Pray For Maldives

Nasheed insults the people of Addu by setting up monuments with idols of worship

2011-11-16T23:44:00.001+05:00

New MDP Flag for 2013 Election

Looking at the very sad situation in the Maldives today, I cannot help but ask the true question that's haunting my mind. What has happened to all the very nice God fearing people of Maldives? How could our own government and the leader in particular be the instrument for transforming our beloved nation to a multi-religious country?

It has become incumbent on all of us the Maldivians to take a firm stand against this Ruthless, Brutal and Idiosyncratic President Nasheed, get him, his lock stock and barrel out of here, so they can preach and practice their infidelity and a country and place of their choice other than Maldives, that accept infidels.

Certainly our constitution of 2008 does not allow infidelity in the Maldives. And import of idols, sculptures, busts and pictures of worship are contraband in the Maldives. It is sad indeed that the Maldives Customs Service failed in halting and banning these contraband items from been imported into this country. Whilst the Customs Services boasts of a high state of vigilance and well trained staff, if such items such as human size sculptures and busts get imported into the country unnoticed, then there is a problem with the ability of the Customs Services in the diligent discharge of their duties.

I know not of a single customs officer high or low in their ranks, who ever raised a voice or a pen, in the least blog disgust over the Nasheed's blatant insult to Islam, the Muslim People of Maldives, and particularly the People of Addu Atoll, by importing these idols and sculptures and making monuments of these. We fully respect the rights of peoples all over this world with different faiths. We welcome these peoples to our country, but we have from times immemorial remained Muslim, and wish to remain for eternity.

Any Person President or Parliamentarian who dare to destroy our religious harmony will bare the consequences of the wrath of our people. The Political Party to which Mr. Nasheed belongs, the MDP and a great many of it's leaders are a party to this hideous crime of importing religious sculptures and Idols and setting up the preposterous monuments in Addu City. We the people of Addu deplore this hideous act by the President and Condemn him and hold him accountable for insulting our people and Islam in our own land.

By their own admission, the Minister of Foreign Affairs is quoted to have said that these idols of worship were brought to Maldives to be placed in Addu City on the request of the Government of Maldives from other SAARC member countries. The time has come for all good Maldivians to raise their voices of discontent in the manner that the President of Maldives has disgraced his own people in front of all the heads of states of SAARC.

It now little befits for Mr. Nasheed to hold an Islamic name such as "Mohamed". For him a more befitting name would one that sounds less Islamic such as "Mahamad" or "Shiloh" to precede his given Name "Nasheed". We deplore Maldivians who shun Islam over other religions. For Nasheed and all the MDP sympathizers who support Nasheed Blasphemous act in Addu City here is what we the people of Addu have to say. "You may build Conference Centers and Roads in Addu City, but you will never be able to build the bridge and win our confidence and trust for it's you and you alone who destroyed it, we will hold you to account in 2013."

Slowly but surely we shall lay Presidents Nasheed's infidel idols to rest in the appropriate moment at the appropriate time in the most appropriate manner, and so shall be your fate Mr. Nasheed. Good Luck

Is Mr. Nasheed's Presidency Legal?

2010-09-12T22:24:00.043+05:00

Picture by courtesy of Maldives Police

The question of the Legality of Mohamed Nasheed’s Presidency has become significant of late. There is a case in the Supreme Court, and many intellectuals in Maldives are murmuring about this.

The truth of the matter however is, he was elected as president by the people. How then can his Presidency be anything but a legal? To probe into the case we looked at the Constitution of the Maldives that was ratified in 2008. I reserve judgment, but am posting the relevant pages from the Constitution of Maldives. You decide !!

The Chapter on the Presidency: vis-a-vis "Chapter IV" page 36 and 37 of the Functional Translation of the Constitution of the Republic of Maldives 2008 by Ms. Dheena Hussain LLB.(Hons), (Birmingham), LLM. (London), Barrister-at-Law (Lincoln's Inn)

You can download these pages and see it more clearly.
Now let's look at the actual Dhivehi Version of the Constitution of the Maldives. Again, download the two pages and read it yourself. If you don't read Dhivehi, the English Functional Transation was done at the request of the Ministry of Legal Reform, Information and Art. (This Ministry does not exist anymore, Mr. Nasheed abolished this Ministry and amulgamated the Information and Arts function with the Ministry of Tourism. The Legal Reform? ofcourse he dumped that. He believed that by him being elected as President "Legal Reform " was done. Eh!!

