Smile and Let Smile

Moved to WordPress

2011-03-18T17:01:00.002+05:00

I am now blogging in WordPress. Please click the links on the left to read my blogs in English and Dhivehi.

Government to provide financial assistance to pay for Government Employees' Pension

2010-01-29T22:55:00.006+05:00

I have been away from blogging for a long time after my last post on Bank of Maldives. I think it is time I started punching the keyboard again.

I was quite disturbed by our President's announcement that he will pay the employees' share of the Government Employee's contribution to the Pension Fund. This is sad because, we, who work in the commercial sector and the self-employed men and women are the real engines of this country's development and the economy.

The fact that the President rises up to the occassion to lift the burden of their personal Pension Fund contribution for government employees, does show that the President is ill-informed of the contribution that those working in the commercial sector and the self-employed men and women contribute to his government to pay for its expenses; and also pay for the civil service who serve his government.

It is also sad, that just like the previous government did not realize the place the workers of this country hold in keeping the country going, this government too seems to be the same. I wish that the President will have wise political and legal counsel to do the right thing, instead of subsiding a pension package for those who are relatively better.

Bank of Maldives... Corrupt to the Core!!!

2009-07-20T01:09:00.004+06:00

The prestigous Bank of Maldives is a corrupt institution that harbors criminals, and the devious acts of the officers of the bank compelled the Maldives Police Service to break into the bank premises and take documents of those who have harbored the millions they have stashed away from their fraudulent and criminal activities with the help of the officers of the Bank of Maldives.

The Police used overriding sweeping powers granted to them by law, when "puppets" of the former regime planted in the Judiciary and within the Maldives Monetary Authority withheld Police efforts to get a court order for a search warrant. The Attorney General has said that he believes that the Police acted in accordance with the law in the raid on the Bank of Maldives.

The recent developments show that the national financial institutions of the Maldives are corrupt to the core. The officers there may have been strategically planted by fraudulent and criminal elements within the previous regime to safeguard their personal criminal activities.

The Bank of Maldives can no longer be trusted to safeguard genuine business transactions.

Link

Do you care?

2009-06-24T12:58:00.003+06:00

Care Society is an NGO working with and for the rights of the disabled, children, women and capacity building of community-based organizations and supporting disaster victims. Care Society has been serving the community for over 10 years, and has been supported by the International Community, well-wishers and local companies to meet its operational and progam expenses. These have been valuable contributions.

Today, Care Society is faced with much financial difficulties and need support to maintain its ongoing programs and operations. Care is organising a charity Dhivehi film festival starting from 1st July to 8th July 2009. Your donations to the Society by way of purchasing a souvenir ticket will go a long way, for the disabled and the children who are in need. I give my full assurance, as a member of the executive board, that every cent will be spent responsibly and toward the cause for which it has been donated.

Care Contact Details,
Tel: (00960)3322297, 3312491 / Fax: (00960)3312871 / Mobile: (00960) 7747244 / Email: shidha@caresociety.org.mv (Shidhatha Shareef - Deputy Director)

MPs vote against pay cut proposed by Kulhudhuffushi South MP

2009-06-23T23:32:00.006+06:00

Minivan News reported today:
MPs vote against pay cut

Vilufushi MP Riyaz Rasheed of the Dhivehi Qaumee Party criticised Nasheed for suggesting a pay cut. "The honourable member will know the benefits of receiving two salaries, he was in the Special Majlis and he was a minister," he said. "We certainly haven't had an opportunity like that."

"I support the spirit of the bill, but I don't support the purpose of it," said Hoarafushi MP Ahmed Rasheed. He said Nasheed was proposing bills to waste parliament’s time and further his political career. “Don’t use this Majlis as a tool to fool the people,” he said.

Baarah MP Mohamed Shifaz described the legislation as “useless”, saying Nasheed was proposing bills because “two people got fired or because he feels somebody’s salary is too high”.

MY THOUGHTS:
It is nice to see that MPs today are saying things like this. That the bill presented by Kulhudhuffushi South MP Nasheed, has made the Majlis ponder upon the enormous responsibilities put on their shoulders and the importance of making the Majlis a place of responsible behavior rather than a stage for the mockery of democracy and reform.

Now they have in their vocabulary a phrase which says "wasting time" on "useless" things, and the need to have a "purpose" in the things that they do.
Nasheed's argument

Rayyithunge Ihusaasthah Engeybaa!

2009-06-19T14:30:00.004+06:00

ރައްޔިތުންގެ އިހުސާސްތައް އެނގޭ ހެއްޔެވެ؟

މިއަދު ހުކުރުން ފައިބައިގެން އައިސް ވާރެއިން ސަލާމަތްވާން އަސްކަންޏެއްެގެ ދަށުގައި ހުއްޓާ، ހުކުރުދުވަހު ވަރަށް ގިނައިން ބައްދަލުވެ ވާހަކަދައްކާލެވޭ ރައްޓެއްސަކާ ދިމާވިއެވެ. އޭނާއަކީ ސިޔާސީ މަސްރަހުގެ ވިސްނުމާއި ފިކުރު އަޅުގަޑާއި އެކު ހިއްސާކުރާ، ހެޔޮބަދަލަކަށް ވަތަން އެދޭގޮތަށް މައުމޫނުގެ ވެރިކަން ބަދަލުކުރުމަށް ކުރިމަސައްކަތަށް ބޮޑު ތާއީދެއްކުރި، އެކަމަށް މަސައްކަތްކުރި މީހެކެވެ. އަދި ދިވެހިސަރުކާރާއި އަންނި ހަވާލުވުމުން އެކަމަށް އުފާފާގަތި ކުރިމަގެއް އަނެއްދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގައި ލިބުމުގެ ފޮނިއުންމީދުގައި، ސަރުކާރު ގެ ދިފާއުގައި ވަކާލާތުކުރާ މީހެކެވެ.

މިއަދު އޭނާ ބުނި އެއްޗަކުން އަޅުގަޑަށް ސިހުން ލިބުނެވެ. "މިސަރުކާރަށް ރައްޔިތުންގެ އިހުސާސްތަކެއް ނޭނގޭ. މިރިވޮލިއުޝަން ރައްޔިތުން ގެނައީ ކޮންސަބަބަކާހުރެ ކޮން ނަތީޖާއެއްގެ ބޭނުމުގައި ކަންނޭގޭ."

އޭނާ ބުނިގޮތުގައި، އަންނިގެ ސަރުކާރުގެ އިސްސަފުގައި ތިބީ ރައްޔިތުންގެ އިހުސާސްތައް އެނގޭނެ ބަޔެއްނޫނެވެ. އޭނާ ބުނަނީ ރައްޔިތުން ބޭނުންވީ މައުމޫނު "ބަދަލުކުރާކަށް" ނޫނެވެ. ރައްޔިތުންގެ ތެރެއިން ގިނަބަޔަކު ތިރީސްއަހަރުގެ ދިގުމުއްދަތުގައި ތަހައްމަލުކުރަމުންދިޔަ ހިތްދަތިދިރިއުޅުން ބަދަލުކުރާށެވެ. ނިކަމެތިންނާ އާންމުމީހުންނަށް، ބޯހިޔާވަހިކަމާއި، ބޭސްފަރުވާއާއި، ވަޒީފާގެ ފުރުސަތާއި، ސަލާންޖަހަންނުޖެހި ދިރިއުޅެވޭނެ ގޮތެއް ލިބުމަށެވެ. އޭނާގެ ބަހުގައި، އާ ސަރުކާރަށް ހަމަސްވީއިރުވެސް، ރައްޔިތުންގެ މިއުންމީދުތައް ހާސިލުކޮށްދިނުމަށް ކުރަންޖެހޭ މަސައްކަތުގެ އެންމެ ކުޑަމިނުން ބިންގަލެއް ވެސް އެޅިފައެއް ނެތެވެ.

މިހާލަތު މެދުވެރިވެފައިވާ ސަބަބަކީ، އޭނާ ބުނާގޮތުން، ސަރުކާރުގެ އިސްސަފުގައިތިބީ ރައްޔިތުންގެ އިހުސާސްތައް ދެނެގަނެ އެއިހުސާސްތަކަށް އިހުތިރާމްކުރާނެ، ކުރެވޭނެ ބަޔަަކަށް ނުވުމެވެ. ހެއްކެއްގެ ގޮތުން އޭނާ ދެއްކީ ސަރުކާރުގެ ކެބިނެޓެވެ. އޭނާ ބުނާގޮތުން، ރައްޔިތުން ބިކަހާލުގައި އުޅުނު ތިރީސްއަހަރުގެ އިހުސާސްތައް އެގޮތަށް ކުރަންޖެހުނު އެކަކުވެސް އެތަނުގައި ނެތެވެ. އެތިރީސްއަހަރުވެސް އެމީހުންތިބީ ހަމަޖެހިގެން، ފޯރާމީހުންގެ ގޮތުގައެވެ. އަދި ޕާޓީގެ އިސްސަފުން ފެންނަމީހުންނަކީ ރައްޔިތުން އިހުސާސްކުރި ހިތްދަތިދިރިއުޅުން ތަހައްމަލުކުރަންޖެހުނު ބައެއްނޫނެވެ. އެހެންކަމުން އެމީހުން އިސްކަންދޭކަންތައްތަކުގެ ތެރޭގައި، ރައްޔިތުންގެ ތެރެއިން ބަދަލުގެނައުމަށްޓަކައި އެންމެބޮޑެތި ގުރުބާނީވީމީހުންނަށް ގޮތެއް ހޯދައިދިނުމުގެ ވިސްނުމެއް ފިކުރެއް އެމީހުންގެ ނުހުންނާނެއެވެ. އެމީހުންނަށް އިސްކަންދެވޭނީ އެމީހުންނަށް އެތިރީސްއަހަރުގައި މައްސަލަޔަކަށްވެގެން ކަންބޮޑުވެގެން އުޅުނުކަންތައް ބަދަލުކުރުމަށެވެ. އެއީ މައުމޫނާއި އޭނާގެ ގާތްމީހުންގެ ބާރު ކަނޑުވާލުމެވެ. އޭރުން އެމީހުންނަށް ހަމަޖެހުނީއެވެ.

އަޅުގަޑުގެ ރަހުމަތްތެރިޔާގެ ވާހަކައިގައި ދެންބުނީ، ރައްޔިތުންގެ ބޭނުންތަކަށް އަޅާނުލެވި އެކަމަށް އިސްކަމެއްނުދީ، އަނެއްކާ ވެސް ރައްޔިތުންގެ ތެރެއިން ގިނަބަޔަކު ހިތްދަތިކަމުގެ ތެރޭގައި ދުވަސްތައް ގުނަންޖެހޭގޮތަށް ކަަންކަން ދާނަމަ، ބަދަލާއިމެރު ރައްޔިތުން މާޔޫސްވާނެކަމަށެވެ. އެކަމުގެ ނަތީޖާއާއި ކުރިމަތިލާންޖެހޭނެ ކަމަށެވެ.

Kuda Kudhin Gotheh Nethifai

2009-06-13T23:27:00.006+06:00

ދަންނަވަންތޯއެވެ؟ ދިވެހިންނަކީ ސައްތައިން ސައްތަ މުސްލިމުން ކަމުގައި ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ގާނޫނުއަސާސީ އިން ދައުވާކުރާކަމުގައި ވެއެވެ. އަދި މިރާއްޖޭގައި އިސްލާމީ ޝަރީޢާ ފުރިހަމަޔަށް ތަންފީޒުކުރެވޭނެކަމުގައި ވެސް ބުނެއުޅެއެވެ. އެކަމަކު ހައިރާންވެ އަންތަރީސް ވާންޖެހޭ ކަމަކީ މިރާއްޖޭއަކީ ކުޑަކުދިންނަށް ގޯނާކުރާމީހުންގެ ސުވަރުގެއަކަށް މިއަދު ވެފައިވާކަމެވެ. މ.................................................................................................................................

ސަރުކާރާއި އަމިއްލަފަރާތްތަކުން އަދި ބައިނަލް އަގުވާމީ މުޖުތަމިއުގެ ފިއްތުންތަކުގެ ތެރެއިން މިފަހަކަށް އައިސް ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގައި ކުރެވިފައިވާ މަސައްކަތްތަކުގެ ސަބަބުން، ކުޑަކުދިންނަށް ގޯނާކުރުމާއި އަނިޔާވެރިވުމަކީ ކޮބައިކަމުގެ ހޭލުންތެރިކަން މީހުންގެ ތެރޭގައި އުފެދި، އޭގެ ސަބަބުން މިފަދަ ގޯނާތަކާއި އަނިޔާތައް މިހާރު މިދަނީ ނޫސްތަކުގެ ފަލަ ސުރުޚީތަކަށް އަރަމުންނެވެ. އެހެންނަމަވެސް، ކުޑަކުދިންނަށް ކުރެވޭ އަނިޔާތަކާއި ގޯނާތަކަށް ދިވެހި ދައުލަތްވަނީ ލޯކަނުވެ އަތްބަނދެވިފައެވެ. މ.................................................................................................................................

ކުދިންނަށް ގޯނާކުރާ މީހުންނާއި އަނިޔާކުރާމީހުން، އެމީހުންނަށް ގާނޫނުން ލިބިދީފައިވާ ހިމާޔަތުގެ ފުރިހަމަ ބޭނުން ހިފައިގެން މިނިވަންކަންމަތީ ދިރިއުޅެމުންދާއިރު، އެކުދިންނާއި އެކުދިންގެ ކުށެއްނެތް ބަލަދުވެރިން ވެއަތުކުރަމުން ގެންދަނީ ހިތްދަތި ބިރުވެރިކަމާއި ވޭނުން ފުރިގެންވާ ދުވަސްތަކެކެވެ. ނޮވެމްބަރު 3 އާއި މިނޫންވެސް ހާދިސާތަކުގައި ނަފުސާނީ ގެއްލުން ލިބުނުމީހުންނާއި އަބުރުގެއްލިފައިވާމީހުންގެ ހައްގުތައް މިލިޔަން މިލިޔަން މީހުންނަށް ހޯދައިދިނުމަށް ވަކާލާތުކުރާމީހުން ތިބި މިދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގައި، ދައުލަތުގެ ތިންބާރުކަމުގައިވާ ސަރުކާރުހިންގުމުގެ ބާރާއި އަދުލު އިންސާފުގާއިމުކުރުމުގެ ބާރާއި ގާނޫނު ހެދުމުގެ ބާރު މިވަނީ، އެމީހުންގެ ސަމާލުކަމަށް ގެންނަންޖެހޭ އަދި ގޮތެއް ހޯދައިދޭންޖެހޭ ކަމަކަށް ކުޑަކުދިންގެ ކަންތައްތައް ހެދުމަށް ނުކުޅެދިފައެވެ. މ..................................................................................................................................

ކުޑަކުދިންނަށް ގޮތެއް ހޯދުމަށް ބަޔަކު އުޅެފިނަމަ ސަރުކާރުން ދެކޭނީ އެއީ ސަރުކާރު ވައްޓާލަން އުޅޭ ބަޔަކަށެވެ. އަދުލު އިންސާފުގާއިމުކުރުމުގެ ބާރުން އެބަޔަކު ހިފާހައްޔަރުކޮށް އެމީހުންގެ އިހުތިސާސް އާއި ބެހުނު ކަމުގެ ކުށުގައި އަދަބު ކަނޑައަޅަން އަވަސްވެގަންނާނެއެވެ. ގާނޫނު ހެދުމުގެ ބާރުން އަވަސް ވެގަންނާނީ އެމީހުންގެ ކަރާމަތާއި އިއްޒަތް ނަގާލިކަމުގައި ބުނެ، އެބަޔަކުގެ ދުވަސްވުއްވާލުމަށެވެ. އަދި މިހުރިހާ ބައިތަކެއްގެ މައްޗަށް އެކުލެވިގެންވާ ދައުލަތުގެ ވަކީލުގެ ގާނޫނީ ދިގުއަތް ފޯރުވަންޖެހޭ ކަމަކަށްވެސް ކުޑަކުދިންގެ ކަންތައްތަކެއް ނުވެއެވެ. މ...................................................................................................................................

މިލިޔުމަކީ ފްރަސްޓްރޭޝަން އިން ފުރިގެންވާ ލިޔުމެކެވެ. ގޮތް ހުސްވީއެވެ. ދިވެއްސަކަށް ވީތީ ލަދުގަނެއެވެ. ބިރުގަނެއެވެ. ހިތާމަކުރަމެވެ. ޖަނަވާރުންގެ ދަރަޖައިގައި އޮތް މުޖުތަމިއަކަށް ނިސްބަތްވީތީއެވެ. މ...................................................................................................................................

The Controversial Presidential Commission

2009-06-03T00:24:00.003+06:00

The Controversial Presidential Commission is the QA show on TVM tonight. The panel of today's show include Commission spokesperson Haseen and DRP MP Alhan Fahmy.

Speaking of the Commission, the outgoing US Ambassador to Maldives publicly sanctioned the government on the activities of the Commission and asked that corruption be investigated through independent institutions of the state. Later, the Deputy High Commissioner of the UK, who was here to launch the UKinMaldives endorsed the Commission and called for it to look into all corruption issues. (It would be indeed a task to see the big picture behind the UKinMaldives initiative.) Interesting ha!

