Justice for Gayyoom and his cronies should be sought with swiftness and fairness

My mother who, like me, is a supporter of MDP and the reformist movement, was looking forward to the day when ex-dictator Gayyoom is brought to justice. But when the onset of that justice was seen Monday night, when Gayyoom was forcefully summoned to the Police Headquarters, my mother said that she felt a tinge of sympathy for Gayyoom.

It’s easy to feel that way since Maldivians are easygoing people who, not only forgive easily but forget easily too. My mother and many thousands of Maldivians would not easily forgive the many atrocities committed by Gayyoom’s ironfisted regime over a period of 30 years ending in 2008, but many Maldivians tend to forget those things when dictators such as Gayyoom paint a rosy picture and hide behind the “law”.

People such as Yamin and Gayyoom and Hameed can now easily pull the letters of the Law or the constitution and preach holier-than-thou prose when they were the ones who trampled that very Law in the past.
The drama that was played out live on Dhi-TV when Gayyoom was taken in to police headquarters for questioning was more enthralling than the infamous “Kasoati” itself. Tens of thousands of people were glued to the TV screens and many thousands more had their ears glued to the live broadcasts on FM radio. Cell-phone networks were jammed and traffic became palpably heavy in Male' through the course of the Monday evening as rumours circulated through the city of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom’s arrest.

Angry confrontations happened between Gayyoom’s supporters and the riot police. Eventually Gayyoom was summoned to the Police by force. Now the Court has released a temporary ruling which prevents any forceful summon of Gayyoom or Yamin to the Presidential Commission or the Police.

Despite some apparent resistance from various directions, the government must not be discouraged from seeking justice. All efforts must be concerted to bring all the rogue elements from the ex-regime to justice. No one (as Gayyoom has told in the infamous BBC interview) is “above the law”. Hence his own words should apply to himself and his brothers or friends or whoever. If Gayyoom believes he is innocent then he should have nothing to hide. Any delays in the current investigations would be seen as a weakness on the part of the government. Justice should be sought with fairness and swiftness.

Ex-president Gayyoom and Yamin should be made answerable

The Ousted ex-president of the Maldives, Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom has been sent a summon to attend the Presidential Commission investigating cases of corruption related to his ironfisted 30-year-rule. The notice was initially sent around 6:00 on Thursday evening but he refused to accept it, claiming that the Commission does not have the legal mandate to summon him. Dictator’s younger brother and former Trade Minister, Yamin also refused to attend the Commission claiming it had no legal mandate. Yamin was later questioned by Police in relation to the matter on the request of the Commission.

According to the Commission, setup by President Nasheed in May, Gayyoom is being summoned to make some inquiries and clarify some issues. Gayyoom’s officials say that they will submit a formal letter on Sunday (19tyh July) stating why he will not attend the commission.

As stated previously in this blog, this country will not heal until the ex-dictator (Gayyoom) and his corrupt cronies are brought to justice. Commission or no-commission, these people will have to be made answerable to the people to clarify many outstanding issues that involve millions of dollars of corruption. Whether Gayyoom or his cronies are responsible for those corruption has to be decided once and for all by a fair and free trial. Any resistance from Gayyoom and Yamin and any of their cronies could be seen as a blatant attempt to delay justice and a possible attempt to hide something.

What next for "Islam" in the Maldives?

The Press Secretary of the President's Office (Zuhair) has openly challenged the system of Hadhdh (canning Fornicating men and women) in Islamic Sharia and the Maldivian Law. This could be interpreted as a challenge to Allah and a challenge to Islam.
What next, one wonders? Would we soon hear Zuhair or some other misguided bureaucrat openly asking for the construction of temples in the Maldives?
I supported MDP and Anni (Nasheed) and I continue to do so, but these sorts of statements from stupid and misinformed bureaucrats such as Zuhair is exposing the shortcomings of the government. I wonder where all the Islam-loving people of this country are. If a person such as Zuhair said a similar thing in, say Pakistan or Bangladesh or even Malaysia, people would have come out in force to protest on the streets, against the one who said it or even against the government! I wonder where the pseudo-religious Umar Naseer stands on this issue!
I'm not afraid of anyone but Allah. That’s the reason why I have written this comment. Who does Anni think he is? And the same could be said about his little conniving helpers if they think they can belittle Allah and His Prophet and His Religion. I do not have to write anything to bring down Anni and his government. If Anni and Zuhair think that they can plan against Allah they have forgotten that more "intelligent and powerful" people did plan against Islam and the Prophet but ultimately Allah and His religion and His Prophet prevailed - and will continue to prevail.