I don't claim to be the "Expert" in Dhivehi Language, but I sure know my mother tongue, and I know English. Let's say I see my dreams in English. Again "Not the Expert". I have to take my hats off to Ms. Dheena Hussain !!!.. heheh. She has done a marvelous job. It's word to word and the English Functional Translation of the Constitution of Maldives does convey the meaning and spirit of the same written Dhivehi (the Original).

I asked myself; What about these articles in the Maldivian Constitution, and how could one question the legality of an elected President. hehehe

Here's what happenned. The sooner the New Constitution of 2008 was drafted and ratified, it's fundermentals were compromised in an "One last attempt" to sustain the dictatorship that had lasted for 25 years. His was more of an ego issue than anything else. Here's the truth which Mr. Gayoom (ex-President of Maldives) will swear is a blatent lie.

The New Constitution very clearly states "Any one ever been convicted of an offence for which a Hadd is prescribed in Islam or of fraud, deception or criminal breach of trust should not be accepted to stand for election as President of Maldives"

In the Parliamentary Elections of 2000, Mr. Mohamed Nasheed ran for one of the two seats in the Male Constituency and won one seat. In this election he challenged Mr. Abdulla Kamaaludeen (Maumoon's Man) and Mr. Illyas Ibrahim (Maumoon's Brother-in-Law). AK as he was popularly known, lost to Mr. Nasheed. Nasheed was a Member of the Parliament for Male.

I would be happy to believe that it was a young man in his zeal obviously suffering from an obsessive-compulsive disorder syndrome popularly know as "Kleptomania". But the courts in Maldives sentenced his for theft and robbery. According to Islamic Shariya, Theft and Robbery is an offence for which a Haddh is prescribed.

In liberal Maldives, although the Haddh is not implemented, clearly Mr. Nasheed had committed a offence for which Haddh is prescribed in Islamic Shariyah. Now that according to Chapter IV Article 109 of the Constitution of Maldives is sufficient to disqualify any bid for Presidency of Maladives ever.

How then did Nasheed manage to get himself smuggled through to be the President of Maldives? He didn't. Read about it all in the Part II

... /to be continued in "The Artful Dodger Part II of Is Mr. Nasheed's Presidency Legal?"

އިޓަލީގައި ބޭއްވުނު ސިއްރު ބައްދަލުވުމުގެ ޚަބަރު

2010-07-26T01:28:00.010+05:00

ރޯމްގައި ބޭއްވުނު ތިމާވެށްޓާބެހޭ ބައިނަލްއަޤްވާމީ ކޮންފަރެންސްގައި ބައިވެރިވެވަޑައިގަތުމަށްޓަކައި އަޅުގަޑުމެން ލޮބުވެތި ރައީސް 22ޖޫން2010 ގައި އިޓަލީވިލާތަށް ވަޑައިގަތެވެ. މިދަތުރުފުޅުގެ ޚަބަރުތަށް ވަރަށް ތަފްސީލް ކޮން ރައީސް އޮފީހުގެ ވެބްސައިޓްގައި ދުވަހުން ދުވަހަށް ސާއިއު ކުރައްވަމުން ގެންދެވިއެވެ. ތިރީގައި އެވަނީ މި ދަތުރުފުޅާއި ބެހޭ ލިންކް އެވެ.އ