Speaking on tonight's show, Commission Spokesperson said that the Commission would base its investigations on the reports of the indepenent commissions such as the Anti Corruption Commission and the Auditor General. The integrity of both the commissions are in question if the reports of fraud by the Auditor General and complicity in covering up fraud by the Chairman of the Anti Corruption Board. (Some of my friends tell me that nothing in Haveeru Daily Paper are to be believed, as it is a propaganda machine of the former Dictator Maumoon.)

The Commission headed and co-chaired by Hussain Rasheed the Leader of the religous Adaalath Party who was instrumental in claiming that the former Dictator Maumoon is a kaafir (non-believer), is claimed to be an indepdent commission by its proponents. The majority party in Parliament - DRP claim that the Commission is an instrument to target individuals within their party ranks.

A very interesting question that comes to my mind is, how the Commission will justify its investigations only to certain individuals who has been reported in AG Reports which were publicized in a questionable manner. The integrity of the Anti Corruption Commission is also now in question by his collusion to cover up alleged fraud by the Auditor General.

What about major players of the Gayoom Regime who are in the current one who are alleged to have been masterminds of Corruption in Maldives?

Maumoonuge Verikan vattaali MDP Sarukaaru...

2009-05-29T15:28:00.007+06:00

ދިވެހި ރައްޔިތުން ބޭނުންވީ ޚުދުމުޚުތާރު ވެރިކަމެއްގެ ފުށުން ސަލާމަތްވުމަށެވެ. އެއީ ތާރީޚުކަމުގައި ހަދާށެވެ. ޖަރުމަނުވިލާތުގެ މީހުން ހިޓްލުގެ އަނިޔާވެރިކަން އެއީ އެމީހުންގެ މާޒީކަމުގައި ހެދިފަދައިންނެވެ. އަނިޔާވެރިކަމާއި ނުބައިނުލަފާކަން ހަނދާންނައްތާލާ، ވަތަން އެދޭގޮތަށް އަމާންއޮމާން ފާގަތި ތާހިރު ދިރިއުޅުމަކަށް މަގުފަހިކޮށްދޭ އެހެން ދިވެހިރާއްޖެއަކަށް ގައުމު ބިނާކުރުމަށެވެ. މާތްﷲ ގެ ރަހުމަތްފުޅާއިއެކު، ދިވެހިރައްޔިތުންގެ މިއުންމީދުގައި ކުލަޖައްސާދިނުމަށް މިންވަރުކުރެއްވީ އެމްޑީޕީއާއި ގައުމީއިއްތިހާދުޕާޓީ ގުޅިގެން ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ރައީސްކަމަށް ކުރިމަތިލެއްވި މުހަންމަދު ނަޝީދު "އަންނި" އާއި އޭނާގެ ނައިބު މުހައްމަދު ވަޙީދު ހަސަން މަނިކުގެ އަތްމައްޗަށެވެ. އަންނި ރައީސްކަމަށް ގެނައީ، އޭނާޔަށް އެހީތެރިކަމުގެ އަތެއްދިން "ބުރުމާ" ގާސިމުގެ ޖުމްހޫރީގުޅުމާއި ހަސަންސައީދުގެ ބައިވެރިންނެވެ. އެއީ މާޒީއެވެ. ....................... ............................ ....................................... .....................މ

މިއަދު ރާއްޖޭގެ ރައްޔިތުންގެ މައްޗަށް ވެރިކަންކުރި މައުމޫނުގެ ވެރިކަމުގައި ސިއްކަޖެހި، ދިވެހިންނަށް އޮގަސްޓް 2007 ގައި ލިބުނު އިސްލާހުކުރި އާގާނޫނު އަސާސީގެ ދަށުން ބޭއްވި ރާއްޖޭގެ ފުރަތަމަ މިނިވަން އިންސާފުވެރި އިންތިޚާބުގައި، ރައްޔިތުން މިވަނީ މުޙައްމަދު ނަޝީދު "އަންނި" ގެ ސަރުކާރު އިސްކޮށްފައެވެ. އޮގަސްޓް ގާނޫނު އަސާސީގައި ވަރަށް ސަރީހަބަހުން ބުނެފައިވަނީ އެއީ ރައްޔިތުންނަށް ޚިދުމަތްކުރުމަށް ލިބޭ ޖާގައެއްކަމުގައެވެ. އިހުގައި ސަރުކާރަށް އޮންނަ އެތައްބާރުތަކެއް އުނިކޮށް، ސަރުކާރަށް ރައްޔިތުންގެ މައްޗަށް އަނިޔާވެރިކަން ނުދެއްކޭނެކަމުގެ ޔަގީންކަން ވެސް ރައްޔިތުންނަށް ދީފައެވެ. ...................... ....................... ....................... .............................. މ

މިއަދު ގައުމުގައި އެންމެ ހަރުއަޑުން އެތައްބަޔަކު ކުރާ ސުވާލަކީ، މައުމޫނުގެ ވެރިކަމުގެ ބަދަލުގައި އަންނި ރައްޔިތުންގެ މައްޗަށް ވެރިކަން ހިންގަން ދިމާކުރީ ކީއްވެގެން ހެއްޔެވެ؟ ސަރުކާރު ހިންގުމަށްވުރެ ބޮޑު އަހަންމިއްޔަތެއް، އަދި ރައްޔިތުންގެ ބޭނުންތައް ހާސިލުކުރުމަށްވުރެ ބޮޑު އިސްކަމެއް، އޭނާ ނިސްބަތްވާ ޕާޓީ ވަރުގަދަކުރުމަށް އަދި އެޕާޓީގެ ހަރަކާތްތެރިންނަށް ރަގަޅުގޮތް ހޯދައިދިނުމަށް، ސަރުކާރުގެ ވަސީލަތްތައް ބޭނުންކޮށްގެން ކުރިޔަށް ގެންދަނީ ކީއްވެހެއްޔެވެ؟ ................. ........................... ................................................މ

މިސުވާލުތަކުގެ ޖަވާބު ދެވޭނީ ހަމައަންނިއަށެވެ. އޭނާގެ އަމަލުތައް ދިފާއުކުރެއްވުމުގައި އޭނާ އަބަދުވެސް ކާމިޔާބުކުރައްވައެވެ. ރައްޔިތުންގެ އިތުބާރު ހޯއްދަވައެވެ. އެހެންނަމަވެސް، އެމަސައްކަތް އެއީ ގިނިކަންޏާ ކުރައްވަންޖެހޭ ކަމަކަށްވުމުގެ ނަތީޖާ މިފަހަރުގެ ބަރުލަމާނީ އިންތިޚާބުގައި ވަނީ ފެނިގެން ގޮސްފައެވެ. އެމްޑީޕީގެ ލީޑަރޝިޕުން ކުރެއްވި މަސައްކަތް ނުފެނި، ރައީސް ނަޝީދު ކުރެއްވި މަސައްކަތް މަތިފަޑިން ފެނިގެންދިޔަ މިއިންތިޚާބުގައި އެމްޑީޕީއަށް ލިބުނު ޖާގައިން މިކަން ފެނިގެންދިޔައެވެ. ................ ..... ............................... ........... ................................ ................މ

ފަހަރެއްގައި އަންނި އާއި ނުލާ ޕާޓީ ހިންގޭވަރުގެ ލީޑަރޝިޕެއް އެމްޑީޕީއަށް ބޭނުންވާކަމުގެ ސިގްނަލެއްކަމުގައި މިއިންތިޚާބު ބެލިދާނެއެވެ. އެކަމަކު މައުމޫނާއި ނުލާ ދިރުމެއް ނޯންނާނެ ޕާޓީއަކަށް ޑީއާރުޕީ ވީފަދައިން އެމްޑީޕީއަކީ ވެސް އަންނިއާއި ނުލާ ޕީޕަލްސްޕާޓީ ފަދަ ޕާޓީއަކަށް ވެދާނެއެވެ. ......................... .............. ............. .............. ...................... .......................މ

Election Talk: "They are thieves"

2009-05-11T14:55:00.004+06:00

The results of the "ongoing" parliamentary elections is the hottest topic of town. One of my friends told me that PA "bought" all the seats in Laamu Atoll and two seats in Meemu Atoll with the money that Yaameen and His Gang has stashed away.

I wondered?

How come when other parties win seats that it is the true aspiration of the people, and when PA wins a seat it must be coersion and bribery at its best. I also find it amusing to believe that certain peoples in particular constituencies are "corrupt" when others in certain constituenices are clean and wise.

DRP supporters that I met seem to believe that the election was heavily unduly influenced by the ruling party. They seem to believe that the results have been manipulated to the advantage of MDP.

Funny isn't it?

But we all say that we are now in a democracy where each has the right to form and hold his own opinion and judgement.

2009-05-11T00:15:00.004+06:00

ވިނާރސް އެންޑް ލޫޒާރސް

މިފަހަރުގެ ރައްޔިތުންގެ މަޖިލީހުގެ ނަތީޖާއަކީ ކާމިޔާބީއާއި ނާކާމިޔާބީގެ ރަހަ ވަރަށް ފޮނިގޮތެއްގަޔާއި ނުލާހިކުހިތިކޮށް ގިނަބަޔަކު ތަޖުރިބާކުރި ނަތީޖާއެކެވެ. ޕާޓީތަކުގެ ބާރު ރައްޔިތުންގެ މައްޗަށް އޮތް މިންވަރު ވަރަށް ފާޅުގޮތެއްގައި ސާބިތުވެގެން ދިޔަ ފަހަރެއްވެސް މެއެވެ. އެމްޑީޕީން މަޖިލީހުގެ އަޣުލަބިއްޔަތު ހޯދުމަށްޓަކައި ސަރުކާރުގެ ނުފޫޒާއި ބާރާއި ރައްޔިތުންގެ ކުރިމަގަށް ކުރާ އުންމީދު އެމީހުންގެ ހަތިޔާރަކަށް ބޭނުންކުރިއިރުވެސް، ޑީއާރުޕީއާއި ޕީއޭގުޅިގެން އެމީހުންގެ "އިއުލާނުނުކުރާ އެކުވެރިންނާއިއެކު" ރައްޔިތުންގެ މަޖިލީހުގެ އަޣުލަބިއްޔަތު ހޯދުމުން، ޕާޓީތަކުގެ އަސަރު ދިވެހި ސިޔާސީ މަސްރަހުގައި ވަކިހިއްޕާލާފައިވާ މިންވަރު ވަރަށް ރަގަޅަށް ފެނިގެން ހިނގައްޖެއެވެ.

އެހެންނަމަވެސް، ކުރިން ހީކުރެވިފައިވާގޮތާ ޚިލާފަށް ޖުމްހޫރީއާއި އަދާލަތަށް ސިޔާސީ މައިދާނުން ނުފޫޒުހުރި ޖާގައެއް ނުލިބުނެވެ. އަދާލަތު ސިޔާސީމައިދާނުން މުޅިން ފޭލިވެގެންދިޔައީއެވެ. ސޯޝަލް ލިބަރަލްޕާޓީ ވެސް ފެއިލިއަރެއްގެ ގޮތުގައި ތާރީޚުގެ ތެރެއަށް ވަދެގެންދިޔައީއެވެ. ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ސިޔާސީ މަސްރަހުގައި ބަސްކިޔާނެ ޕާޓީތަކުތެ ގޮތުގައި ޑީއާރުޕީއާއި އެމްޑީޕީއާއި ޕީއޭ ހަމަޖެހިގެންދިޔައިރު، ޕީއޭ ވެގެންދާނީ ސައިކިޔާ ކުޅިއަށެވެ. ކާމިޔާބު ލިބުނީ އެޕާޓީތަކަށެވެ.

ކާމިޔާބު ލިބުމުގެ ފޮނިރަހަ، ބަޔަކު ދެކެމުންދާއިރު، ވަރަށް ހައިރާންކުރުވަނިވި ނަތީޖާތަކެއް މިއިންތިޚާބުގައި ވަނީ ފެނިގެން ގޮސްފައެވެ. އޭޑީކޭ ނާޝިދާއި ޖާބިރު، ޖީސަސްއަފީފާއި މޮޑީ އަދި މަވޯޓާ ޝަރީފު މަޖިލިހުން ބޭރުކޮށްލުންވީ، ކުރިން ޔަގީންކުރެވިފައިވާ ގޮތާއި ޚިލާފަށް ލިބުނު ނަތީޖާތަކަކަށެވެ.

ރަސްމީ ނަތީޖާ އިއުލާނުކޮށް އާމަޖިލިސް އެއްވުމުން، ދެން ފެނިގެންދާނީ ރައްޔިތުންގެ ވިންދާއި އެއްގޮތަށް ހަރަކާތްތެރިވާ މަޖިލީހެކެވެ. ރައްޔިތުންގެ ވިންދަކީ، ދިމާކުރުމާއި އައުގުރާނަގޮވުމާއި ގޮތްދޫނުކުރުމާއި މަޖިލީހުގެ އިމްތިޔާޒުގެ ބޭނުންކޮށްގެން ދީނަށް ފުރައްސާރަކުރުމާއި މީހުންގެ އަބުރުނަގާލުންކަމުގައިވާނަމަ، ގައުމުގެ މުސްތަގުބަލު ބިނާވެގެންދާނީ އެގޮތުގައެވެ. މޮޅުވީ މީހުންގެ ހިތްތަކުގައި ކިބުރުވެރިކަމާއިބޮޑާކަން އިތުރުވެ، ބަލިވީ މީހުންގެ މުޅިމަސައްކަތަކީ އަނެކުން "ތަޅާތިރިއަރުވާލުން" ކަމުގައި ވެއްޖެނަމަ، ގައުމުގެ ވިންދާއި އެއްގޮތަށް ގައުމު ފުނޑިގެންދާނެއެވެ.

މޮޔައެއްގެ އަތަށް ފުރޯއެއް ލިބިއްޖެނަމަ، ފުރަތަމަ ކަނޑާލާނީ އަރާއިންފަނެވެ. ދެން އޮންނާނީ އިނދަޖެހުންނޫން ކޮންގޮތެއް ހެއްޔެވެ؟ ދިވެހި ގައުމު އިނދަޖައްސާލާނީތޯ ނުވަތަ ދިވެހިން އަބަދު އަވާމެންދުރެއްހެން މިކިޔާ ސިންގަޕޫރަށް (ކުރިއަރާފައިވާ ގައުމުތަކުގެ މެދުފަންތީގެ ކުރީސަފުގައިވާ ގައުމަކަށް) ހަދާނީތޯ ނިންމާނީ މިމަޖިލީހުންނެވެ.

Can Anni lead us to the Othe Maldives that he promised? Will he?

2009-04-24T13:11:00.005+06:00

I was shocked and numbed to read the words of the councillor of South Central Prrovice, Mr. Khaleel of Faafu Atoll. He is a member of the MDP which is led by President Mohamed Nasheed (Anni). He is reported to have said in very strong and threatening words that those civil servants who had served in the previous regime will be removed mercilessly after May 15th (perhaps referring to the final announcement date for parliamentary election results scheduled for May 9th).

Mr. Khaleel is one of a growing number of government officials who seem to be above the law and are able to justify any of their actions on the premise that the previous regime was worse. However, they all seem to follow the MDP Leadership in Chairperson Mariya Ahmed Didi and MP Moosa Manik who believe that none associated with the previous government should be spared. Both are said to be recepeints of favors from the previous regime and have not disclosed nor acknowledged the same.

But what Khaleel has done will surprise even Mariya and Moosa, I think. And the thought created this question in my mind. That MDP is going to be led by the person who can create most hatred toward Maumoon and all others who are not members of MDP. I cannot help but think of Mao Tse Tung and Lenin and China and the Sovient Union! (No wonder our previous regime did not want us to learn History.)

Can Anni take us to Other Maldives to lead a decent life, an Other Maldives which is going to be legislated and controlled by a Parliament controlled by MDP led by the likes of Khaleel, Mariya and Moosa? Will he finally come to have qualities to lead a nation and a people over above a group of party loyalists?

I believed strongly in the Other Maldives in which others and I could lead a decent life. I am not quite sure anymore. But I have no regrets. It's perhaps one of those dreams which will not come true. But, I pray Anni will do it. I believe he can if he will.

Will Anni?

First Democractically Elected Parliament: Mandate?

2009-04-13T23:07:00.003+05:00

Today we are proud to say that we have a new constitution; one that gives the people of the Maldives the right to a dignified life in our beloved nation. The August Constitution has been a product of the collective desire of the Maldivian People for reform and justice.

We have the first democratically elected President, today. We are proud to have "30 years" of a prolonged regime behind us; a thing of the past! We have mandated a dynamic, vibrant and young President to lead us to the Other Maldives - one in which each of us will have a decent life.

Now the country is on the verge of the next best thing that will happen to our beloved nation in its new found haven of democracy. We will elect Members of Parliament to the first democractically elected 76 member strong Majlis in the parliamentary elections to be held on 9th of May.

The Question that I have is: What will be the mandate of the first parliament of the August Constitution? I have my thoughts, but maybe later!