Revival of Lanka tourism in peace time and the Maldives

An editorial in Sri Lanka’s Daily News online version titled 'Reviving Tourism' talks in detail about the importance of reviving their tourism industry now that the war is all but over, thanks to the brilliant work of President Rajapakse and his administration. Peace in Lanka is very welcome news for everyone in the region, especially for thousands of Maldivians who see Lanka as their second home.

"Even the Maldives one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, has moved beyond its beaches to promote new concepts to attract more tourists. Incidentally, a large bulk of tourists who used to visit Sri Lanka shifted base to Maldives during the war years. We should now try to get them back adopting a new sales pitch, with the freeing of the country from terrorism." the editor noted in his argument for the need to revive the tourism industry of Sri Lanka.

Being their neighbour and probably their best friend, we of course, wish them the very best and much prosperity but this issue of competition is something that will have an impact on our tourism industry. There is no doubt about the fact that our tourism industry had indirectly benefitted from the unrest and civil war in Sri Lanka over the last 30 or so years. Sri Lanka is if you like, a real gem of beauty and tranquillity. It is blessed with such natural wonders that many nations in the region can only dream of. So, a real boost of tourism industry of Sri Lanka is inevitable, now that they have peace. In a way, perhaps it falls on us to help them in their endeavour to expand their tourism industry because there is plenty of scope and no shortage of people wanting to travel abroad for their holidays. We must also not forget the important contribution of Sri Lankan national airline in the expansion of our tourism industry. Now is the time to payback our dues and show our appreciation.

Of course, we wish them luck in that but this is something that we have to be prepared for. The top brass in our marketing sphere of the tourism industry of the Maldives must think long and hard about how best we can withstand this shock, especially in a time where the industry is on a 'nose-dive' as a result of the global economic downturn. Perhaps we should develop more products, such as an archaeological tour and incorporate more cultural aspects to our tourism packages. We could even introduce fishing holidays to the East. People in Japan would love to experience the traditional and cultural aspects of our fishing method.

Maldives tourism industry is looked on by big players in the region, including Thailand. The development of the industry over the past three decades have become the envy of many countries who want to tap into the gold pot of the travel industry. A new book titled 'Services trade in South Asia' also recongises the Maldives achievement in the sector.

Sri Lanka has everything we have and much more. They have beautiful beaches, splendid natural habitats including mountains, rivers and forests. In addition, they have far better infrastructures to service the sector. Hence, they could easily become the most sought after destination in Asia.

So, it is time to think and find new ways of sustaining the demand for the Maldives holidays.

(Review by Dhivehi Observer Editorial Team http://doreview.blogspot.com/2009/06/revival-of-lanka-tourism-in-peace-time.html)

We should perhaps buckle out seatbelts for a turbulent ride towards an uncertain future

The way that the current political map of Maldives is being shaped, I believe that very soon this could spill into something ugly. The Majlis is so polarized between the two leading parties (MDP and DRP), it is virtually impossible to achieve any meaningful legislation to get us out of the current economic woes.
1. DRP and PA seem to be hell bent on weakening and discrediting the government. They seem to have the aim of changing our form of government into a parliamentary democracy so that (Gayyoom’s younger brother and head of PA) Yamin could one day become Prime Minister.
2. DRP and PA also seem to share Gayyoom’s ambition of promoting his younger son (Gassaan) as a future President or Prime Minister.
3. Any attempt to summon ex-president Gayyoom to the Presidential Commission investigating past frauds could lead to violent confrontations. If the government persists in bringing Gayyoom to justice the situation could lead to the President using his power to enforce 144 and impose temporary martial law.
4. DRP is also getting help from some “independent” MPs such as (Kutti) Nasheed in undermining the relationship between the military (MNDF) and the government. These attempts could eventually lead to a reversing of the democratization process of the country.
I do not believe that this country could achieve anything good as long as Gayyoom and Yamin and their cronies have a say about our future. The best service that Gayyoom could do his country at present would be to retire from politics and let us fend for ourselves. If that doesn’t happen then we should buckle out seatbelts for a turbulent ride towards an uncertain future.

We should not let the government or MNDF or anyone else “rape” our dreams by “raping” Gan!