http://www.presidencymaldives.gov.mv/4/?ref=14,15,4604

ލޮބުވެތި ރައީސުލްޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ މިކޮންފަރެންސްގައި ވާހަކަފުޅު ދެއްކެވުމުގެ އިތުރުން ފާހަގަކުރެވޭ ވަރަށް މުހިއްމު ބައްދަލުވުންތަކެއްގައި ބައިވެރިވެވަޑާއިގަތެވެ. މީގެ ތެރޭގައި ރޯމްގެ އެންމެ އިސް ޕޯޕް އާއި ވަރަށް ސިއްރިޔާތުގައި ބައްދަލު ކުރެއްވި ކުރެއްވުން ހިމެނެއެވެ. މި ބައްދަލުވުމުގައި ރައީސް ނަޝީދް މިހާރު ރާއްޖޭގައި ހިގަމުންމިދާ ސިޔާސީ ހަލަބޮލިކަމުގެ ވާހަކަ ޕޯޕާއި ޙިއްސާކޮށްލެއްވިއެވެ. އަދި ޕޯޕް ރާއްޖެއަށް ޒިޔާރަތް ކުރައްވަން ދައުވަތު އެރުވިއެވެ. މިކަމަކީ ރައީސް ނަޝީދު ވެރިކަމަށް ވަޑައިގެންނެވީއްސުރެ އުންމީދު ކުރަމުންވަމުންދާ ކަމެއްކަމުގައި ޕޯޕް އަރިއަހުގައި ދެންނެވިއެވެ. މިބައްދަލުވުންނިއްމަވާލެއްވީ ޕޯޕުގެ ހެޔޮ އެދުމަށް ރައީސް ނަޝީދް އެދި ރައީސްގެ ސަލާމަތަށް ޕޯޕް "ބުލެސް" ކުރެއްވުމަށްފަހު އެވެ.އ

ރައީސުލްޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ މުޙަންމަދު ނަޝީދު، އިޓަލީވިލާތަށް ކުރެއްވި ދަތުރުފުޅު ނިންމަވާލެއްވުމަށްފަހު މާލެ ވަޑައިގަތީ 25 ޖޫން 2010 ގައި އެވެ. ލޮބުވެތި ރައީސުލްޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާގެ މިދަތުރުފުޅުގައި، އިޓަލީވިލާތުގެ ސަރުކާރުގެ އިސްބޭފުޅުންނާ ބައްދަލުކުރައްވައި، ދިވެހިރާއްޖެއާއި އިޓަލީވިލާތާ ދެޤައުމުގެ ދެމެދުގައިވާ ގުޅުން، ތަފާތު ދާއިރާތަކުގައި އިތުރަށް ބަދަހިކުރެއްވުމާ ބެހޭގޮތުން ވާހަކަފުޅު ދެއްކެވިއެވެ.އ

Is Corruption in Maldives?

2010-07-24T11:46:00.008+05:00

Whoever you talk to, newspaper you read or TV news bulletin, local talk shows you listen to, you don’t escape the word “Corruption” in the Maldives today. Everybody is talking about corruption. It has become the most spoken about subject and mentioned word today. So I ask myself, what the F**k is corruption? Is it become a fashionable word to use in conversation? Does it make your vocabulary sound rich? IDK!!

To get an insight into this phenomenon, I did some research, did some reading, and referred to dictionaries, blogs, technical papers, and documentation on the subject. Surprisingly, corruption is in the Maldives, and it’s true! There is so much corruption here; that from the President himself to possibly every responsible citizen of this country has to begin work now, to eradicate its consequences on ourselves and on this country.

I found Merriam-Webster Dictionary describes corruption as:
1. Impairment of integrity, virtue, or moral principle: DEPRAVITY
2. DECAY, DECOMPOSITION
3. Inducement to wrong by improper or unlawful means (as bribery)
4. A departure from the original or from what is pure or correct.

Volumes and volumes of documentation and an array of descriptions are available on this dreaded and despised phenomenon. “So what is corruption?”

1. Corruption is lack of integrity or honesty (especially susceptibility to bribery) it is the use of a position of trust for dishonest gain.
2. Corruption is destroying someone's (or some group's) honesty or loyalty; undermining moral integrity; "corruption of a minor"; "
3. Corruption is inducement (as of a public official) by improper means (as bribery) to violate duty (as by committing a felony);
4. Corruption or bastardization is a way of referring to certain changes in a language. The most common way that a word can be said to be corrupted is the change of its spelling through errors and gradual changes in comprehension, transcription, and hearing.
5. Corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain.
6. Corruption is misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality.
7. Corruption is debauch; "leading astray the young people with wine and women"; "Socrates was accused of corrupting young men"; "Do school counselors subvert young children?"
Google Dictionary description is very clear and straightforward it says:
1. Corruption is dishonesty and illegal behavior by any person or people in positions of authority or power.
2. In linguistics, a corruption is a word that is derived from an earlier word, but which has become changed in some way.