Paedophile Sympathizers...

2009-04-10T13:55:00.002+05:00

Yesterday I was sitting in ALFresco for a coffee with some of my coffee-cafe-colleagues when the subject of the protest against Naseem So for giving tuition to children at his house came up. These were men who had fought bitterly for reform and rights and for decocracy and human rights in this country.

The men felt that what NOOR was doing now amounted to undue harassment of a law abiding citizen who had served time for his wrongdoing. After all, he has been convicted and punished. They believed that he had the right to lead a normal life. That it was the parents who sent their children to him for tuition; and the parents new that he was convicted of systemically sexually abusing his students when he was a teacher in Iskandhar School. So, when the parents decide to send their children to Naseem So for tuition it was ok.

The same sentiments were what I got from people on two separate occassions yesterday. And last night, according to Miadhu Daily Online, a group of people from the neighbourhood protested against the protestors. Maidhu reported that those who confronted the protestors asked why there should be a protest against a person who had served his punishment for something wrong such a long time ago, when there were paedophiles who were under investigation and not brought to justice.

This sympathy to Naseem so is very interesting. It shows our attitude to sexual child abuse as a people and a nation. The Ministry of Home Affairs also reacted against the petition being circulated by NOOR.

Maldives is really a haven for paedophiles!

Link

What Next for DRP?

2009-03-24T20:02:00.005+05:00

It was Mohamed Nasheed who first announced that he will be contesting the Kulhudhuffushi seat in the upcoming parliamentary elections because of differences with the DRP. Then the former Minister for Higher Education and many other things in the previous regime said he would not be contesting for the Gaafaru Kaashidhoo seat, as the party was not in a position to take action against a strong DRP member who announced he would contest as an independent.

Then, now the former Home Minister Abdulla Kamaaluddin says he will be running as an indepedent for an Upper North Provice seat. However, he has reported to the media that he is in good terms with the party and its leadership. He also was undecided when asked whether he may not join the party after getting elected, by saying that its too early to make a commitment to that end.

It would be interesting to see how DRP fares in the upcoming elections as a political party. The party chief spokesperson is reported to have said that where there is confusion, a letter will be issued to the official candidates by the Party Leader (Zaeem) of the party to give them legitimacy. In addition, he is also reported to have said the case of the stray party members will be taken up by the disciplinary committee of the party.

It is yet to be seen whether DRP will offer a substantial alternative to the ruling MDP philosophy or just try to capitalize on building a perception of MDP as mere activists and thugs good for nothing!

Prison Break: Who will resign?

2009-03-20T14:03:00.003+05:00

I was watching the two o'clock news on TV Maldives on Friday, and was shocked to hear that, the Minister of State for Home Affairs Ahmed Shafeeg has said that "about four prisoners" who fled Maafushi prison last night have been apprehended by the authorities in a nearby island. Haveeru has reported that the prisoners escaped by the threatening the prison guards with the assistance of a gang who had come from Male' armed with iron bars.

I wondered to myself who would be asked to take the blame for the loophole in state security and the terror that ordinary law-abiding citizens have been subjected to. A week or so ago, The Minister responsible for Maldives National Defense and also Home Affairs, and the Police Commissioner seemed to put the responsibility for the mayhem in our streets on the Prosecutor General's inefficiency and ineffectiveness.

The question on my mind is "Who will resign?"

We have seen numerous demonstrations on the streets of Male' calling for resignations of government officials in the recent years. Former Minister of Home Affairs Gasim Ibrahim resigned after demonstrations calling for his resignation and pressure from political and civil society pressure groups.

When are we going to see government agencies made accountable for things they are charged with? Or will this prison break also be blamed on former regime sympathisers in the civil service?

The previous government had put the responsibility for all evil in society on the people. They would say that no one had reported the evils to them. And the Home Minister of the regime believed that gang related street murders can only be stopped by the gangs and they wanted it.

I just can't help wondering who will be asked to resign.

Foreseen: The Demise of the Maldives Tourism Industry

2009-03-20T02:49:00.008+05:00

Today I sat at a table in a coffee shop with a man who was delighted with the success of their strike to "make things right" on a tourist resort in Maldives. Hce was delighted that they had won. He was delighted that the "culprit" lost and could not do a thing because of rights enshrined in the August Constitution of the Maldives and the new Labor Law.

After he left, I wondered to myself - what have we become? I have always believed that Allah has created enough of everything in such abundance that the wealth and the welfare of another cannot take away what is rightfully mine. That the other need not lose for me to win. Yet, there is so many amongst us who seem to believe that our happiness can only come from someone else's misery, that our success can only be if others are to lose.

What is going on in the tourism industry today is to me a sign of this mentality that seem to have gripped our nation - which have been hailed as Paradise on Earth. The chaos and the fight to annihilate the other has come about for compelling reasons that would be spelled out in detail by each party to impress their case.

It was in July 2008 that the Maldives Association of the Tourism Industry (MATI) warned of a looming tourism decline.

The first high profile strike organized by TEAM was settled after intervention by the President's Office. Since then we have seen strikes that have rocked the industry which is in a very fragile state. Maryam Omidi's report on Minivan News says, there has been about ten strikes in the recent months according to Tourism Employee's Association President Ahmed Easa. Some blame the Labor Law while others blame the attitude and treatment of local employees by their five-star rich employers.

Since then, the President has flown to Italy to woo tourists, and the Economic Development Minister has made an offical visit to Italy "create a suitable environment for investment." He had "expessed surprise" [that] "discussions to seek investment had not occured in the past." The Tourism Minister has just left for the Moscow International Tourism and Travel Fair (MITT) 2009. The government is "going all out" to attract tourists and to woo investors.

There seems to be an absence of a commitment or a will by the government, MATI or TEAM to put things right - to work out a timeline for creating the conditions required to enable the Labor Law through short-term, medium-term and long-term strategies that would sustain the "bread-basket" of the nation. When are we going to act as a nation - not as individuals looking for fame, not as lobbyists for self-interest groups, not as political parties; who wish to "win" by the "sheer loss" of those who are against them; so that we may survive the world economic crisis?

This arrogance and attitude of mind (for "them" to lose so that we can "win" in absolute terms)can only scare the employers (of local employees) and create a lack of investor confidence in Maldives investment climate. How on earth would tourists come to holiday in a "dead" paradise that is socially irresponsible as a corporate citizen, recklessness in its psyche, and can boast only of mayhem on its streets? How hospitable can we be?

President Nasheed (Anni) embarked on his Presidency on a promising note, with a commitment to fulfill his party's election promises. His biggest challenge seems to be to provide sound economic, political and fiscal conditions that would enable the realization of those dreams and his party manifesto on which he believes he was elected to Office.

How important is it for "us" to win and them to "lose"? Are we prepared to sacrifice this nation for us to win!

Breaking News: Police Officer Hospitalized

2009-03-13T10:42:00.006+05:00

According to a police media report, a police officer has been hospitalized in ADK Hospital in Male' after being attacked by gangsters and was found "thrown into a lane" around Alikilegefaanu Magu. The report says that the officer's face has been severely beaten. The Police Officer was in plainclothes according to the report.

The local print and online media who were "reporting 24/7 round the clock" are silent on the matter at this moment in time.

Rumors say that the people who attacked the police officer are known to authorities and will be apprehended shortly. It is hard to believe that anything will come of it. There is little hope that anything meaningful can be done to maintain law and order in this country, while the current August Constitution and unfinished business related to establishing the legal and judicial infrastructure remain as is.

And Ibra writes to the President on his blog, in a post published 4 hours from the attack - which I thought was related. He writes:

[...] The entire nation has to be mobilized if we are to get out of this hell hole. You can see the reaction of the Mob in relation to efforts by the police to establish the authority of the law. They will come after the Police, the Cabinet, the MPs and any other who will stand in their way. Only the unifying of the Public, across political divisions can combat this evil.

That brings me to the point of this letter, Mr.President. It is only you who can unify the nation on this one. It is your Constitutional duty to do that. The Constitution spells out in black and white that it is your Constitutional duty and obligation to promote unity among the people. You can’t do that by ignoring the majority of the people in this country and just acknowledging people of a certain political membership. You will be deepening the divisions even further.

Mr. President. You are the PRESIDENT of this country, elected by UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE. You are not the PRIME MINISTER appointed by a majority party in the Majlis. The Maldivian Constitution does not provide for a Prime Minister yet, Mr. President. I remind you, lest you forget.

Read the full post here

How the Serbian Canvas Group succeeded in toppling the Maldivian Dictator: by Omidi from Minivan News

2009-03-12T11:24:00.002+05:00

Omidi writes:

In October 2008, the Maldives held its first multi-party elections, toppling 30-year incumbent Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and replacing him with Mohamed Nasheed, a former political prisoner and according to Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) opposition members, rabble-rouser extraordinaire.

Indeed, this is how members of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and others connected to the party were and still are viewed: as a mob of uneducated activists who took to the streets in undignified protest. But what few people know is that behind the clamour of MDP as well as those who joined their fight was a well-designed plan.

And behind the plan, there was Canvas – an organisation of trainers and consultants that travel the globe to transfer their skills, knowledge and principles of non-violent struggle. The ideas exported by Canvas were born out of Otpor, a youth movement in Serbia, which has been credited with the bloodless revolution that brought down Slobodan Milosovic.

“Maldives was fourth in line of our successes,” says Srdja Popovic, the executive director of Canvas. “Others include the Orange Revolution in Ukraine and the Rose Revolution in Georgia.” In the latter, students offered soldiers roses when the army was deployed by Eduard Shevardnadze, who had ruled Georgia for more than 30 years.

Read the full article here

Mind boggling figures...

2009-03-11T11:45:00.000+05:00

The Defense Minister and Home Minister and the Police Commissioner gave a joint press conference on Tuesday to brief the public on the ongoing street violence and gang related murders that are terrorizing Male'.

Some of the figures that were revealed in the press conference were mind-boggling. The new "Pentagon" Prison going to cost the country over 80million Rufiyaa. This is over 400,000 Rufiyaa (30,000 US Dollars) per head for each of the 200 inmates for whom the prison is being built. [I was told that the cost per key for a three-star resort hotel is under 70,000 US Dollars.]

The cost of maitaining a prisoner is currently at 36,000 Rufiyaa (nearly 3,000 US Dollars) a month. This according to the Defense Minister is equal to housing one person in a nearby tourist resort!

And there are over 500 convicted criminals roaming the streets of Male', ready to engage in further criminal activity. Male' is the capital city buzzling with crime. And if the press briefing is to be believed, the crime infrastructure is so far ahead of the law and order capabilities that soon the criminals will take over the captial city of this paradise nation.

Minivan report on the press briefing

Parliamentarians to get a pension of 20,000 Rf a month

2009-03-10T20:35:00.005+05:00

The Maldives Parliament or Rayyithuge Majlis (meaning the People's Chamber) has deliberated on a revision of the Pension Bill, to give one third of salary to any MP who completes one five year term in the Majlis.

Parliamentarians are paid three times the highest paid civil servant and more than what any civil servant or private sector employee can expect to earn with over twenty years service and with a decent education and experience. Their self-centered approach to giving themselves a salary and allowances of nearly a hundred thousand Rufiyaa (8,000 US Dollars) a month has thrown the pay structure in the country into complete chaos. A possible pay commission that was called for has not still come to function.

Now these hyprocritical MPs (who call themselves the Honorable Respresentatives of the People) have again showed their greed by asking for over 20,000 Rufiyaa (1,600 US Dollars) a month on completion of their "name-calling" and filth-filled discourse in parliament for five years. This would be equivalent to the take-home remuneration for the highest paid civil servant.

What a Parliament we Maldivians have been blessed with!

Haveeru news report in Divehi

Male' Street Killings: Ongoing Terror Unchecked

2009-03-10T14:07:00.004+05:00

Minivan News has reported that an 18 year old boy (Abdulla Farhad, 18) has died "after being assaulted by a group of young men on the south side of Majeedhee Magu". It also reported that "Farhad’s murder (on the night of 8th March) is the sixth gang-related death since December 2007 when 19-year-old Ali Ishar was beaten to death."

This means there is a gang related murder every three months for a population of just over 300,000 people. In addition, several more cases of suicide and near death incidents involving street violence have been reported in this 100% Moslem nation. Yet, there is no sign of a clear government strategy to combat this epidemic. The religous ministry perhaps would say that street killings and gang related murders are not in their purview. The last government blamed it on the people. We are yet to wait and see who the present government will blame; or take responsibility to bring civility to this country.

The point I wish to make is that we have a nation that is deteriorating into decadence. And where the dawn of democracy has resulted in a seemingly acceptable anarchy.

Reports of the latest street violence leading to murder:
Minivan News / Haveeru News / Maldives Police Service

Disaster Management Centre for Male'

2009-03-01T11:40:00.003+05:00

Male' is home to over one third of the population of the country and a great majority of over 78,000 expatriates who live and work in the Maldives.

This morning a shocking experience took the whole island by surprise. Male' did not have any electricity right throughout the island for over an hour in the morning. This experience ran shockwaves through my mind.

I thought: what if we have such a situation in Male' for 24 hours. Are we prepared? How prepared are we?

What would be the fate of the people in Male' in such an eventuality where we may have a disruption to electricity supplies for more than 24 hours? I think that we need to establish a Disaster Management Centre for Male' under the Male' Municipality which should make the necessary preparations for such eventualities.

The Black Market for US Dollars...

2009-02-24T13:54:00.004+05:00

This is the second call I had today.

Just now it was from an expatriate project manager that I know who is from a neighbouring country. He said that he has a 100,000 US Dollars that he can sell and was looking for a willing buyer. He also told me that as I know, the market rate is now 13.75 Rufiyaa and that he could give me a better deal if I knew someone who was ready to buy. You know what that means!

This morning the call was from a CFO in a reputable company in Male' who had 200,000 US Dollars that he wanted to sell. He said that the rate was 14.00 Rufiyaa. He had given me a call because I had requested him for some assistance in meeting our dollar purchase requirement. I told him we did not buy from the black market, yet.

Both the calls came from people working for and in reputed business organizations. I don't know whether they were trying to make a quick buck for themselves personally or for the company. Some of my friends tell me that I don't have proper business acumen because I think this way. They tell me that a thriving black market is here and we have to embrace it or perish. These are the same people who believe that the government is corrupt and are up in arms to combat the wrongdoing.

In the meantime, agencies of the state seem to be unable to design and implement policies to regulate the financial market to deal with the challenges of the day.

He Said I Said...

2009-01-18T19:09:00.002+05:00

I said:

If this Majlis fails to deliver on what is required of it and uphold the promising new August Constitution, the people should come out and lock the House and dissolve it. People who are paid beyond our means cannot be left to hijack the People.
January 15, 2009 5:33:00 PM MVT

He (Ibra) said:

@Shihab :I would really like you leading the charge, Shihab. About time you actually did something. We have done our bit over tyhe past four years. At least now you can be certain that you will not be beaten and jailed for "dissolving" the Parliament. You know, our work would have been so much easier if you had joined us on Jumhooree Maidhaan on 12/13 August 2004 or maybe you could have joined Anni on Nov 10th to "lock the Majlis and force the members to finish the constitution" while Qayyoom was in full power. Shake a leg, Shihab. And get a refill of the coffee.
January 15, 2009 6:15:00 PM MVT

He (Anonymous) said:

Shihab,You are one hell of a person to comment on this. Aren't you one of the members of the commitee who oversaw the presidential or parliamentary system. What a farce that was. You directly benefit from people like salih. How can you even start thinking about the good of the Maldives or her people. Go have another coffee and criticize the good people of this country who is trying to do some good things to this country. You are one of those self claimed "wannabe intellectuals" who does not have the balls to do anything but would like to come out and portray yourself as a hero and take credit off the people who shed their blood to get these freedoms. Get a life.
January 16, 2009 7:21:00 AM MVT

I said:
@January 16, 2009 7:21:00 AM MVT:

I know what Ibra means when he tells me to do my bit and shake a leg... and respect what he means...

But I am sorry that you are ill-informed on what I did for the "good of this nation"... And btw it was the Raa Kaaf Committee Elections that I was charged with, and it would be good to find out how it all went... And also find out NEW elements of a free and fair election that were introduced by the committee which oversaw the elections and how it impacted the mindsets of people about the elections that followed... The minutes and documentation should be in the xAtolls Ministry...

And I am what I am today because I did not want to touch a penny that I did not earn...

I despise the current Majlis for reasons I have because I love this nation...

My Note: It is so sad that we attack the person when we don't have a substantial view on an issue!

Doing Business in Maldives...

2009-01-16T18:32:00.005+05:00

The other day I was having a conversation about doing business in the region with a foreign investor over a glass of fresho orange juice. He is a Muslim.

During our conversation I asked him what the biggest difficulty was that he faced in doing business in Maldives. He said almost spontaneously without a second thought that it was "gossiping". He went onto explain that it was known as "gheeba" in their country. I did not tell him that we have the same word in our vocabulary too. I asked him what he meant.