Is it true that the government is getting ready to secretly give two thirds of Addu Atoll Gan to the Maldives National Defense Force? There has been no official confirmation of such a thing but many Adduans now believe that President Nasheed’s government is secretly liaising with Mohamed Naseer the State Minister for Southern Province and senior MNDF officers, to give away a large chunk of Gan to MNDF as part of MNDF’s southern army base.
MNDF’s Commander for Southern Area (Brigadier General Ibrahim Mohamed Didi) was reported to have denied these claims; but he said that a large plot of land formerly assigned for an industrial factory has now been “bought” by MNDF. These quotes goes to prove that there is something hidden from the public!
Hundreds of Adduans have now signed a petition that is being prepared to be submitted to the President, asking President Nasheed to stop this if it were true. Adduans see Gan as the industrial and economic “heart” of Southern Province and they do not want Gan to be “raped” like this.
I would give my support (for what it’s worth) to those Adduans who are concerned about this “dangerous” scenario. Gan is not only part of the heritage of the Southern atolls but it is part of the country’s heritage and most definitely it is connected to the economic aspirations and dreams of the Southerners.
Today I heard a person from Huvadhoo Atoll saying that the government will not expand Gan Airport, but instead develop a brand new international airport at Huvadhoo Atoll and use Gan as a military base. This would be a nail on the coffin of us Adduans. Where is the yacht mariner promised to Gan? Where is the proper international airport promised at Gan? Where is the golf course we so often dreamed about?
It’s easy to say: “over my dead body”! Indeed if this were true, the government can “rape” Gan in this manner only over the collect “dead body” of all Adduans!

Gayyoom talking against human rights abuses is like Pamela Anderson talking against artificial breast enlargement!

In a speech to the Muslim world recently, US President Obama said: “...there are some who advocate for democracy only when they are out of power; once (when they are) in power; they are ruthless in suppressing the rights of others."

This statement reminds us of our ex-president Gayyoom - who was ruthless during his 30-years of power – who is now asking the current government to be more democratic and fair. Gayyoom talking against human rights abuses is like Pamela Anderson talking against artificial breast enlargement!

Please! For God’s sake stop your crocodile tears and pretensions. You trampled all human rights when you were in power. Now, don’t lecture us on democracy and freedoms and fairness. We have better things to do than listen to your hypocritical ramblings.

Gayyoom says that there’s no democracy in the country now that he is no longer President! What a joke. He says that everyone is now scared of being arrested and summoned to the police at any time. Well, Gayyoom and his partners-in-crime maybe losing sleep over this fear. We were scared of such things when you were in power. So stop generalizing your fears into a national phobia!

I have to repeat my previous stament again. Indeed, Gayyoom talking against human rights abuses is like Pamela Anderson talking against artificial breast enlargement!

I do not support a block vote!

The two leading parties has been locking horns for two days now, deliberating on whether to take a block vote for the names proposed for the cabinet or whether top vote for the three candidates separately. President Mohamed Nasheed submitted Mahmoud Razee for the post of civil aviation minister, former speaker of parliament Mohamed Shihab for home minister and prominent lawyer Husnu Suood for attorney general.

Members of the Parliament have still not come to an agreement on whether to vote on all three together or separately. Even when President Nasheed’s initial cabinet was approved by the Parliament on a block vote, I remained an opponent of the block vote and I still remain that way.

Though an MDP member, I cannot blindly agree with all the stands taken by the party. I have to say that one cannot buy a sack of potatoes if five of the 50 potatoes are rotten. When you recruit 10 staff for a company you do not interview and recruit them as a block. You interview the 10 people separately and you recruit them separately.

I believe that Gayyoom and his party could well have tricks up their sleeve, but that is no excuse to do things in undemocratic ways.

Yes, I would say that it would be an undemocratic thing to take a block vote when approving members for the cabinet. This one can be good and this one can be ok and that one could be fine and the other one could be inappropriate! One just can’t decide on this as a whole. I think it’s a ridiculous debate which is going on at the Parliament just now. Is this what we are paying them millions for? To engage in this sort of childish banter?

There’s only one United and there’s only one MDP!

A reader commented on this blog: “DRP won 2-0. Dhen La la laa Bush! You know nothing about predicting politics!”

Wasn’t it DRP who predicted that Gayyoom would win the presidential election in 2008? Wasn’t it DRP who predicted that Maldivians will never elect Mohamed Nasheed as their president? Wasn’t it DRP who predicted that they would win 60 seats in the Majlis?

Well! Gayyoom didn’t win the presidential election! Maldivian’s did elect Nasheed as their president! Drp didn’t win 60 seats in the Majlis. So who is it who can’t predict politics? Me or DRP?