I am now more than ever convinced that corruption is endemic in Maldives in epidemic proportions. It is good that we talk about corruption openly these days. Talking about it provides a platform for the politicians, independent institutions, journalists and our civil society to agree to work towards stamping out corruption. But agreeing on exactly “what is meant by corruption” is what some of us may never agree, and it is the million dollar question.

Everything that translate as “Bad things” like Bribery, extortion, fraud, trafficking of any kind, Homosexuality, embezzlement, defaming, bastardization, debauching, deviation from an ideal, Misuse of government power, Repression of political opponents, use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain, silencing of dissent, undermining moral integrity and honesty are all corruption. Nepotism and cronyism are also manifestations of it.

Corruption forms into varying types and degrees; most notable are Political, Financial, and Social corruption. It distinguishes between “petty” corruption and “grand” corruption. These distinctions however, should not imply that some types and degrees of corruption are worse than others.
Whatever form it takes, corruption is always a two-way transaction; it requires a supply side (the briber) and a demand side (the one who receives the bribe). In our quest to understand corruption, we must not make a distinction to both sides of the corruption equation.

Political corruption is the subject of particular interest in Maldives today. It has been a fact of life for thousands of years, beginning with the first attempts at a democratic form of government in ancient Greece and Rome. The seeds of political corruption were planted as soon as the senators and other political leaders realized that power and wealth could be equals. Political corruption often begins with favoritism towards those with wealth and influence.

Interestingly, in 18th century England, Political corruption meant the encroachment by the executive on the legislature, for instance by money payments, the offer of positions and pensions, and the trading of patronage. Corruption was the violation of the principle of constitutional "checks and balances", authoritarian tendencies and the subsequent decay of the political order.

Political corruption is the abuse of entrusted power by political leaders for private gain, with the objective of increasing power and or wealth. Political corruption may, but need not involve money changing hands; it may take the form of ‘trading in influence’ or granting favors and or illegal and summary arrests of political opponents that are often viewed as a threat to the ruling class or party. In a transitional and developing democracy such as ours, political corruption threatens the very viability of democracy, and makes it’s civil and independent institutions vulnerable.

We cannot afford the social, political or economic costs corruption entails. It respects no borders, knows no economic distinctions and infects all forms of governments and people without exception. It erodes public confidence in political institutions and leads to contempt for the rule of law. Corruption exacts an incredibly high price on the poor by denying them access to vital basic services.

Total eradication may by impossible though desirable. However, curtailing and chilling corruption is an imperative and must be perused vigorously. Perusing corruption must be perceived as an act of cleansing not vengeance. It has to be applied with purpose and without exemption. It has to begin with one’s own self. One cannot remain a corrupt person and work to eradicate it, that’s pretending. That is a corrupt act. You must be clean to fight corruption.

Is Maldives heading towards a Police State?

2010-07-17T17:15:00.007+05:00

Corruption, discrimination, nepotism, prejudices, political victimization are characteristics of an ailing dictatorship. Malicious misinterpretation of the constitution to fill in the voids and inadequacies of Political Parties and the Executive is corruption. These are the first steps towards a fully fledged dictatorship.

Dictatorships and the consequence of concentrating power in the hands of a single person are quite familiar to Maldivians. We have witnessed Kings and Presidents who exercised this prerogative and ruled over us. Generations of us still lives this nightmare of the chilling effects and consequences of their imperious abuse of power and justice, and do not wish a repetition of the past.

Mohamed Nashid was elected labeled a “Democratic Leader”. Just two years in office, he has begun to show resemblance to leaders of an era Maldivians dread and do not wish for. Even with a modern constitution protecting the rights of the citizens, clearly identifying the separated powers of the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary, he has evaded democratic checks and balances, and come out with his dictatorial instincts, with summary arrests, enforcing police brutality and spreading uncertainty and fear among the people.