He then went onto explain, that it was talking about other people in their absence. I told him that I quite agreed, and that this was wrong also because it did create unfounded stories and rumors about people which were not true. He told me that it was not only talking bad about other people. That "gheeba" was talking about others what they wouldn't want even when what is said maybe true. He claimed that proper human rights would be to completely refrain from talking about other people without their permission even if what is said maybe true. To him, that was the true Muslim spirit.

I am sure this investor must have had quite an experience to say it so spontaneously and in such a pin pointed manner. I was not surprised!

Let's see how our People's House (the so called Majlis) can be made "gheeba" free, in the first place. A place which upheld the true Islamic Faith that they so passionately made to be the pillar and guiding principle of the August Constitution. Perhaps, the ordinay folk will follow the leaders of the nation, and make this country worthy of investment by businesses without hesitation then.

I give my vote for an "gheeba" free Maldives. How about you?

Dhivehi Raajje....

2009-01-15T15:15:00.001+05:00

... gotheh fotheh neiy insaanunge baaru gadha biruveri vilaagandegge dhashugai oiy 21 vana garunuge gaumu...!!!

The Honorable Hypocrites: A New Stunt

2009-01-08T21:56:00.002+05:00

The Honorable Hypocrites who have bestowed upon this nation only chaos and nothing else have made a new stunt today. This was in the form of "Universal Coalition Press Conference" at Fansavees this afternoon. I could not help wondering how they expect to take the people for a ride and think that we were fools, as I listened to the news conference.

They were eager to call upon the Speaker to convene an extraordinary session of parliament to enact the laws needed to hold the upcoming Parliamentary Elections before the deadline given in the Constitution of August 7, 2008.

They claimed that the Honorable Hypocrites who resolved to take their leave and leave the constitutional deadline to pass were not doing so in any Party Line or to benefit any political parties but on their own accord. The fact is that these Honorable Hypocrites dont realized they dont have a party mandate in parliament as they were not elected on a party ticket. They were elected on a mandate to represent the people, they got themselves a fat salary and ditched the people all along as they were slaves of phantom masters who controlled them - and not the people who they took a vow to serve.

I hope and pray that none of these parliamentarians who have nothing but their corrupt interests to serve will be elected to the next parliament.

Dhivehi Sifainge Ingilaabakah magufahi kuraneebaa!!!

2009-01-06T13:49:00.007+05:00

ދިވެހިރާއްޖެ ސިޔާސީ އަދި އިޖުތިމާއީ ހަމަނުޖެހުމެއްގެ ތެރެއަށް ވައްޓާލުމަށްޓަކައި، ރާއްޖޭގެ ރައްޔިތުންގެ އަތުން ނުހަނުބޮޑު އުޖޫރައެއް ނަގައިގެންތިބި ރައްޔިތުންގެ މަޖިލީހުގެ އިއްޒަތްތެރިކަމަށް ދައުވާކުރާ (ގޮތްކުޑަ) މެމްބަރުން މިހާރު އެތިބީ ޗުއްޓީ ނަގައިގެންނެވެ. ކޮންމެ މީހަކުވެސް މިކަމުގެ ޒިންމާ އަޅުވަނީ އެހެންމީހުންގެ ބޮލުގައެވެ. މަޖިލީހުގެ ރައީސް ވިދާޅުވަނީ ތިމަންނާއަށް ތިޔަކަހަލަކަމެއް އައިސްފައި ނެތްކަމަށެވެ. އެހެންވީމާ، އޭނާއަށް ކުރެއްވޭނެކަމެއް ނެތެވެ. އެއީ އިހުގައި ރަށްރަށުގައި ބޮޑެތިކުށްކުރާމީހުންގެ ވާހަކަބުނުމުން ތިކަން އެއްވެސް މީހަކު ރިޕޯޓުކޮށްފައި ނެތްކަމަށް ވިދާޅުވާ ކަތީބުންގެ ބީދައިންނެވެ. ގައުމުގެ ރައީސް ރައްޔިތުންގެ މަޖިލީހަށް އައްޔަންކުރައްވާފައި ތިއްބެވި މެމްބަރުންނާއި އޭނާގެ އަމިއްލަޕާޓީއާއި އޭނާވެރިކަމަށް ގެނައި ކޯލިޝަނަށް ނިސްބަތްވާ މަޖިލީހުގެ މެމްބަރުން މިވިޔާނުދާ އަމަލުގައި ބައިވެރިވިއިރު، އޭނާއަށް އެމީހުންގެ މައްޗަށް ނުފޫޒެއް ބާރެއް ނުފޯރުވުނެވެ. ދެން އޮތީ ތިންވަނަ ބާރެވެ. އަދުލު އިންސާފުގާއިމުކުރުމުގެ ބާރެވެ. ހައިކޯޓުން މައްސަލަބަލައެއް ނުގަތެވެ. ސުޕްރީމްކޯޓުން ނިންމާނެގޮތެއް ކަމަށް ލަފާކުރެވެނީ، ގާނޫނުއަސާސީގައި ވަކިގޮތެއް ކަނޑައެޅިފައި އޮތްކަމެއް ބަދަލުކުރުމަކަށް ނުވަތަ ބާތިލުކުރުމަކަށް އެފަރާތަށް ބާރުލިބިގެން ނުވާކަމަށެވެ. މިއީ ގައުމުގެ ހާލަތު ހުރިގޮތެވެ. މިއީ ވަތަންއެދޭގޮތަށް ދިވެހިންގެނައި އަނެއްރާއްޖޭގައި ކަންއޮތްގޮތެވެ، ކުރިންވެސް މިހާރުވެސް ދިވެހިންނަށް އޮތް އެންމެރަގަޅުގޮތަކީ، ދިވެހިސިފައިން ގެންނާނެ އިންގިލާބަކަށް ވެދާނެ ބާވައެވެ؟ ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު

Chaiperson Anni vs. President Nasheed

2009-01-06T10:09:00.002+05:00

I read in Miadhu News Online today that President Nasheed has called upon the Attorney General not to send an attorney to the Supreme Court to defend the government in the case against the state for the Parliament Decision to take recess before enacting the electoral laws required by the Constitution.

The recess of the Parliament was voted for by Presidential Appointees as well as MPs who belong the President's (former) party. The president has vehemently called for the Parliament to enact the electoral laws before taking recess. His (former) party had no respect for the President's wishes nor did the MPs appointed to represent him. The opposition parties in and outside the parliament has accused the President and parties of the coalition that got his the Presidency of covert tactics to delay parliamentary elections.

The publication of details of the President's letter to the AG comes a day after the contents of the letter from the Advisor to President Nasheed and former AG Hassan Saeed was published in the media. The Advisor had asked the President to get his Appointed Members and Party and Coalition Members to initiate a petition to the Speaker for a recall of the recess.

President Nasheed now seems to have come to the edge of his honeymoon with the Presidency. I think that this is a sign of his transformation from Party Leader to Head of State and the Government.

Reality Sucks...

2009-01-01T15:57:00.005+05:00

Overheard:

A friend of the boastful storyteller and he went to a resort to celebrate the new year. They were at the New Year Party where there were a number of Italian and Russian "chicks". He said that his friend ordered the most expensive vodka and was later on the dance floor.

Apparently, there was this sixteen year old Russian girl who was the centre of attention on the floor. She was with her father, who was sitting a little far away. When someone chuckled, he said that the girl was full-grown and gorgeous enough; so it was ok though she is a minor.

He said that his friend was a freak. When he went onto the floor the girl came to him and started dancing with him. He had a cigarette in one hand so she couldn't hold both his hands. Finally, she got "pissed off" and went, according the storyteller.

The most shocking part of it is what the storyteller said next: "I told my friend why he didnt just start kissing her and take her to the beach. It would have been ok even with the father. After all, it is the new year!"

I guess Dr. Majeed was right in stopping the DJs in Male' for simple minds who saw the joy of abuse in celebrating the New Year.

Back at Work...

2008-12-31T14:06:00.003+05:00

We just came back from a visit to my brother in Bangalore. It was a good family retreat with a lot of fun and enjoyment. I think it is time I got out of my writers block and got back to blogging. I guess this post is a new beginning to a new year and back to blogging as usual - perhaps with a touch of novice to it.

Happy New Year to all!

This morning I met a friend who was furious about the way new year celebration was portrayed in an article in Aafathis Daily. Apparently the celebration is said to be an occasion for all sorts of social ills. He was concerned about this "propaganda" that was being fed into the minds of ordinary citizens!

The Parliamentary Election Confusion

2008-12-09T09:35:00.006+05:00

The elections for the new People's Majlis (Parliament) of the Maldives will be held in before February. Parties and independents vying for a seat in the new parliament has started their campaigning. Candidates of political parties who will contest the seats are expected to be announced shortly. Jumhooree Party Leader Gasim Ibrahim, who resigned from the post of the all powerful Home Minister, has announced that his party will contest all constituencies. DRP have said that they are in the process of selecting their candidates. The country's President and MDP Leader Nasheed (Anni) has called upon party members and the nation to give a majority to the party in the upcoming parliament, so that he can deliver on the campaign promises. DRP Secretary Geneal Dr. Mausoom said that it is important that the government should be kept in check by parliament, and for this to happen the people must decide to have a difference in parliament.

The "coalition" government that came into power after the first multi-party presidential elections have left the country is a mess. People voted for MDP Leader Mohamed Nasheed to be President, but the government he formed is made up of a coalition that does not really exist for any meaningful purpose of government. There is no reason that they have to be in a "coalition". There is nothing to be lost to the MDP Coalition (MDP and Gaumee Ithihaadh Party) by breaking away from the "Wathanee Coalition" (WC).

Now that Gasim is out of WC, and his Jumhooree Coalition is still with the government despite the government belittling him, it is likely that Jumhooree Party and Adhaalath Party will stand firm and give a fight to MDP in the parliamentary elections. DRP seems to be still in a coma from the defeat in the presidential elections and maynot be able to come back if they don't do something about it soon.

Civil Service Commission & Literacy

2008-12-05T14:15:00.006+05:00

Article 54 of the Civil Service Act of Maldives (page 23)

President's Office Dhennevun 43/2008 (page 4)

The Civil Service Commission has appointed permanent secretaries of the dissolved ministries to other ministries illegaly. Rule of law! My foot!

TEAM vs. Tourism Workers Union

2008-12-02T22:51:00.004+05:00

Maldives tourism industry has been rocked by the recent protests demanding compliance to the new Labor Law which was enacted just prior to the country's new constitution and the October Presidential Elections. The leading representative body of the tourism industry employees in the forefront fighting for tourism sector employees has been TEAM - the Tourism Employees Association of Maldives.

Team was the key lobby behind the action that forced the then government to propose an amendement to the Tourism Act days after it was enacted into law. The amendment included the tourism industry workers in basic rights such as the forty-eight-hour working week of maximum six working days.

TEAM has been voicing their concerns over alleged non-compliance by hotel-resort managements since the amendment. A strike by workers on the luxury resort of One and Only Reethi Rah and the subsequent engagement of riot police with the protesters on the request of the management got the President involved in the issue.

Now, all of a sudden and out of the blues, Haveeru Daily Online has reported that the Tourism Workers Union represented by its two lawyers has said in a press briefing today, that the timing of the strikes by tourism sector employees for rights is not happening at the right time. The lawyers said that the first step should be to create an environment to resolve disputes through negotiations. The lawyers also reportedly said that the best way for the workers is to leave the resorts and give the employers a lesson.

TEAM President Ahmed Easa is reported to have said, “Problems from other resorts such as Cinnamon and Manafaru have been solved through protests. There’s no doubt about it that going on strike is the best way to solve this problem." (Minivan News)

Haveeru did not say who is behind the Tourism Workers Union, though the article creates a sense of curiosity as to its motive in coming into the seen right now the way it did! The article does not say that these lawyers were employees of the industry or represented persons who wanted to act behind the scenes.

Minivan News article
Haveeru article in Dhivehi

Police Lies...

2008-12-01T13:57:00.007+05:00

One of the emerging new realities of the New Maldives seem to point to the Maldives Police as having a culture of propagating lies against ordinary citizens. They seem to have inculcated the "lie-culture" for the protection of the government they serve.

Jazeera Online reports that Fahala Saeed a reporter of Minivan Daily (who was arrested by Police allegedly with drugs on his body) was convicted and jailed possession of drugs. That was in October 2006. More than two years from then it has been found that the allegation was a lie. Saeed is now a free man after scrutiny by the High Court.

The Human Rights Commission who visited the tourism employees who were on strike in the upmarket island resort of One and Only Reethi Rah reported on Sunday:

“The police in riot gear had confronted them in order to remove the 13 dismissed staff from the island, while they were striking as a means of peaceful protest. Police used spray that irritates eyes and batons,” a statement reads.

Police also sent out a statement on Sunday denying any use of weapons or any injury caused. "Police did not use batons, pepper spray or tear gas. Police did not carry teargas to the island,” it reads.

So the Police lied again. A culture of systemic lying!

Related Links: Jazeera - Minivan / Fahala Saeed release - Minivan / Police Use Batons

Maldives Live Media goes into Hybernation...

2008-12-01T06:13:00.003+05:00

The local media in Maldives seem to have gone into hybernation for live event coverage since November 11, 2008. Events are reported when the standard edition is published. The reporters and anchors seem to have become retired from the job of live event coverage.

The frenzy for live coverage and frantic reporting of events have become a thing of the past like many other things such as the aspirations and inspirations of the media for democracy and good governance.

Affordable Housing and the HRCM Report

2008-11-26T23:20:00.004+05:00

I just finished watching a TVM Live Show on Housing issues in the country in connection with the release of the Report on the Assessment of the Housing Situation in the Maldives. I made several attempts to place a call to raise a point to Hon. Aslam Shakir, the Minister of State for Housing, and Mr. Zahid, the deputy chief of the Human Rights Commission.

I wanted to ask what the 12,000 families who are subject to "hell-holes" in the country should expect within the short term and within the full five-year mandate of the current government. How many of these families should expect to have decent and affordable housing within the first two years and how many within the full five years? What regions would be the beneficiaries of these housing projects and how many units would the respective regions expect to get within the short-term and the full-term?

I also wanted to ask whether the government would execute the projects through the provincial municipalities that are to be established or through the Finance Ministry via international competitive bidding? Would the government outsource the projects on BOT basis or as provincial municipality managed and operated projects?

Was there an estimate of a budget for the cost of providing adequate housing to the 12,000 families who lived in the gutters.

There is no doubt that affordable housing is one of the most attractive pledges of the MDP government. Timely action in a focused manner would be required to ensure efficienty and effectiveness of achieving the pledge within the five-year term of the first MDP government. The project seems to be still at a conceptual level. There is a need for speedy action.

President Nasir dead at 82 years

2008-11-23T20:19:00.006+05:00

A state funeral will be accorded to Late President Nasir (1926 - 2008). His body was brought to Male' this afternoon and received by President Nasheed and his cabinet, state dignitaries and well wishers who turned out in large numbers. The event was telecast live on state television TVM.

People continue to queue up in large numbers in the rain to give their last respects to Late President Nasir, who chose not to visit the country ever in his lifetime after he left the country in December 1978 after handing over power to President Gayoom.

The state television has been broadcasting a live event throughout the day, with snapshots of the numerous services of President Nasir including his efforts to get independence from the British, economic and social development including the introduction of English medium education, tourism, mechanized fishing dhonis, an international airport, the then prestigous national shipping line, state TV and radio, membership of international bodies, establishing the first Atoll Education Centre or the introduction of modern schooling to the atolls and many more.

Residents of Thinadhoo in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll protested the flying of national flag at half mast. They protest saying that the several people who were murdered under the regime of President Nasir must be mourned before mourning the death of Late President Nasir.

It will be up to the historians of the new democratic Maldives to give two sides of the story to the future generations of Maldives. We have a tradition of deleting parts of history that do not fit the whims of the government of the day!

Late President Nasir's funeral will take place after the Early Morning Prayers on 24th November 2008, Monday.

What next for Gayoom... (contd.)

2008-11-14T14:21:00.003+05:00

The first person said that he would go to any extent to find him anywhere he came out into the public and to shout and remind him of the atrocities he has committed against the people of the Maldives. He said that even if President Anni has pardoned Gayoom, those who have suffered immensely under the dictatorial regime of Maumoon for 30 years cannot do the same. For him, it was important that Maumoon taste the hurt and pain of the people who suffered under his regime.

The second person said that Maumoon should leave the country and let the people taste paradise and its wonders without him. He said that the sight of Maumoon cannot be pleasing to any Maldivian today.

The third person was of the opinion that Maumoon is a statesman who has earned the respect of the international community. He said that Maumoon should build on this and contribute to national development though a foundation for the alleviation of poverty and national development. According to him, Maumoon Foundation could source international funding and assistance to develop designated areas and people issues.

I could not help wondering how different we could be in our outlook and attitude to the future. We want the same thing, yet in so different ways!

What Next for President Gayoom?

2008-11-12T16:06:00.002+05:00

President Gayoom conceded defeat and moved out of his multi-million dollar palace handing over the responsibility of government to President Nasheed - more popularly known as President Anni. Gayoom now lives in a much smaller house - yet a luxury residence by local standards. Alivaage (the private residence of President Gayoom) belongs to his brother-in-law and former cabinet minister Ilyas Ibrahim.

