentary election the same thing happened to Umar Jamal, who stood for Gaaf Dhaal [southern Huvadhu] atoll. As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, when his campaign began to meet with some success, he was sent to gaol. After this election, all complaints were handled by the High Court. About 60 complaints came in from the atolls. Complaints submitted by a candidate for Shaviyani atoll were apparently thrown out of court because he failed to deposit about Rf100,000. Addu Shareef also submitted a number of complaints to the court. There was a very bitter result for him. He was kept in gaol for many months and then banished for months to an island. If anyone's views deviate from those of the government, the regime waits for the right moment to pounce and then they apply pressure with a separate allegation. In many ways it could be argued that there is little difference between Pol Pot's Cambodia and the system of rule now used in Maldives.  |
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Maldives Culture is an independent internet magazine of Maldivian cultural issues.
Editors and translators: friends and Michael O'Shea, Australia
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