Maldivian thinking largely still comes from their strong faith in Islam and is truly Islamic (submissive). Kings, Presidents and Religious Scholars have exploited this in the past and have successfully shaped our society to accept their Leaders, Religion and State as synonymous; they achieved the heights of subjugation. Few Maldivians had a basic education then; education for the mass was just knowing to read and write in Dhivehi and reading the Quran.

President Nasheed would like to think that his weekly radio address to the nation is a successful tool to penetrate the public and deceive them into believing in whatsoever he as the President, “Ruler” says is true even today, much as it was in the days of the Aristocrats and the Cleptocrats. He obviously believes that the mass of the citizens are still oblivious to democracy.

Little be it or much, today, many have had a fair education, and more people are well educated and this process is continuing. The “Dictatorships” of Mr. Gayoom and Nasir witnessed graduation of world class Maldivians both in Asia, Europe and the America’s. This responsibility is now undertaken by Maldivian Parents. I am grateful Gayoom and Nasir for not abusing the parents and their time to mob the streets of Male, when their political resolve needed strengthening, like many are forced-called upon to do now.

The little grace that filtered into the hands of the Maldivian people throughout the fifty year Cleptocratic and Nepotistic rule is sapped by the MDP. Nasheed’s Administration has planted the seed of decay in our society. He has to grow up; he has been elected President of the Maldives. He must adhere to the rules and regulations, respect our customs and traditions, and above all work within the framework of the Constitution. There is no such thing as “working outside the Chart”.

We have a legitimate Judiciary and a Legislature in place. If the Executive is dysfunctional for any reason, or if the President needs assistance in managing the affairs of his Administration, it is incumbent on the Him to do the repairs and apply the patches required in “collaboration” with the Judiciary and the Legislature. Mr. President and successive Presidents must cohabit with the Parliament (Majlis) as the only “The Representative body of the People” in this country.

The use the mob to threaten Judges and Parliamentarians are plunging the country into anarchy and lawlessness. By doing so it only strengthens the resolve of those who believe that Mr. Nasheed little befits to be the President of this country.

Is Suicide the only option for Airport's victimised staff?

2010-07-13T21:05:00.007+05:00

A solitary figure hangs by the neck from the new Air Traffic Control Tower of the Maldives International Airport as it dawns on Tuesday 13th of July. A dark day indeed to be in the history of the Airport.

The Airport in Maldives has a topic of controversy topping headlines for the past several months. It has been a reason for the CMR (Cabinet’s Mass Resignation Stunt) and now suicide. The new management and the board that was installed by the Nasheed Government proved futile for many staff and families. The company has been adamantly disobeying court orders to reinstate some of the people that were laid off and also make huge sums in compensation for others who were wrongly and hurriedly terminated without due process.
The man, identified as 26 year-old Ismail Mohamed Didi, was discovered hanging by the neck by Air Taxi staffs who work round the clock in the vicinity of the tower. The Airport Company said that the case was reported to police around 5:00am. Sub-Inspector Ahmed Shiyam confirmed the body was found hanging from the tower but said it was too early to confirm whether the death was a suicide.

Spokesperson for the Airports Company (MACL) Rahmathulla Ashraf told a local newspaper Haveeru that the company could only comment once the police investigation was concluded. But off the record did he mentioned that the deceased had some issues with the management because the company was not considering his plea to not be posted in a regional airport for the second time. Didi had been an air traffic controller for over six years and had recently worked at Kaadehdhoo airport on assignment. A source familiar with the victim said Didi was a junior air traffic controller who performed his job well.

The Company has now framed a cover story claiming man was an Atheist, and that it was the reason for his suicide. Sources close to the family is very angered by this. Does every atheist hang themselves from the airport tower? His hanging to death by a rope on the Nations prestigious Air Control Tower, clearly would have been ment to give a message about the condition there, which he wasn't able to voice out alive. Peers and close associates of Ismail say that the suicide may have been due to the disagreement over the decision of the Management over his second assignment to Kaadehdhoo Airport, which he pleaded to be reversed.