In the wake of the change of power of government from President Gayoom's thirty year rule to a more liberal and democratic form of government under President Nasheed, there is widespread speculation on the future of Maumoon and his legacy.

I had the opportunity to sit in separate conversations with three people - a resort operator, an activist, a young entrepreuner. The following are what they had in mind.

what they had to say... coming soon!

Day One: President Nasheed on the Move

2008-11-12T09:11:00.004+05:00

President Anni completed his first day in office with an impressive ceremony to meet with invitees to a party given by him and the vice president at Dharubaaruge.

Anni's words at the Oath Ceremeony were consistent with his election promises, and assured the people that change will be a constant in his government. He received dignitories including the President Rajapakse of Sri Lanka and the Vice President of India, in his office. He later met with the press, through Maghrib prayer time which is perhaps unprecedented in the Maldivian Presidential Protocol.

Anni also appointed new members to the People's Majlis, to represent him. He also submitted the structure of his cabinet for the approval of the Majlis, and said that he would be sending two envoys to visit the prison. He assured that due process will be followed and those who are eligible will be given a presidential pardon.

Anni also said that his government would give a pension of not less than 2000 Rufiyaa for the elderly (over 65 years of age) irrespective of who they served. This is a stark difference from the previous regime who had a culture of distributing national wealth and resources to those who served them and only them - example: land and pension.

The visiting dignitories, diplomats and media personnel who were at last night's reception spoke highly of Anni and the People of Maldives.

President Nasheed takes Oath of Office

2008-11-11T11:10:00.002+05:00

President Mohamed Nasheed (Anni) took Oath of Office of the President of Maldives around ten thirty this morning. He starts his first day of office with a renewed commitment to deliver on his five campaign promises and a promise to deliver good governance to the people.

Anni walks into office with several challenges. The first, to me, is the fact that he has decided to form a coalition government despite a candidacy that represents MDP and GIP. The new president has his hands tied by those who have demanded a portion of government in return for their support to him in the second round of presidential elections. I would have thought that in an executive presidency the government would consist of those who are from the president's party.

There is confidence in the air that there will be change - good change. I wish the new president success in his commitment to serve the people to realize their aspirations.

More Knifing back on the streets

2008-11-06T00:45:00.002+05:00

Minivan News 4th November 2008:

A 39-year old has been stabbed in the shoulder and back last night Maafaanu district of Male’, only days after a 15-year old knife attack victim died after a violent attack on the eve of elections.

Ameen Ali, of Mathi Dhuni in the Machangolhi ward, was attacked at around midnight with a sharp object while at a friend’s house in the same district as the stabbing last week. Police say the case was reported at 11.56pm and no-one has been arrested.

Read the full story from Minivan News here

November 3rd

2008-11-03T21:56:00.005+05:00

Today we commemorate the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the independence of this nation and those whose lives were taken in the aftermath that followed. Our nation will remember them on this day every year which is marked as a public holiday (when we can rest) in memory of the harship and the martyrdom of those who toiled and gave up their lives for this nation. The top honors goes to Shaheed Hussain Adam who will be remebered for his bravery and selflessness. May we learn to respect with dignity - Martyr Hussain Adam and those who gave up their lives and whose lives were taken on that November 3rd day twenty years ago.

Long Live the Maldives!

November 3rd reflections from:
Think Maldives
Idhikeeli
DO Sappe
President Gayoom

And the Winner is...

2008-10-31T04:04:00.004+06:00

The second round of the presidential elections is over and so is its anticlimax finale. It will take a week for the elections commission to announce the obvious though the head of the current regime (as we like to call it) has conceded defeat to the leader of the opposition who won the elections with a clear majority.

Amidst the calm and the quiet that followed the announcement of the election results, the most fascinating thing that struck me was that I had a valid reason to be proud to be a Maldivian. [I have always argued against this slogan by President Maumoon, for reason I have explained in earlier blogposts here.]

The peace and the tranquility that is our heritage was at play on that day and it was enhanced by the true colors of the winners of the day. The true colors of Anni and Maumoon shocked the world in disbelief. Their collective wisdom and character in unprecedented for the history of bitterness they shared.

I was most impressed by how Maumoon, being an uncontestable leader for thirty years, conceded defeat and publicly gave his support for a peaceful transfer of power to the president-elect; as well as his simple response ("the problem of 30 years") for why he lost the elections.

Anni's call to the people to show humility in winning and to have strength in loosing, is examplary of an activist-turned-head-of-state. He also brought a new paradigm to the tranfer process and beyond, when he said that past rulers are an important institution of the nation.

I salute both men for their love of this nation. Now is Anni's turn to lead the people, uninterrupted by friends and family. It will be for the future historians to determine who is the champion of our liberal democracy!

Anni and Maumoon won the game! Will the People?

Listen to Anni's first statement to the media here.

To THINK: A sin in democracy ...the Maldivian Style

2008-10-20T00:43:00.004+06:00

This afternoon I sat for a cup of coffee at a table in a coffee house. An acquaintance who walked up to the table and made his input to the ongoing discussion around the table about the upcoming elections. He said to be aware of this guy Shihab, that he and the guy sitting next to him were both golhaas. Such suspicion was not new to me. I was "warned" the same the other day in another cafe frequently visited by supporters of "Vathan Edheygotha" (Pulse of the Nation). This was also not the first time - it has been an experience that I go through often.

This evening I was also with a different group of people I knew well, and one of them pointed out to the rest that I am an MDP sympathiser. That I am going around advocating for "Pulse of the Nation". This was also not the first time. Quite a few other people who (thought they) knew me also told me how taken up by Anni I am.

It is funny, how this labelling must go on! It is sad that independent minds cannot be tolerated in this country. As one person pointed out, you have to be either black or white - because the mental attitude of the common man is "you are either with us or against us".

Heh he... Smile

Maldives too busy to take note of Financial Crisis 2008

2008-10-17T04:34:00.006+06:00

IMF Reports that:

The world is going through the most dangerous financial crisis since the 1930s.

Coordinated global action is starting to reverse the tide of the financial crisis, but governments also need to "deploy all instruments" to limit damage to the real economy, IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn told world financial leaders meeting in Washington.

IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn also said that developing countries, "face reduced export demand and reduced access to trade credit."

Read more here

The Maldives with the highest per capita income in the region, and highly vulnerable by the impact on its "export demand" through tourism and fisheries, and almost negligible trade credit, does not seem to be able to take note of the approaching "tsunami" - if you will.

What are we doing about it? How do we bring this to the attention of the nation's leaders, who just appointed a Governor to the MMA who does not have any fiscal or monetary policy experience?

A Real Bad Habit...!

2008-10-15T23:13:00.002+06:00

I was on my was past Aminiya School, Chaandhanee Magu tonight, after a dinner with a visiting diplomat. I was smoking a cigarette as I walked past. At that moment, a young man walked up to me and quite politely asked, "can I have a light".

I looked at the young man and offered him the cigarette in my hand. He took it and I stopped, for him to take out his cigarette and light it. The young man did not stop, but just walked on and puffed on the cigarette and did not turn back, and walked on.

It was a shocking moment of truth. Truth, about life in Male' and its unique culture.

Why spread hatred of other religions!

2008-10-13T04:00:00.004+06:00

Tolerance is key to competitive coexistence in a global village. I am surprised our politicians do not understand the difference between being Muslims and being intolerant anti-Christian and anti-Buddist. For God's Sake, will someone open our eyes to the fact that all religions and people need to coexist. I am not saying that we should import Christianity or Buddism into this country. I am simply saying that we ought to show some respect; we have so many Christians and Buddists in our midst and working to build this nation. They don't hate Islam - atleast as far as we can see; why should we hate their faith. Let's just keep ours and inculcate and educate our young in the good of Islam.

When a bomb goes off in a place crowded with tourist we call "foul" and blame the extremists, but are we not fanning extremism in this country right now; and that too by leading politicians. How much better are we than the so called "terrorists".

Note: this post has been inspired by the recent attacks on faith in the local media.

Presidential Election: Was it democractic?

2008-10-12T01:54:00.003+06:00

Minivan News:

"Election-related legislation does provide the basic conditions for democratic elections,” the statement says, but it adds: “the requirement to meet unrealistic deadlines took precedence over good electoral practice.”

Read more about the Commonwealth Interim Statement here

Rayyithunge Ninmum: Furathama Buru

2008-10-12T01:39:00.002+06:00

Prosecutor General expresses concern...

2008-10-08T09:03:00.000+06:00

Child Abuse Watch Maldives:

The Prosecutor General has expressed conern over the delays at the Criminal Court, of the sexual abuse case of daughter by Adnan Hussain. He was formerly a director at the President's Office. The Prosecutor General's Office said that the case has been investigated and submitted to the Criminal Court for prosecution. PGO also said that the case was investigated and sent for prosecution on June 7th of this year. It also said that the concern over the delay has been taken up on two separate occasions with the Court.

Read more here

Go Vote... for what?

2008-10-08T02:29:00.003+06:00

Last night, I stopped by Alfresco on my way home. There were people gathered around the tables watching the campaign rally of Aneh Dhivehi Raajje on DhiTV. People at one of the tables started shouting filth as Dr. Mustapha Luthfy came on stage. They started with "elhaa vakikuree keevvekan engeytha!" It is always a crime to participate in political activity; for some. I clearly remember the disgrace the same man was subjected to by the champions of reform in the last parliamentary elections.

I wondered to myself, what is this democracy we have got! I sometimes wonder whether there is a need to go vote in this election. The majority seems to be hysterical if anything. Maybe there is a reason for it. There is always a reason for everything, to the minds of those who are looking for excuses.

It is true that a condition of a purposeful democracy is also civility and maturity of minds. We Maldivians have not matured to decent humanity. How can we ever have a democracy!

My friend told me that, it was however, important to go vote. Perhaps, he has been influenced by the Go Vote Campaign.

Congratulations... TVM!!!

2008-10-07T21:49:00.002+06:00

This afternoon just an hour before six oclock, TVM made history in the historic presidential elections to happen in Maldives on October 8th. The presentation of an individual profile of each presidential candidate and a closing statement for the campaign by each candidate was a very useful last step to th election campaign. It was impressive because the profiles of the candidates were informative, unbiased and fair by all means.

I believe TVM and its staff deserve a note of congratulations for standing out as an institution of integrity and unbiased reporting. Congratulations TVM!

And ... the winner is...!!!

2008-10-07T08:14:00.003+06:00

A friend of mine told me today about a very iteresting incident in a school poetry writing competition years back. This was the story.

There were a group of students who were attending a tutorial on poetry writing. On the day of the poetry competition, all students attending the tutorial were asked to submit two poems each. One of the senior students from the tutorial called up a junior student and asked for her help to write a second poem for him. He was very busy and could not compile a second poem. The girl willingly agreed. She composed a poem for her senior friend and the poem was submitted to the competition.

Then, on the day of announcing the winners, the senior student won the competition; and the poem for which he won the competition was actually composed by his much junior colleague. The girl clapped, smiling, as she watched the boy walk down from the stage with his head down. To this date, the winner of the competition is not the one who actually composed the poem.

The truth will not always win. And it is only some people who can digest the victory which is theirs - yet attributed to a more undeserving person.

Are we ready to face the reality? The winner may not always be the true champion after all. That is the real world! Reality sucks!

Free and Fair: What does that mean?

2008-10-07T04:47:00.006+06:00

Dr. Abdulla Waheed writes:

"... The last few months have been a rollercoaster ride for Maldivians with too much happening in too short a time. Let alone ordinary citizens, even parties and candidates have not been able to keep up with the pace, with many of them still to publicize their full manifestos. So the voters have not had the opportunity to make a full informed decision."

It is quite true that this election will not be free and fair. People have not been given space and time to make an informed decision. The elections commission is clearly undecided on the fairness of this election, if one is to take Commissioner Ali Faiz's comments seriously. He represents one of the major voting blocks of the people.

The fact that the independent election commission is made up of representatives from key political parties puts the fairness of this whole election and others during the transitional period into question.

So how can it be free and fair!

Read more of Dr. Waheed's post here

Rhetoric matures into Threats and Violence...

2008-10-06T03:16:00.004+06:00

The violence that has been expected before the first democratic elections under the new constitution has been instigated a fortnight before the elections and has matured into full-scale violence during the last three days; with signs of large scale escalation due to occur before the ill-fated October 8th in Male'.

Anni threatens Maumoon - MDP Office Attacked - Police condemn Monaza Naeem - MDP calls Foul-play - Thasmeen chased from Thulhaadhoo & the denial - DRP chased away from Maavah

Maldives National Defence Forces and the Maldives Police Services gave a joint briefing to the media to assure public that measures would be taken to maintain law and order in the run up to and beyond the elections. It is, however, unlikely that they have the resources, the infrastructure and a decisive leadership to contain a nation turning into a ruthless mob - fanned from within and all around.

Things are getting out of hand!

2008-10-05T03:08:00.005+06:00

Things are really gonna get out of hand, if the current sequence of events are to continue, in the ongoing "bahuge hamalaa" by the political parties involved in the upcoming presidential elections. There is so much hypocracy that nothing is impossible anymore. We may not have an October 8th.

When things fall apart, there will be really no need to find who the culprit was. It will be far too late and we would have tunneled ourselves into a head-on collision course with a fast train, as one anonymous comment to this blog earlier stated.

May Allah save this nation from those hungry for power.

Isthikharah Prayer before you act!

2008-10-03T15:20:00.004+06:00

Mohamed Muizzu has advised all Muslim voters in Maldives to do the Ishthikharah Prayer before the Voting Day... He writes:

After deciding on your choice of presidential candidate (whoever it is), who you think would be most capable of safeguarding and promoting the Islamic identity of the people and practically delivering as much as possible of what they have promised on their manifestos, I sincerely advise to pray the Isthikharah Prayer regarding that decision.

Read more here

Money is Honey No more!!!

2008-10-03T12:47:00.001+06:00

Dr. Abdulla Waheed writes:

The conventional wisdom till August this year was if one had enough 500 rufiyaa notes to distribute on Election Day, one was assured of victory. This doctrine however came for a severe hammering almost overnight with the lukewarm response Qasim Ibrahim received for his presidential bid. All of a sudden one started hearing comments such as, 'Qasim is a good businessman and philanthropist, but not the type of person we want as president." Does this herald a paradigm shift from the plutocratic politics of the past decade to party based politics?

He further writes:

Thus in the future we could perhaps expect a reduction in the number of business tycoons getting elected to the Majlis. This of course is merely a theory and needs verification in light of the results of March 2009 General Election.

Read more from Dr. Waheed here

"Nobody can give you freedom... If you are a man, you take it."

2008-10-03T11:52:00.001+06:00

Dr. Abdulla Waheed writes:

"The reform agenda is mine," President Gayoom pronounced to his rivals on TVM's Riyasee Suvaalu program. Technically speaking, if he was merely referring to the "Reform Agenda" he announced on 9 June 2004, he would be right. But if he was referring to the whole reform movement that is in motion since 2003, that's a different story altogether.

Read more here

Oooops!!! All can compete, except...

2008-10-03T01:26:00.008+06:00

The Supreme Court Decides:

That Maumoon can stand for
A first term of office as president
Under the new constitution
That his previous six terms
Cannot be counted
Under this constitution

That there is no proof
Beyond reasonable doubt
That Maumoon is not a Sunni

That Anni has not committed
A Hadhdh offense under Islam
That it has not been proven
Beyond reasonable doubt

These Verdicts were passed down
By the Supreme Court which has ruled
That they cannot be questioned or criticized

The very court that turned down
A plea, by one presidential hopeful
That imposing a further condition
(Not stated in the constitution)
To stand for president
Was wrong

When should one seek justice and when not!

2008-10-02T10:58:00.003+06:00

A day after Maumoon said that he will take those who have alleged he is not a Sunni Muslim to court, the Presidential Spokesperson and Maumoon's party colleague Mohamed Shareef has alleged that Hassan Saeed's campaign is funded by a Jewish billionnaire. Maumoon was furious when he spoke about it, for he was being falsely alleged of what he was not.

I think that the Presidential Spokesperson should take Hassan Saeed to court and prove his allegation.

Read Miadhu report here

Men and Men: Guardians of the Good

2008-09-29T03:56:00.002+06:00

In a moment of reflection, I could not just help wondering the great responsibilities that have come to the shoulders of the men and men who have been placed to kick-start the new constitution for the Maldivian people. The members of the election commission, the supreme court bench, the judicial services commission and others have on them, the onous to make the right decisions.

The difficult thing is that there is little precedence, institutional memory and wisdom that are a function of good decisions; for these institutions. They have to do a rush job and ensure that it is done democratically, fairly and correctly. There is no democratic culture in us, yet everyone expects these immature institutions to do a first-class job void of any flaws, and therefore will not accept anything short of their personal belief.

That is an unfathomable challenge that the men and men who make up these institutions are faced with today. I can only empathize with them.

Adaalath Party takes the elections to court

2008-09-26T14:37:00.007+06:00

Adhaalath Party which claims they do things the Islamic way, have taken the Elections Commission to the Supreme Court for accepting Maumoon's candidacy to stand in the upcoming presidential elections. Adhaalath claims that Maumoon is not a Muslim of a Sunni sect of Islam, when the constitution requires that one should belong to a Sunni sect.