I’m not scared of making predictions. Sometimes you get it right and sometimes you get it wrong. This time I was wrong. The front page of Haveeru Daily reported that DRP won and the back page of the newspaper reported that Barcelona won the final match! I had to put masking-tape on the front and the back pages of Haveeru before I could touch it even with sugical gloves! (he he! kidding!) Anyway, life can seem to be so cruel at times. But it is the brave and the wise that can always detect or sense the silver lining in the gloomy clouds!

Now, just because a DRP member (Shahid) is the elected Speaker of the Majlis, don’t expect him to be a lapdog of Gayyoom or Yamin or Thasmeen. In politics things can reverse just overnight. Alliances can break and new alliances could be made. Nasheed is still the president and insha Allah Manchester United will win the quintuple next season!

Ministers Jameel and Sawad should go next!

Coming Thursday (28th May) will be a hugely significant date on the political calendar of this country. If the two candidates proposed by DRP (Abdullah Shahid and Ahmed Nazim) get elected as the President and the Deputy President of the People’s Majlis, that would show that the opposition party (DRP) has control of the parliament. In principle there’s nothing wrong with an opposition party having control of the parliament. In fact that’s quite common in democratic countries such as the United States too.
The reason why many common people dread a DRP-controlled parliament is that such a situation would virtually prevent the government from prosecuting corrupt criminals from the previous regime which was led by DRP.
I still believe that president Nasheed and his government (along with MDP) would make sure that they muster enough seats in the parliament to allow a smooth progress of events in the prosecution of corrupt and rogue elements from Gayyoom’s regime. Those who illicitly devoured millions of dollars of public money and those who beat us up and killed our brothers and sisters in jails and various other places.
I welcome the establishment of a commission by the president to investigate the corrupt acts of the old regime. I have been saying all along that this nation cannot heal itself unless and until these rogue elements are prosecuted and brought to justice.
As for the sacking of the Attorney General (Dhiyana), I have to say that it was suggested in this blog even before the parliamentary election. I believe that the Communications Minister Jameel and the Tourism Minister Ali Sawad should go next. We need a more dynamic Tourism Minister and Jameel seems to hate the government too much to allow him to do his job properly.

A parliamentary majority for MDP and a Cabinet reshuffle!

After a hard-fought parliamentary election, the ruling party (MDP) seems to have acquired two seats less than the amount acquired by the opposition (DRP). Yet, leading figures of MDP have publicly stated that they have no doubt that when the dust settles, and when the final results are announced, they would get the majority of the 77 seats in the parliament.

Though the current results are based on preliminary results announced by the Elections Commission, it is not anticipated that these figures would change when the final results are announced by the Commission in a few days time. So how would MDP be able to get a majority?

1. They need to get at least 39 seats to get a simple majority. A source close to the MDP leadership tells me that they are aiming to get 40 seats before the end of the month. That means they need to convince 14 elected members to switch to MDP. Where would these 14 members come from?

2. There are 13 independent members according to the preliminary results. It is possible that the ruling party could persuade about 9 of those to join MDP. But even if that happens, the party would still need another four seats to get a majority.

3. One option would be to make peace with Gasim’s Jumhooree Party and Dr. Hassan Seed’s Gaumee Party. That would bring 3 more seats. I do not believe that Gasim would openly challenge the ruling party with just the single seat that his party won. Dr. Hassan’s Gaumee Party won only two seats. Of those two, Riyaz Rasheed’s seat appears to be a soft target for MDP if they can convince him to switch allegiance.

4. There are also unconfirmed rumors that MDP and President Nasheed have been in touch with some DRP members such as Mahloof and Alhaan in order to persuade them that their political future is with a vibrant party such as MDP and not with a party led by an outdated leadership.

5. Either way I think MDP could very well get a majority in the parliament. But they would need to get a lesson from the results of this election and try to correct some of the mistakes that they have done after the election of Nasheed as President. They need to replace some of the incapable appointments with more appropriate people.

6. People such as Meemu Sappey, Jameel, Dhiyana, Ibrahim Hussain Zaki, Kerafa Naseem and some Provincial State Ministers such as Mohamed Naseer need to be replaced. Zaki could be sent as some ambassador and Mohamed Naseer could be put in charge of Gan Airport or something! But I would like to think that people such as Dr. Shaheed (despite not being MDP members) have done enough to suggest that they could continue to keep their cabinet post. But the bottom line is that some people need to go.
The ruling party should also ensure that brutal ex-leaders such as Gayyoom and Adam Zahir are brought to justice. The public demands this and there will be no healing until these chapters are finally closed!