The death of this young man could be due to the decision taken without due consideration by the Management of Mohamed Ibrahim in his second coming, to post Ismail in a regional aiport which he did not want. Ismail will not speak every again. The truth will never surface. The staff of the airport has been indoctrinated to stick to the common cover of the company, which says he was an Athiest. Does it mean anything?

The Dictator inside Maldivian President Nasheed.

2010-07-13T09:44:00.013+05:00

For the past fifty years, Maldives have in one form or the other experienced only autocratic rule. Some people called it Benevolent Dictatorships; other simply called it a Dictatorship. Some others had closely associated our system of government (of the past fifty years) to that of the type of government in Egypt. Although the government got different labels, the Administration maintained that it was a Democracy.

In 1998 Maldives ratified the constitution, that was basically hand written by the then President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom (the Blue Constitution). It allowed for and concentrated most all the powers of the state in the hands of the President making way for the President to be re-elected for an unlimited number of five year terms to office. However, in 2008 under enormous pressure from within and without, this constitution was replaced by (the Green Constitution). This time, it clearly defined the separated powers of the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary, and limited the presidential term of office to a maximum of two five year terms.

In the subsequent Presidential elections Mr. Gayoom lost the election to a coalition of four parties that campaigned under the leadership of Mr. Mohamed Nasheed the leader of the MDP and the largest party in the coalition.

The current problem goes back a year and a half, when Nasheed, leader of the coalition’s leading party (MDP) revoked the coalition agreement and dumped it. This made the MDP a minority party in the Parliament. The problem flared up when the Parliament drafted certain checks and balances into the Finance Bill placing an upper limit restriction on government’s borrowing without parliamentary sanction including selling and or renting Maldivian property for excessively long periods of time.

Nasheed’s Administration had already signed several MOU’s with neighboring Indian Companies for long term lease of the Maldivian property such as Hospitals, school, Airports just to mention a few. The amended Finance Bill if approved by the President would halt the process of these leases.

On a more secret note through a program of wire tapping and recording phone calls of prominent members of the Parliament and leaders of the ex-Coalition parties the Administration became aware of an opposition’s plan for a Vote of No Confidence on several Ministers of the Cabinet. They were The Minister of Education: Mr. Mustapha Lutfee, to be followed by The Minister of Finance Mr. Ali Hashim, The Civil Aviation and Transport Minister Mr. Mahmood Raazee, and last but not least The Minister of Health, Dr. Aminath Jameel.

Realizing that if allowed to happen, it would force the Administration to either call up an early election or would result in the inevitable collapse of the Administration, Nasheed staged the “Cabinet Mass Resignation” sighting amendments to the Finance Bill as a reason, which he said if passed, would be an impediment on the ability of the government to conduct business as usual.
In this highly publicized Cabinet Dissolving Drama hosted by the President, he disclosed to the press of a high profile corruption and treason case that was brought to his attention. The president said that it was one of the reasons for his cabinet’s mass resignation and that this matter would be thoroughly investigated by the police. He wowed to bring to justice and hold to account any person or people responsible for such crimes.

Hours after the ceremony, prominent Maldivian business man, Parliamentarian and Leader of the “Jumhoory Party” Mr. Gasim Ibrahim and the Leader of “People’s Alliance Party” and Member of Parliament was taken to police custody and put under house arrest, allegedly in connection with the high profile corruption and treason case sited by the President. Subsequently, the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Mr. Nazim too was taken into police custody.

Nasheed thought the Cabinet Mass Resignation (CMR) under pretext of the Finance Bill’s “undesirable” amendments would raise an issue in the public that would bring the parliament to its knees. The Administration expected the people to raise sympathetic voices in favor of the Government. Poor planning and bad judgment resulted in the unexpected. The public showed no love lost and in Male business was as usual. Perhaps the World Cup 2010 may have contributed largely to the calm situation and the disinterest among the public to this boiled up political crisis.
The Ministers who resigned from office the day before were demonstrating with clubs and banners in front of the Parliament building the following day. Calling for the Parliament to be dissolved and abolished. The government’s cries went largely unheeded like that of the Sheppard boy’s who cried “Wolf! Wolf! Wolf!!” Not realizing that repeated false cries will result in a no show. Three days of demonstrations (peaceful flag marches) on the streets of Male by the Cabinet Ministers who resigned their positions, resulted in a less than favorable response from the public. So on the sixth day, the in a ceremony telecasted only by the Government Media, the wounded and weakened President presided over the swearing in of the old Cabinet members back to office.