Adhaalath is the institutional strength behind the Jumhooree Gulhun or Republican Coalition, whose presidential candidate is Villa Foundation Chairman Gasim Ibrahim. They have a considerable support base in the political landscape, by being the self-appointed guardians of Islam in the Maldives. Adhaalath type of Islam is fearful because they seemingly claim to have the authority to decide who is a Muslim and who is not. And the other is this prejudice that Sunni Muslims are more Muslim than others.

So what I see is a new type of Islam in the evolution phase. All my life, I had believed Islam to be one religion and a simple way of life which is dignified and caring, not one of greed and a hate-bashing institution of sheer lunacy. I still believe that Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance; not the type that is manifesting amongst us right now.

Jumhooree Party has not distanced itself from the court-case to prove that Maumoon is not a "proper" Muslim, thought they were quick to announce their shock and awe at the President of the Youth League of the party who lodged a complaint against Anni in the Supreme Court. Jumhooree spokesperson was highly apologetic whenever he mentioned the incident, and said that the party was going to expell the Youth League President from the party if he did not fall in line. He also seemed to be of the opinion that it should be the people and not the Supreme Court
Bench who decides a president.

Come to think of it, I think the fact that Anni could say "let the people decide" shows his trust and confidence in the people of this country to make the right decision. Clearly Adhaalath fears the people will make the wrong decision. They have no confidence in the wisdom of the people - people are ignorant and only the scholars know!

This action of Adhaalath which is clearly a unilateral action by Adhaalath and without the backing of their coalition partner, definitely shows the Adhaalath way of doing things. They cannot trust the majority to decide. What I cannot understand is that this so called democracy is not an Islamic institution and why are a religous party entagled in it.

Islam is becoming confusing (atleast when forced to believe that Adhaalath is its guardian); and so is democracy. I atleast thought I knew Islam.

You may also like to read the story as reported in Minivan and Miadhu

National Security Agencies are hurt!

2008-09-24T04:24:00.000+06:00

Recent rhetoric and accusations by presidential hopefuls Anni, Hassan and Ibra - pointing fingers at certain elements within national security agencies (Immigration, Customs, Police along with National Narcotics Control Bureau); has strongly hurt the big bosses who run these organizations and the agencies they head. There have been press releases claiming innocense and dignity. (I could not help wondering diginty and respect cannot be claimed but can only be earned. Look at TVM and Voice of Maldives).

Let's for arguments sake agree that ALL officers in all the national security agencies are good people unlike the rest of Maldivians. Then, the question is do we want good people who will come to us and give excuses - or do we want people who can protect our boaders and make this country free of widespread mayhem! I definitely don't care whether they are Muslims or Jews for that matter, as long as they can deliver; where good people are simply good - but ineffective and inefficient.

It is very immature of the presidential hopefuls to decide to "attack" the integrity of these national security agencies (and also by association perhaps even the MNDF) when these agencies combined are a critical voter base. And from the little I understand of human psychology, men and women in uniform have a "single-mind" and cannot appreciate diversity- for them these agencies are sacred and must be protected at any cost.

Related links:
Haveeru News Dhivehi

Forward Nation: The Project

2008-09-23T05:27:00.006+06:00

Our nation is outflowing with the manifestation of the real Maldivian (the person, not the airline).

My worst nighmare in forty two years have been the ridicule of Badheeaa (not the real name) in our neighborhood, who was a mentally ill person. That was the entertainment. Everyone seemed to enjoy when hooligans got her to do things that were "entertaining". This sadistic nature of the Maldivian has been the most hard to forget single experience that repeated all my life. We enjoy laughing at people, mocking at disadvataged people, making fun of the disabled and the rest. Therefore, it is not surprising to see the kind of manifestations that we are seeing today in the political arena.

Sadism is the single highest common factor of the Maldivian. Why else would the "mainstream" media interview "Moya Nasira" on aspects of political leadership, and make that the cover page!

I pray that when all this is over, there will be a project called "Forward Nation" (Gaumaaigen Kuriyah) which will inculcate some civility into the Maldivian. It is quite possible since people like Hilmy from the Classification Bureau of the Information Ministry (who are running the Project "Think Nation") are still likely to be around.

Dhivehinnnah heyo budhiyaai dhuruvisnun mivanarukuravvaashi!

2008-09-21T11:43:00.006+06:00

އާބާދީގެ ތިންބައިކުޅަ އެއްބަޔަށްވުރެން ގިނަމީހުން ތޮއްޖެހިފައިވާ އެއްރަށެއްގައި ދިރިއުޅޭ، އަދި ގައުމުގެ ޒުވާނުންގެ ތެރެއިން 12000 ށްވުރެ ގިނަމީހުން މަސްތުވާތަކެތީގެ ވަބާގައި ޖެހިފައިވާ، އުމުރުން ފަނަރައަހަރު ފުރުމުގެ ކުރިން ގިނަ އަންހެންކުދިންނަށް ޖިންސީގޮތުން ގޯނާއެއްކުރެވިފައިތިބޭ، ރައްޔިތުންގެ މައްޗަށް އޮންނަ މަދުބައެއްގެ ޚުދުމުޚުތާރު ވެރިކަމުގެ ސަގާފަތެއް އޮންނައިރުވެސް މިނިވަނުންކަމަށް ދައުވާކޮށް އެކަމަށްޓަކައި ފަޚުރުވެރިވާ ދިވެހިންނަށް އޮޅުވާލާ، ދަޅަދައްކާ، އަނދުން އަޅުވާލައިގެން ރައްޔިތުންނަށް ރަގަޅުގޮތެއް ބަޔަކު ހަދައިދީފިކަމަށް ހީވާގޮތަށް - ވަކިބަޔެއްގެ މަސްލަހަތު މުޅިން ހަމަޖެއްސުމުގެ ބޮޑު މަޝްރޫއަށް "ގާނޫނު އަސާސީ އިސްލާހު" ކުރުމުގެ ނަމުން ނަންދީ، އަލަށް ހެދި ގާނޫނު އަސާސީގެ ދަށުން ދުނިޔެ ސިއްސުވާލާނެ ނަމޫނާ ރިޔާސީ އިންތިޚާބެއް ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގައި ބޭއްވުމުގެ ތައްޔާރީތައް ހޭބޯ ނާރާ ހިނގަމުންދާ މަންޒަރަކީ ހާދަ ހިތްގައިމު މަންޒަރެކެވެ. ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު

އަވަސް އަރައިގަނެގެން ކުރުގަޅުވާލައިގެން ބާއްވާ އާގާނޫނުއަސާސީގެ ފުރަތަމަ އިންތިޚާބު (ރިއާސީ އިންތިޚާބު) ވެގެންދާނީ މައްސަލަތަކާއި ހަމަނުޖެހުންތަކުން ފުރިގެންވާ މިނިވަންކަމެއް ދިވެހިންނަށް ގެނެސްދޭނެ މަރުހަލާއަކަށް ވެދާނެކަމުގެ ކޮޅުމަތި މިހާރު މިދަނީ ފެންނަމުންނެވެ. ދިމާކުރުމާއި ފުރައްސާރަކުރުމުގެ އިންތިހާއަށް ކެމްޕެއިންގެ ކަންތައްތައް މިވަނީ ގޮސްފައެވެ. ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު

އަޅުގަޑުގެ ދުއާއަކީ ދިވެހިންނަށް ހެޔޮބުއްދިއާއި ދުރުވިސްނުން މާތްﷲ މިންވަރުކުރެއްވުމެވެ. ދިވެހިންނަށް މިފަހަކަށް އައިސް ދިމާވި ކޮންމެ ބޮޑުމުސީބާތަކުން ސަލާމަތްވެފައިވަނީ ﷲ ގެ ހެޔޮރަހުމަތްފުޅުންނެވެ. ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު

Dhivehinnaai Islaamdheen

2008-09-20T16:59:00.001+06:00

ދިވެހިންގެ މުސްލިމްކަމާއި އިސްލާމްދީން ދެކެ ވާ ލޯތްބަކީ ޝައްކެތްނެތް މިންވަރަށް ޔަގީން ކަށަވަރު ވެފައިވާ ކަމެކެވެ. އިސްލާމްދީން ނޫން ދީނެއް ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގައި އޮތުމަކަށް ދިވެހިން ބޭނުމެއް ނުވެއެވެ. އެއްވެސް ދިވެއްސަކީ އިސްލާމަކަށް ނޫން މީހަކަށް ވާކަށް ދިވެހިން ބޭނުމެއް ނޫނެވެ. ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގައި އޮންނަންވާނީ މަތިވެރިވެގެންވާ އިސްލާމްދީނުގެ މާތް ގޮތެވެ. އަދި ދިވެހިރާއްޖެއަށް އިސްލާމްދީން ނޫން ދީނެއް ދުވަހަކުކޮޅުންވިޔަސް އަޔަނުދިނުމަށް ދިވެހިން ތިބީ އަތުކުރި އޮޅާލައިގެންނެވެ. މިއީ ފޮނިވާހަކަތަކެވެ. ވަރަށް ހިތްގައިމު ހުވަފެންތަކެވެ. ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު

ދިވެއްސަކު ސެލޫނަކަށް ބޯކޮށަން ދިޔައެވެ. ޖެހިގެން އިންގޮޑީގައި ޖައްސާލީ ބުރުގާ އަޅައިގެން އިން އަންހެންކުއްޖެކެވެ. އޭނާ ބުރުގާނަގައިގެން ދިޔައީ ބޯދޮންނަ ގޮޑިއަށެވެ. ގޮސް އޮށޯތުމުން އޭނާގެ ބޯ ދޮވެދީފައި އޭނާ ގޮވައިގެން އައީ ފިރިހެނެކެވެ. ފުރަތަމަ މީހާ ތެދުވެގެން ދިޔައިރު، އަންހެންކުއްޖާގެ ބޯވަނީ ފިރިހެން ބޯކޮށާ މީހާގެ އަތުގެތެރޭގައެވެ. ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު

ދިވެއްސަކު ރާއްޖޭގެ ރަށަކަށް މަތިން ދާންވެގެން ޓިކެޓެއް ނެގިއެވެ. އޭނާ މާލެއިން ހުޅުލެއަށް ދާންޖެހެނީ 11 ޖަހާއިރަށެވެ. ހުކުރުދުވަހުގެ މެންދުރު 12 ޖަހާއިރު ހުޅުލޭ ޑޮމެސްޓިކް ޓާމިނަލުން ޗެކިންގ ކުރި މީހާ "ހުކުރުއަޅާފައި" ފުރައިގެންދާނެއެވެ. އެއީ އަދުގެ ހާލަތު އޮތްގޮތުން ދިވެހިންނަށް އޮތް މަޖުބޫރެވެ. އިސްލާމްދީނަށް ގަދަރުލިބޭ ގޮތަށް މިއަދަކު ކަންކަން ކުރެވޭކަށް ނެތެވެ. އެއީ ގާނޫނުއަސާސީހަދާއިރު ރައްޔިތުން ރުއްސަން އަދި ގައުމުގެ ނަން ރީތިކޮށްލަން ބޭނުންތެރި ހަތިޔާރެކެވެ. ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު

މާލޭގެ ފުރަތަމަ ސިޓީހޮޓާކަމުގައިވާ ހުޅުލޭ އައިލެންޑް ހޮޓަލުގައި އާންމުކޮށް ރާވިއްކާ ތަންތަން ހުރެއެވެ. އެތަނަކީ ދިވެހިންނަށް މާކެޓުކުރާ ތަނެކެވެ. ރިޒޯޓެއްގޮތަށް ރާއްޖެއަށް އަންނަ ފަތުރުވެރިންނަށް ހަމައެކަނި ކޭޓަރ ކުރާ ތަނެއް ނޫނެވެ. ފަތުރުވެރިއަކު އޭނާގެ އުފަންދުވަސް ފާހަގަކުރުމަށް ދިވެހިކާބަފައިންގެ އިހުގެ ދީން ކަމުގައިވާ ބުއްދާގެ ބުދެއް ގެނެސް ފަތުރުވެރިންނަށް އެކަނި ޚާއްޞަކުރެވިފައިވާ ތަނެއްގައި ބަހައްޓައިގެން ޕާޓީ ޒީނަތްތެރިކުރުމުން، ދިވެހިންނަށް އެކަން މައްސަލައަކަށްވީ ދީނަށް އޮތް ލޯތްބެއްގެ ބޮޑުކަމަކުން ނޫނެވެ. ދިމާކުރުމަށް ލިބުނު ރަގަޅު ފުރުސަތަކަށް ވީމައެވެ. ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު

ދިމާކުރުމަކީ އިސްލާމީ އުސޫލަކަށް ނުވިޔަސް އެއީ ދިވެހިއިސްލާމީ އުސޫލުގެ މައިތަނބެވެ. ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ކުރިމަގު ބައްޓަންކުރަން އަތުކުރި އޮޅާލައިގެން ނިކުމެތިބި ގައުމުގެ ލީޑަރުން އެގެންދަނީ ކުޑަކުދިންނާއި ޒުވާނުންނާއި މުޅިރައްޔިތުންނަށް އޭގެ ރިވެތި ނަމޫނާ ދައްކަމުންނެވެ. ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު

Rush Elections will be Undemocratic

2008-09-19T04:59:00.003+06:00

The Maldives boasted its August Constitution to be an exemplary work of liberal Islamic democracy - a first of its kind for the world. Elections for a new president under the new constitution was initially dragged at snail's speed and then rushed to meet the October 10th deadline imposed by the constitution. News laws have been put in place, along with the Elections Commission, Judicial Services Commission, the Supreme Court; and the Anti Corruption Board would be in place within the next few days.

Yet, fresh criteria of eligibility has been imposed for standing in the elections, by the first ever independent elections commission of the Maldives. This requirement passed into law asks independent presidential candidates to submit signatures of 1500 persons (to be collected within five days) who support their candidacy; which is a gross violation of the constitution according to famous lawyer Idham Muiz Adnan who has announced his desire to run the presidential race. Presidential candidate of Social Liberal Party, Ibra, has also said that he would challenge the legality of the October 8th Elections.

The Elections Commission has also given a period of just seven days, for those residing in islands other than their registered localities. This would be that for the first time in history, around 35000 people living in Male' - who are registered in other localities will have to do it within this short period of time. It is yet unclear how the process will be managed and meaningfully verified in such a rush manner.

If the past is anything to go by, it is very clear that a large number of people who reside in Male' and are registered to other localities will be denied their right to vote due to a technicality. Key officials argue that it would be the problem of the voters if they do not register themselves in time, and should be not be taken as the responsibility of the government and the state institutions including the parliament who claim they have become independent of the executive for the first time.

The major political parties, key government institutions and officials argue that this would be a free and fair election; and that these minor abnormalities cannot be avoided and should be accepted, in the true spirit of the new constitution and the democracy that it has brought alongwith.

The ordinary folk can only ponder at the "dictatorial and militant" nature of the parliament and the state institutions (compelled by the constitutions according to them) in the first few weeks immediately following the New Dawn to a true democracy. They seem to be far more "blind" to due process and democratic principles than the "dictatorship" that they replaced.

What a Shame! The people are a marginalized minority in the best interest of the political power brokers.

Running Mates and their Candidate's Pole Position

2008-09-18T16:42:00.002+06:00

Running mates are now almost in place for the presidential candidates who have announced their candidacy in the upcoming presidential elections. Maumoon first announced his running mate, Thasmeen Ali, who is very much of a loyalist to him and therfore a shadow to him. Then it was Gasim who made the announcement, Ahmed Ali Sawad, a PhD student who is new to the country and the reform and democracy movement, who simply makes Gasim himself the candidate and the running mate. It was followed by Hassan Saeed, who chose his friend and colleague Dr. Shaheed to run with him, putting forth more of an equal mate. Finally Anni announced Dr. Waheed, "the earlier reformist" who is "a well-know figure" and in a way a senior to him.

It would be interesting to see how the choice and the timing of the announcement of running mates affect the pole position of the candidates. The reality is that Maldivian political demography has matured, and however much a political figure is well-knowN or popular, is not any guarantee that will make it easier to sell him for a pole position - not anymore. It is those who can identify with, and merge with the pulse of the grassroots that would get votes. This has been very clear from the pictures emerging from the ever dynamic political landscape within the country, last three weeks or so. Though popularity and money will play a part, it would be substance and conviction that would lead the vote, in my opinion. I believe the will of the people will prevail, and that it would be an informed and calculated decision by the majority of the people. Who will win, depends on who can convince the people of this and build momentum upto October 8th.

Anni and Maumoon are believed in the pole position for now followed by Gasim and Hassan. Yet, the fast paced momentum of changes makes uncertainty the certainty of the day.

Presidential Elections are likely to happen before the Tenth

2008-09-17T20:47:00.004+06:00

The first presidential elections under the August 2008 constitution is now set to happen on October 8, 2008. However there's still doubt as to whether parliament will approve the list of Justices submitted to parliament by the president, who are to fill the Supreme Court bench.

Anni has also announced his running mate followed by Gasim who announced a complete "foreigner" to the political arena and government as his running mate. Anni's choice was political veteran Dr. Waheed who was the icon of reform and democracy in the form that we see today - way before it was a public outcry.

As the campaigns seem to mature from infancy, there are two things that the presidential hopefuls seem to be competing on; what they will do for the people and payback for their services and sacrifices to the nation and people in the past. Maumoon is asking to be reinstated for a further term to fulfill the objects of his services to the people for the last 30 years, Anni wants to be recognized for his contribution to reform and democracy, Dr. Waheed for his initiative in leading the reform mindset, Gasim for his philanthropy and love of the ordinary folk; and the rest do not seem to have anything they have given to the people that is worthy or reward.

What goes through my mind is - are we to choose a president to reward for his past contributions and based on a shopping list that cannot be verified for its feasibility in the rush that has been compelled by the "mindless" constitution? However, we have to agree that we have made great strides from where we were, in creating a democratic process and an environment that can facilitate nation building towards a true democracy. This election will definitely be marred by several shortcomings and blunders, but it is definitely better than a system that breeds dictatorial regimes.

The challenge to the Elections Commission would be to educate the people on the spirit and prinicples of a true democracy and the right of the people to choose.

As is now, it still seems more like let the best man standing win. It may not necessarily be on merits of leadership, vision, governance capabilities and ability to deliver in an ever challening and dynamic socio-economic environment. It will be an election which will be so fast paced that the following day will be an anti-climax as a wise friend told me.

Maldives Police Service responds to Presidential Candidate's accusations

2008-09-14T18:21:00.007+06:00

The Maldives Police Service has reacted to statements made by presidential candidate Hassan Saeed in a media apperance.

The Police response has specific references accusing the former Attorney General of corruption and use of his political office for personal gains. The Police response to Hassan Saeed's allegations, contained a list of counter allegations of his wrongdoings and an open threat that they will continue to dig up his shit if he doesn't fall in line.

The Maldives Police Service has so far not taken any legal action for the wrongdoings of Hassan Saeed but seem to keep the files just in case.

Migarunuge Bodu Khiyaanaaiy: Dhivehi Rayyithunnah

2008-09-13T00:03:00.006+06:00

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ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު

ދިވެހިންނަށް މިއަދު މިވަނީ އީދެއް އައިސްފައވެ. ދިވެހިންނަށް އާގާނޫނު އަސާސީއެއް ލިބިއްޖެއެވެ. ޒަމާނުއްސުރެ ވަކިބަޔަކު ރައްޔިތުންގެ މައްޗަށް ކުރަމުން އައި ވެރިކަމަށް ނިމުމެއް އަތުވެއްޖެއެވެ. ރައްޔިތުން މިހާރު ތައްޔާރުވަމުންދަނީ އާގާނޫނު އަސާސީގެ ދަށުން ބާއްވާ ފުރަތަމަ ރިއާސީ އިންތިޚާބު އޮކްޓޫބަރު 10 ގެ ކުރިން ބާއްވަންޖެހެއެވެ. ކަންބޮޑުވާންޖެހޭ ކަމަކީ، އާގާނޫނު އަސާސީގެ ދަށުން ބާއްވާ ފުރަތަމަ އިންތިޚާބަކީ މިނިވަން އަދުލުވެރި އިންސާފަކަށް ވުމުގެ ފުރުސަތު ގެއްލިފައިވާކަމެވެ. ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު

މިހަގީގަތަށް ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ސިޔާސީލީޑަރުންނާއި ދައުލަތުގެ ކަމާބެހޭ މުވައްސަސާތަކުންވަނީ ކަނުވެފައެވެ. ރައްޔިތުންނަށް ޑިމޮކްރަސީއެއްގެ ދަށުން ލިބެންޖެހޭ އެންމެ އަސާސީ ހައްގު ނިގުޅައިގަނެވިފައިވާކަން އެފަރާތްތަކަށް ނޭގެއެވެ. ނުވަތަ ތިބީ ޣާފިލުވެފައވެ. މިއީ ހިތާމައިގެ ކޮޅެއެއްނެތްކަމެކެވެ. އަޅުގަޑާއި ދިމާވާ ގިނަބޭފުޅުން ގަބޫލުކުރައްވާގޮތުގައި މިނިވަން އިންސާފުވެރި އިންތިޚާބަކަށް މިއިންތިޚާބު ނުވާންވީ އެއްވެސް ސަބަބެއް ނެތެވެ. ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު

އިންތިޚާބުގެ ކަންތައްތަކަށް ބަލާއިރު އެންމެ ކަންބޮޑުވާންޖެހޭ ކަމަކީ، އިންތިޚާބުތަކާބެހޭ އާންމުގާނޫނާ ރިއާސީ އިންތިޚާބާ ބެހޭ ގާނޫނު ނިމި، އެގާނޫނުތަކުގައިވާ ގޮތަށް ކަންކަން ފުރިހަމަކުރުމަށް އެކަށީގެންވާ ވަގުތު ލިބިދިނުމުގެ ފުރުސަތު ގާނޫނު އަސާސީން ބަންދުކޮށްފައިވާތީއެވެ. އެއީ ގާނޫނު އަސާސީ އެކުލަވާލި ފަރާތްތަކުގެ ތަންދޮރުނުދަތުމާއި ތަސައްރަފުނުފުދޭކަމުގެ ލާމަސީލު ހެއްކެކެވެ. ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު

އަދި ހަމައެއާއިއެކު، ރިއާސީ އިންތިޚާބަށް ކުރިމަތިލުމާއި އިންތިޚާބުގެ ކެންޑިޑޭޓުން އިއުލާނުކުރުމާއި ދެމެދު އޮތް ވަގުތުގެ ހަނިކަމުންވެސް ޖެނުއިން، ފްރީ އެންޑް ފެއަރ އިލެކްޝަނެއްގެ ޝަރުތުތައް ހަމަވާ އިންތިޚާބެއް ބޭއްވުމަށް ޖާގައެއް ނެތެވެ. ކޮންމެ ކަމެއް ކުރަންޖެހޭނީ އަވަސް އަރައިގަތުމުގެ ތެރެއިންނެވެ. ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު

ހަމައެގޮތަށް އިންތިޚާބަށް ކުރިމަތިލާފަރާތްތަކުގެ ހަރަކާތްތައް ކުރިޔަށް ގެންދެވޭނެގޮތުގެ އޮނިގަނޑެއް އެކަށައަޅާ އެއަށް ހުރިހާ ފަރާތްތަކުގެ ކޮމިޓްމަންޓު ހޯދާ އެއްބަސްކުރުވުމަށް ވެސް ފުރުސަތެއް ނެތެވެ. ހުރިހާ ފަރާތްތަކުން ހަމަހަމަގޮތެއްގައި ކެމްޕެއިންކޮށް ކެމްޕެއިނަށް ކުރާ ޚަރަދުތައް ދެނެގަނެ ބަލަހައްޓާނެ އިންތިޒާމެއް ވެސް ހަމަޖެއްސިފައެއް ނެތެވެ. މުޅި ރިއާސީ އިންތިޚާބު ފެންނަނީ ޒާތެއްގެ އަވާމެންދުރެއްގެ ސިފައިގައެވެ. ވޯޓުލާން ތިބި ރައްޔިތުން ވޯޓުގެ އިންތިޒާމުތަކާއި އިންތިޚާބުގެ ނިޒާމުގެ ސައްހަކަމާއިމެދު ހޭލުންތެރިކުރުވާ އިތުބާރު ލިބިދެވޭނެ ވަގުތެއްވެސް ނެތެވެ. ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު

ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ގައުމީ ޓީވީ އިން ކުރި ސާރވޭއެއްގައި ވޯޓުދިން ކޮންމެ ހަތަރުމީހެއްގެ ތެރެއިން ތިންމީހަކު، ކުރިޔަށް އޮތް ރިއާސީ އިންތިޚާބަކީ މިނިވަން އިންސާފުވެރި އިންތިޚާބެއްކަމުގައި ނުވާނެކަމަށް ގަބޫލުކުރާކަމަށް ދެއްކުން މިއީ މިކަމުގެ ލާމަސީލު ހެއްކެކެވެ. މިޚަބަރު ގެނެސްދިން އޮންލައިން އިނގިރޭސިބަހުންނެރޭ ނޫސް މިނިވަންނިއުސް އިން ބުނިގޮތުގައި، އިންތިޚާބުގެ ހޭލުންތެރިކަން އިތުރުކުރުމަށް މަސައްކަތްކުރާ "ގޯވޯޓް" ކެމްޕެއިންގެ ފަރާތުން ފާހަގަކުރާގޮތުގައި، އެފަރާތްތަކުގެ ހޯދުންތަކުން ދައްކާގޮތުން ގިނަބަޔަކު އިންތިޚާބުގެ އިންތިޒާމްތަކަށް އިތުބާރެއް ނުކުރެއެވެ. ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު

އަދި މިހާތަނަށް އެތައް ރަށަކަށް ޒިޔާރަތްކޮށްފައިވާ ގޯވޯޓް ކެމްޕެއިންއިން ހާމަކޮށްފައިވާ ގޮތުގައި، ޕާޓީތަކަށް ރަޖިސްޓްރީވެފައިވާ ގިނަމީހުން ގަބޫލުކުރާގޮތުގައި އެމީހުން ވޯޓުލާންޖެހޭނީ އެމީހުން ނިސްބަތްވާ ޕާޓީން ތާއީދުކުރާ ކެންޑިޑޭޓަކަށެވެ. މިނޫނަސް، ވޯޓުލާންދާ ރައްޔިތެއްގެ އޮންނަންޖެހޭ އަސާސީ މިނިވަންކަމަށް ހުރަސްއަޅާ އެތައްކަމެއް އޮތީ ރަގަޅުކުރަންޖެހިފައެވެ. އެހެންނަމަވެސް، ޑިމޮކްރަސީގެ މިމުހިންމު އަސާސްގެ މަތިން ހަނދާންނެތިކޮށްލާ، ސިޔާސީ ޕާޓީތަކުންނާއި ސިޔާސީލީޑަރުން އަވަދިނެތި އެއުޅުއްވަނީ ކެމްޕެއިން ކުރެއްވުމުގައެވެ. ކޮންމެ ގޮތަކުންވިޔަސް ވެރިކަން ހޯދުމަށެވެ. ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު

ވެރިކަން ބޭނުންވާ މީހުންގެ މިސިފަޔަކީ ދެބަސްވެވެން ނެތް ހަގީގަތެއްކަމުން، ދުނިޔޭގެ ޒަމާންވީ ޑިމޮކްރަސީތަކުން، މިނިވަން އިންސާފުވެރި އިންތިޚާބުތައް ބޭއްވޭނެގޮތް ދިރާސާކޮށް އެކަމުގެ އަސާސްތަކާއި އުސޫލުތައް ކަނޑައަޅާފައި ހުރެއެވެ. އެހެންނަމަވެސް، ދިވެހިރައްޔިތުންގެ މައްޗަށް ވެރިކަން ހިންގުމުގެ ވިސްނުމުގައި ތިބި މީހުން އަދިވެސް ރައްޔިތުންގެ ހައްގުތަކާމެދު ވިސްނާކަމަކަށް ނުފެނެއެވެ. ދާދިފަހުން ހުވާކުރި އިލެކްޝަންސް ކަމިޝަނަރުންވެސް، އިންސާފުވެރި އިންތިޚާބެއް ބޭއްވިދާނެތޯ ބަލާފައި އޮތްކަމަކަށް ނުފެނެއެވެ. ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު

އިންތިޚާބުގެ ކަންތައް އިންތިޒާމުކޮށް ހިންގާނެ ބަޔަކު ހޯދާ ތަމްރީނުކުރުމުގެ މަސައްކަތް މުޅިރާއްޖޭގައި އެންމެ ތިންހަފުތާގެ ތެރޭގައި ނުކުރެވޭނެކަން ކޮންމެ ދިވެއްސަކަށް އެނގޭނެއެވެ. އަދި ކޯޓުތަކުގެ ގާޒީންނާއި ފަނޑިޔާރުންނަށް ލިބިދޭންޖެހޭ ކަމާގުޅޭ މައުލޫމާތާއި ތަމްރީނުތައް މިއޮތްކުރުމުއްދަތުގެ ތެރޭގައި ނުކުރެވޭނެއެވެ. ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު

އިންތިޚާބަށް ނުސީދާގޮތުން ޚަރަދުކޮށް ނުފޫޒުފޯރުވާ ފަރާތްތަކުގެ ކަންތައްތައް ބަލަހައްޓާނެ ނިޒާމެއް ގާއިމެއް ނުކުރެވޭނެއެވެ. މީޑިޔާއިން އިންތިޚާބުގައި އަމަލުކުރާނެ އުސޫލުތައް ކަނޑައަޅާ، ހުރިހާ ކެންޑިޑޭޓުންނަށް ހަމަހަމަ ފުރުސަތު ލިއްބައެއް ނުދެވޭނެއެވެ. މިހެންގޮސް، ތިންހަފުތާގެ ތެރޭގައި ނުކުރެވޭނެ ކިތަންމެ ކަމެއް އެބައޮތެވެ. ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު

އެހެންކަމުން، އޮކްޓޫބަރު 10 ގެ ކުރިން ބާއްވާ ރިޔާސީ އިންތިޚާބުވާނީ ރައްޔިތުންނަށް ވެވޭ މިގަރުނުގެ ބޮޑު ޚިޔާނާތައެވެ. މިއީ އޮގަސްޓް 7 ގައި ތަސްދީގުކުރި ގާނޫނު އަސާސީން ދިވެހި ރައްޔިތުންނަށް ވެފައިވާ ބޮޑު ޚިޔާނާތެކެވެ. ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު

Dhivehin: Minivan Insaafuveri Inthikhaabakun Mahuroom Kurevifai thibi Rayyitheh!

2008-09-12T03:43:00.007+06:00

ދިވެހިންނަށް ޒަމާނީ ޑިމޮކްރަސީއެއް ގެނެސްދިނުމަށްޓަކާ އިސްލާހުކުރި، އާގާނޫނު އަސާސީގެ ދަށުން ބާއްވާ ފުރަތަމަ ރިއާސީ އިންތިޚާބަކީ މިނިވަން އިންސާފުވެރި އިންތިޚާބެއްގެ ޝަރުތުތައް ފުރިހަމަނުވާނެ އިންތިޚާބެކެވެ. އަޅުގަޑުގެ މިވިސްނުމަށް ޖަދަލުކުރައްވަން ބޭނުންފުޅުވާ ބޭފުޅުންނަށް، ޖެނީވާގައި ހުންނަ، އިންޓަރޕާލިމެންޓަރީ ޔުނިއަން ގެ ޕަބްލިކޭޝަން (2006) ފްރީ އެންޑް ފެއަރ އިލެކްޝަންސް ވިދާޅުވުމަށް އަޅުގަޑު ދައުވަތު އަރުވަމެވެ. އަދި އޮސްޓްރޭލިޔާގެ ވިކްޓޯރިއާ ޕާލަމަންޓް ގައި ވިޒިޓިންގ ޕްރޮފެސަރ ޑރ. ފްރެޑް ފްލެޗަރ، 20 ޖޫން 2007 ގައި ފްރީ އެންޑް ފެއަރ އިލެކްޝަންސް: ރެގިއުލޭޝަންސް ދެޓް އެންޝުއަރ އަ ފެއަރ ގޯ މިމައުޟޫއުގެ މައްޗަށް ދެއްކެވި ވާހަކަފުޅުގެ ލިޔުން ބައްލަވާލެއްވުމަށް ދައުވަތު އަރުވަމެވެ. ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު

Political Unpreparedness: Dearth of Acceptable Running Mates!

2008-09-11T03:08:00.008+06:00

I toyed with the idea of Anni and Maumoon running as a team in the upcoming presidential elections; anyone of them could have been running mate to the other. That was in February of this year. But then, Maumoon announced his running mate in August just before ratifying the new constitution of the country.

Since then, there seems to have been a dearth of acceptable leaders for choosing as running mates. None of the presidential hopefuls have been comfortable in announcing a running mate to team up with, for the presidential race. I am confused by this undecidedness and lack of posture. Some would call it political tactic, but I would not.

Anni had opposition from his party ranks for appointing a woman to be his running mate, solely for the sake of Islam. They held their beliefs in faith over the constitution. That is to be expected where religion comes above all. Anni was to have announced a running mate at the formal launch of his presidential campaign, but felt shy of it. With less than three weeks in any practical terms, (provided the parliament can complete the marathon to the deadline of passing the electtoral bills and appointing a supreme court bench); to meet the constitutional deadline for holding elections; Anni has still not even hinted at a possible running mate.

Tonight, Jumhooree Party held a special ceremony at Dharubaaruge, which was seemingly to announce Gasim's running mate; he too felt shy of it. There was widespread speculation and several pointers in the media to the effect that Munavvar would be Gasim's running mate. Yet, he gave an unprecented campaign speech and then apologized for a "strategic" delay to the announcement.