Business is back as usual, nothing changed except the popularity of the Administration, the perception of the President in the eyes public, and the confidence they had in the Government and the cabinet all dropped. So it was a Loose Loose stunt. The parliament after a recess of six days in now in business, and appears even more strong and evermore convinced the ruling minority had wronged and failed.

After a lot of wrangling, media coverage and legal encounters in both the High Court and the Supreme Court, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Parliamentarians who were arrested. Nasheed lost the first ever court case “without sufficient evidence” according to the Supreme Court.

The Criminal Court suspended the two police lawyers who prosecuted the cases of Parliament members Gasim Ibrahim, Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom and Ahmed Nazim. Inspectors of Police Mohamed Riyaz and Mohamed Jina were suspended for contempt of court.

In very many ways, the Case of Yameen and Gasim is a test for Democracy under the new constitution of 2008. I believe the system has successfully passed this test. There are more tests are ahead. Maldivians have to be patient and strive to embed these new found democratic values into the Maldivian Culture and Value Set.

Dhivehi Qaumee Party - Media Brief

2010-05-19T00:21:00.000+05:00

Ref. No 006/PR/2010/DQP
Date: 13 May, 2010

The government Restrictions on the rights to freedom of information in Maldives

The aim of this brief is to inform about various restrictions the government of Maldives is putting on the right to freedom of information. The right to information is recognized as a fundamental right under the article 29 of the constitution of the Maldives. However, Mr. Mohamed Nasheed’s government is putting all its efforts to limit this right of the Maldivians. Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP), since its inception has advocated non violent reform and democracy in Maldives. As Mr. Armoogum Parsuramen, Director and UNESCO Representative to Bhutan, India, Maldives and Sri Lanka emphasized in his opening speech during a recent conference “Freedom of Information: The Right to Know has a special significance in a globalized digital world. FOI laws are an important instrument in creating transparency and thus helping to make governments accountable". He pointed out the obligation on government agencies to publish, and the rights for citizens to have access to information of general public interest as a crucial tool in the struggle to prevent corruption and to increase accountability.

DQP has been playing a vital role in making the current government more accountable. However, our work has been hindered by a lack of accessibility to information and co‐operation by Mr. Nasheed’s regime. We are highlighting some of the few incidents where the government officials have attempted to violate the right to information which is a key to free media in a democratic environment.

1. The government sent a letter of notification to the Haveeru News paper to vacate their premises within 10 days from 16th April 2009. Haveeru is the biggest and one of the oldest functional print news paper in Maldives.

2. On 18th February 2009 the government of Maldives decided to stop advertising and publishing government announcements private media

3. On 18th February the government stopped giving subsidies to private media companies.

4. Ordered DhiTV (one of the 2 private telecasting media) to stop broadcasting an opposition protest

5. The government sent police personnel to DhiTV station in Male’ to force them to stop their live telecast of opposition protest

6. Deducted 5 points from the DhiFM broadcasting license

7. Requesting MDP parliamentarians to boycott DhiTV by MDP parliamentary group leader Mr. Moosa Manik.

8. Expelling DhiTV crews from Mr. Mohamed Nasheed’s party gathering held in Hulhumale

9. Harassing and threatening opposition members who attending TVM program by MDP activists

10. Attempting to influence media council by proposing representatives from non active media who allies with Mr. Mohamed Nasheed

DQP as an opposition party as an advocator of non violent reform and democracy in Maldives on many instances have requested in writing to government ministries and entities to provide with necessary information. However, many government ministries have tried to limit provision of information. Hence, in one instance DQP was forced to file a case at civil court in against Ministry of Finance and Treasury to obtain information. The civil court of Maldives on 9th May 2010 made a ruling which requires Ministry of Finance and Treasury to provide the information that DQP has requested in 7 days. The current government used media freedom and right to information as a tool to come to power. Once they are in power it is a disappointment that an opposition party who tireless works to make the current government accountable has to file a case against the government regarding the right to information.

End.

For further information please contact:

Abdul Raheem Hassan(Mr.)

Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP)

Male’, Maldives

Tele: +960 3304548

Fax: +960 3343844

e‐mail: sitee@qaumee.org.mv

website: www.qaumee.org.mv

A "BAD DECISION" is a lesson to be learned.

2010-05-17T22:16:00.001+05:00

Have you ever thought about the importance bad decisions play in your life? I'm being deadly serious about this because whether you realize it or not, your decisions, especially the bad ones, play a very important role in our lives.

Although poor decisions play a critical role in people’s life, very few of us ever realize it or even think about it. Most people look to sweep their lousy decisions under the rug or pretend that they never even happened. They would soon forgive; which is good and an excellent way forward, and forget; which is very wrong and it’s a huge mistake.

Every decision we make is made with the best of our intensions. We voted MDP and President Nasheed, not merely to get rid of a thirty year old “benevolent” Dictatorship, but because we knew the promises Nasheed made, were possible and if happened they would enhance our lives.

Not recognizing a bad decision is to miss out on a huge opportunity for improvement. Every decision - whether it turns out to be good or bad - provides an outcome. Good outcomes result in good, positive feelings and there is certainly nothing wrong with that. The bad outcomes on the other hand provide us with something far more important.

We wanted a life without debts to the “Kanmathee fihaara” (neighborhood unit shop), we wanted the prices of all goods and services to be at “Aiy foraa fashala” (reachable limits of the average citizen).

Making hundreds of decisions throughout the day is a part of life. Most are small, seemingly insignificant decisions like what to have for lunch while others hold a great deal more importance. You've got to understand, everybody is the sum total of the decisions they make. The small decisions and the big ones; we are a reflection of our choices. What “we” as the Maldivian people are is the sum total of the decisions we as Maldivians make.

Let's look specifically at only the bad decisions we make. The truth of life is that learning how to live successfully in general would be impossible without the benefit of bad decisions. Making bad decisions provides us with experience that eventually leads us to live a successful life.

He pursued us wearing the graceful hat, He drew a picture of the “People’s Man” struggling for our rights. Whereas, his struggle was for his own benefit, an ancestral dream, a struggle at the cost of the Maldivian people. We now know that a once perceived savior may not necessarily be so, given a changed circumstance. Truth like oil will surface on the water.

He lied to us, he cheated us, and now he is playing with our sentiments. They are not Leaders, they are Misleaders. We made a bad decision, and it should provide us with the experience and eventually lead us to success by remembering not to repeat this decision.

So here is a bad decision we have made collectively, and it is effacing our lives, so many humble citizens who’s means of livelihood was the government job, were thrown out of job into a situation, where the prices of basic necessities such as water electricity and stable food were to be raised to pay for the new political appointees today totaling to over Rf. 9 million a month. The toll on electricity bill nationwide has bitten into the scanty income of the average family.

So now that you’ve made that inevitable bad decision, be easy on yourself. Understand that there was a good reason why you made the decisions you made so accept whatever the outcome. Most importantly you've got to learn your lessons. There is nothing wrong with making a bad decision and learning from it. On the other hand there is everything wrong with making a bad decision without taking a good lesson from the experience.

Do not let this bad decision go a waste.

Remember the child who learned heat by touching a hot stove? it was clearly a bad decision. But by so doing, the child learned a crucial lesson. That child learned that touching hot stoves was a bad decision, and that he should not do it ever again.

Of course, one should always look to make good decisions and I think that goes without say. Nobody ever wakes up in the morning eager to make poor decisions. But, as fallible human beings, it is absolutely impossible to avoid them.

Bad decisions make for good stories, agreed? something which appears to be a bad decision with a seemingly dire outcome today would be spoken and written about for many years to come. But the good decisions have little story value. You would sleep over it, only to forgotten when woken up to another day.