Hassan Saeed, Ibra and Umaru have all been saying that they would be announcing strong persons as their running mates. Yet, seem to be shying away from making an announcement too. Media reports of a statement by MDP acting president Ibrahim Hussain Zaki, of an invitation to Hassan Saeed to join with a party - seemed to point to a possibility of him becoming Anni's running mate! It could be the next "big bang" of the dynamic political reality in the Maldives, after tonight's failed announcement.

The big question is the reasons that's holding these leaders from making such a simple announcement. I am sure those who have far reaching plans for the country for a five year term, must have seriously thought about the delivery mechanisms. How can that be true, if they are not sure of the team who would deliver it; let alone a possible vice president.

The underlying fact seems to be nothing but political immaturity. I sincerely hope that these presidential hopefuls would be more collected, composed and decided. Otherwise there's no need for a race that would lack decisiveness even at the first step by all but one of the contenders.

A disappointing announcement at the last minute cannot be a strategic decision!

Verikan Thaa Abadhah Nimumakah Aee!

2008-09-09T03:48:00.007+06:00

ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ރައްޔިތުންގެ މައްޗަށް ވެރިކަން ހިންގާނެ ބަޔަކު ތިބެގެން ރައްޔިތުންގެ މައްޗަށް ވެރިކަން ހިންގުމުގެ ދުވަސްތަކުގައި ސިއްކަޖަހާ، ވެރިންގެ އަޅުވެތިކަމުން ރައްޔިތުން ސަލާމަތްވި ދުވަސްކަމުގައި ތާރީޚުގައި ލިޔެވުނު ދުވަހަކީ 7 އޮގަސްޓް 2008 އެވެ. އެއީ ދިވެހިންނަށް އިސްލާހާއި ޑިމޮކްރަސީގެ ބޭނުންޖެހިގެން ފުޅާދާއިރާއެއްގައި ފެށުނު ހަރަކާތުގެ ފޮނިކާމިޔާބީގެ ފެށުން މާތްﷲ ދިވެހިންނަށް މިންވަރު ކުރެއްވި އުފާވެރި ދުވަހެވެ. ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު

މިއަދު އަޅުގަޑުމެން ދެކެމުން މިދަނީ އާސަރުކާރެއް ރައްޔިތުންނަށް ގެނެސްދިނުމުގެ ފުރުޞަތަށް އެދި ރައްޔިތުންގެ ކިބައިން ސަލާންޖަހަމުން ގެންދާ ދިވެހި "ފަހުލަވާނުންތަކެއް" އަތުކުރި އޮޅާލައިގެން އެކަމުގައި ހޭބޯނާރާ އުޅޭތަނެވެ. ރައްޔިތުންނަށް ކޮށްދޭނެ ކަންތައްތަކުގެ ވައުދުތައްވަމުންނެވެ. ކޮންމެ މީހަކުވެސް، ގައުމަށާއި ރައްޔިތުންނަށް ކޮށްދޭނެ ގިނަ އާކަންތައްތަކެއްގެ ވާހަކަދައްކަމުން ގެންދާތަނެވެ. ދެވަނައެއްނެތް ފެންވަރުގައި ލިބިދޭނެ ބައިނަލްއަގުވާމީ ފެންވަރުގެ ބޭސްފަރުވާއާއި ތައުލީމާއި ބޯހިޔާވަހިކަމާއި ވަޒީފާގެ ފުރުސަތުތަކާއި މުޅިން އާ އާބާދީތަކުގެ ވާހަކައެވެ. ތަނަވަސްކަމާއި ތިޔާގިކަން ހޯދާދޭނެ ވާހަކައެވެ. ރައްޔިތުންނަށްޓަކައި ވެރިކަން ކޮށްދޭން ބޭނުންވާ ވާހަކައެވެ. ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު

އެކަމަކު މިމީހުންގެ ވާހަކަތަކަށް ވިސްނާލުމުން ކަންބޮޑުވާންޖެހޭ ކަމެއް އެބަވިސްނެއެވެ. ވެރިކަން ކުރާނެ ވާހަކަ ދައްކާތީއެވެ. ރައްޔިތުންނެއް މިއަދު ވެރިންނެއް ބޭނުމެއް ނޫނެވެ. ރައްޔިތުން ބޭނުންވަނީ ރައްޔިތުންނަށް ޚިދުމަތްކުރާނެ ސަރުކާރެކެވެ. ރައްޔިތުންގެ ބޭނުންތައް ހާސިލުކުރުމުގެ ފުރުސަތުއޮތް އިގުތިސާދީ، އިޖުތިމާއީ، ތައުލީމީ، އިމްރާނީ މާހައުލެއް ބިނާކޮށްދީ؛ ރައްޔިތުންނަކީ ފުދުންތެރި ގާބިލު ރައްޔިތަކަށް ހަދާދޭނެ އިހުލާސްތެރި، އިންސާފުވެރި ސަރުކާރެކެވެ. ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު

ސަލާންޖެހުމާއި އާދޭސްދެންނެވުމާއި ފައިންޕުޅުދުށުމަކީ ވެރިކަމެއްގައި ބިންވަޅުނެގިފައިވާ ސިފަތަކެވެ. ރައްޔިތުންނަށް ޚިދުމަތްކުރަން ރައްޔިތުންހޮވާ ސަރުކާރެއްގެ ސިފަތަކެއް ނޫނެވެ. އެސަރުކާރަކުން ޖެހޭނީ ރައްޔިތުންނަކީ ފުދުންތެރި ގާބިލުބަޔަކަށް ހަދާދޭށެވެ. އިމްރާނީ، އިގުތިސާދީ، އިޖުތިމާއީ ތަރައްގީ ގެންނާނީ ފާގަތިކަމާއި ފުދުންތެރިކަމުން ބާރުވެރިވެފައިތިބި ރައްޔިތުންނެވެ. ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު

ސަރުކާރުގެ ވެރިކަން ނިމުމަކަށް އަންނަންޖެހޭނެއެވެ. ނޫންނަމަ، އެތައްއަހަރަކާއި އެތައް މިލިޔަން ހަރަދުކޮށްގެން، ދިވެހިން ހެދި ގާނޫނު އަސާސީގެ ބޭނުމެއް ނެތެވެ. ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު

Dhivehinnah Ithubaareh neiykamah bunun!

2008-09-08T02:52:00.008+06:00

ދިވެހިރައްޔިތުންގެޕާޓީ - ޑީއާރުޕީ އާއި ދިވެހިރައްޔިތުންގެ ޑިމޮކްރެޓިކް ޕާޓީ - އެމްޑީޕީ ގެ ކުރީގެ ޕާލިމެންޓޭރިއަނުންނާއި އިސްސަފުގެ އެކްޓިވިސްޓުންގެ ތެރެއިން ބަޔަކު ހިމެނިގެން ވުޖޫދަށް އައި ޖުމްހޫރީޕާޓީ ނުވަތަ ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ރިޕަބްލިކަން ޕާޓީ އުފެދި ހަރަކާތްތެރިވާންފެށި މަންޒަރު އެއީ ބަދަލުވަމުންދާ ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ސިޔާސީ ހަރަކާތުގެ ފޮރުވިފައިވާ ފަތްފުށްތަކުގެ ފަހު ސަފުހާކަމުގައި އަޅުގަޑު ހީކުރީމެވެ. އެހެންނަމަވެސް، ދިވެހިންނަށް ރައްޔިތުން އިތުބާރުނުކުރާތީކަމަށް ދޭހަވާގޮތަށް ވިދާޅުވެ، ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ސްޕްރީމްކޯޓަށް ބޭރުގެ ފަނޑިޔާރުން އައްޔަނުކުރުމަށް ޑީއާރުޕީއަށް ހުށަހަޅުއްވާފައިވާނެކަމަށާއި އެކަމަށް ތާއީދުކުރައްވާނެކަމަށް އެމްޑީޕީން ބުނުން ވެގެންދިޔައީ، އަދިވެސް ފޮރުވިފައިވާ ހަގީގަތްތަކެއް ހުރެދާނެކަމަށް ވިސްނަން މަޖުބޫރުވިކަމަކަށެވެ. ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު

ދިވެހި ގްރާސްރޫޓްގެ ވިންދުން ހަރަކާތްތެރިކަމުގެ ބާރުލިބިގެން ސިޔާސީމައިދާނުގައި ހަރަކާތްތެރިވާކަމަށް ވާހަކަދެކެވޭ ޕާޓީގެ އިސްސަފުން، ދިވެހިންގެ ތެރޭގައި ގައުމުގެ އިސްމުވައްސަސާތަކަށް ގާބިލު އަދި ރައްޔިތުން އިތުބާރުކުރާ މީހުން ނެތްކަމަށް ބުނުމުން ހިތަށް ވަދެގެންދިޔައީ، އެމެރިކާއިން އިރާގަށް އަރާ ބާތިސްޓުން ނެތިކޮށް ގައުމުން ފުހެލުމަށް ފެށިހަރަކާތުގެ މަތީންނެވެ. އެއީ ހަގީގަތްކަމުގައި އެމްޑީޕީގެ ޕާލަމެންޓްރީ ގްރޫޕަށް ފެނިވަޑައިގަތްކަން އެއީ ކަންބޮޑުވާންޖެހޭ އަދި ކޮޅުނެތްކޮޅަށް ހިތާމަކުރަންޖެހޭ ކަމެކެވެ. އެބޭފުޅުންގެ މިވިސްނުން، އަލުން މުރާޖައާކުރައްވާ ބަދަލުކުރައްވާނެނަމައެވެ. މިގައުމުގެ ކަންކަން ނިންމަން މިގައުމުގެ ރައްޔިތުންނަށް ދޭނެ ބަޔަކަށް މިގައުމު ބޭނުންވެއެވެ. ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު

Our Beloved President

2008-09-07T15:56:00.002+06:00

What should he do to us
What should he do for us
What should he do about us

Do we want him to fool us
Do we want him to rule us
Do we want him to enable us

Should he be of yester years
Should he be from the future
Should he have a vision of hope

We would be fools; to be ruled
We should learn from the past;
We should define the purpose of our hope

Thihandhaan Remix: the first show this Ramazan

2008-09-07T02:10:00.006+06:00

I just finished watching "Thihandhaan Remix" on TVM. The show was one of the most pleasant moments to me - every second of it, in the recent past. It was one of the few instances when I had good reason to feel happy as a Maldivian. It was beautiful, it was pleasant, it was soothing, it was more than just a show. It brought happiness and delight beyond everyday moments.

TVM has made numerous strides in infortainment and entertainment in the recent past. The show tonight dignified the local artists and local talent. The opening song of the show was in a class by itself. All the singers and the songs were a worthy heritage to our culture. I would reckon that it will be worth your while to buy an audio of the show from Charlie music shop.

I am sure that the success and the mega achievement has been years in the making. There would have been days and nights of hard work, energy and effort behind that show which was such a great event.

Thanks to Mohamed Asif (the Executive Producer of the show) and all the TVM brains and hands behind the event! Congratulations!

A week and three years of blogging!

2008-09-07T02:10:00.005+06:00

Today is a week and three years since I started blogging. My first blog was on MSN Spaces and the my first blog post was on August 31, 2005 - inspired by the book How to Have a Beautiful Mind by Edward de Borno.

Since, I forgot the password to my space and started a second blog on Windows Live Spaces on February 27, 2006. I blogged about everything and did some poetry too, inspired by various events and incidents in my life.

Later, I started blogging here on August 28, 2007. I have managed to keep blogging and be more active since. I would like to thank those who have visited this blog and posted their comments to my thoughts and opinions. I believe that it is the sharing of thoughts and experiences that enriches human lives, enhancing one's values and principles and creating the opportunity to re-evaluate them.

This past year has been a fascinating experience with over 300 posts on blogspot alone. During the year I have also made numerous comments on the Information Minister's personal blog (when he has not censored my comments, as has been the case recently for my stand on the ongoing transitional phase of the constitution in progress).

I thank all!

The Prosecutor General and the new Democratic Parliament

2008-09-06T02:08:00.002+06:00

Miadhu News Online has reported that the first ever Prosecutor General has been appointed by the President on Thursday with the approval of parliament. Miadhu repots:

During the Majlis debate on Muizzu's nomination many members said he is eminently qualified for the post in view of his very illustrious record of service professionalism and integrity. They expressed confidence in Muizzu and said they hope Muizzu's appointment would greatly serve the purpose and objectives of an independent Prosecutor General. But one member expressed concern about his relationship with the President. Read more here

I was at home Thursday night and happened to watch the recorded session of parliament that day on TVM. What I saw was pathetic. Members of a certain faction in parliament went about recklessly to condemn and degrade Muizzu. They went as far as dragging his father unwarrantly into the debate on the Prosecutor General's remuneration!

The debate was shameful as it was an unfounded attack on the character of one of the few decent people in this country and that by people whose dingnity and integrity is questionable. The bottomline I could derive was that the purpose of our new constitution and the spirit of the liberal democracy which we so cherished has been defeated in its tracks.

This Ramazan: a month of Fasting, Feasting and bloody Feuds

2008-09-01T02:06:00.004+06:00

Maldivians embrace the month of Ramadan (fasting) on Monday. Maldivians are Muslims by a constitutional decree. The country should be led by a government whose cabinet members and the Chief Executive (the President) must belong to the Sunni Muslim sect. The constitution does not limit citizenship to Sunni Muslims but limits the highest offices of government to those belonging to the Sunni sect. The proponents of the constitution argue that this is a model liberal democracy for Muslim states. This fasting month is the first time Maldivians will fast under a constitution that is labelled an Islamic Liberal Democracy.

Maldivians will embrace the teachings of Prophet Mohammadh (PBUH) in the mosques and their daily lives during the fasting month. That is what we claim. But the transformation of society and a lack of focused human development means that the nation who should be Sunni Muslims across the board will embrace a month of fasting by the day, feasting by night, and engage in bloody feuds day and night. Most of the "delicacies" of daily life during the month of Ramadan will be quite un-Islamic let alone un-Sunni.

To make matters worse, the eight hundred and sixty fortieth month that Maldivians will be fasting as Muslims, and the first month of fasting under the new constitution will also be a month of mud-slinging and character-assassination by political opponents which is quite contrary to the Teachings of the Almighty delivered to the Human Race through Prophet Mohammadh (PBUH).

Islam is the religion of peace and respect, but that would be non-existent in the Maldives for this holy month.

And the winner is ... ?

2008-08-30T01:50:00.003+06:00

Gasim Ibrahim launched his campaign for the presidential bid Friday night with a series of unprecedented promises to make a turnaround for the ordinary people of the Maldives. Gasim's campaign gives the presidential race an ultimate high with the more serious candidates now forced to look to the future rather than bickering of the past.

Gasim's presidential bid also means that Maumoon and Anni are shaken at the roots for a guarantee of the seat of President. The campaigns of both of them had turned serious and more focused with the final announcement by Gasim to run for the presidency. Anni has recently made an unprecedented turn around with a lighter heart and a more wholesome and inclusive approach to leadership. Maumoon's campaign team seem to be stuck with the past, and still not able to get out of a coma of vengeance, just as Anni showed he has matured out of it.

It is very clear that the race is going to be fought neck-to-neck only by three - Anni, Gasim and Maumoon; provided Hassan is not able to gain momentum in his tracks. Hassan's presidential bid lacks committed institutional support which may see him pushed out of the line-up of serious front runners in the race.

While each of the men seem to be giving it their best shot to convince the nation that he is the most capable and trustworthy candidate, Anni seems to have shown the ability to bring the most drastic changes to how the people perceive him. He has shown that he is worthy of respect by his fellow opponents as well!

And the winner is ..... ?

The New Elections Commission

2008-08-23T21:51:00.003+06:00

Minivan News reported:

Nominations for the new, independent elections commission closed Tuesday, with all seven eligible political parties submitting names.With three of the registered parties supporting incumbent President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, the largest opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) had previously expressed concerns over the independence of the commission.

END Qoute... read more here.

Parliament will decide on the names submitted by political parties to elect the Elections Commission consisting of five commissioners. This transitional Elections Commission would oversee the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections slated for October this year and early next year.

The names have been submitted. There is strong evidence that the majority of names submitted by the parties to the commission consists of party line nominations rather than those holding independent political views. It will be argued that this cannot be avoided due the smallness of the size of the country.

One fact that struck me was that the list of nominees from the parties did not contain a single female nominee. It just goes to show how the political leadership can think in unison despite their differences.

Choosing a President!

2008-08-19T12:48:00.002+06:00

Maumoon served for thirty years as President. He wants the people to reward his leadership with his election to be the first president under the new constitution. Anni fought for democracy in this country. He would like the people to recognize his services and give him the opportunity to be the next president. Gasim has been a generous philanthropist. He would like the feeling of gratitude to turn into votes to become president. Hassan Saeed expedited the reform process and contributed to the paradigm shift. He wants the people to give him a chance to lead them as the next president. Waheed was the play maker in standing up to the government before the momentum picked up for reform and democracy. He would like the people to appreciate his efforts by electing him as president. Ibra led MDP, the heart and pulse of the opposition as its first leader, and would like to be the first president of the nation too, under the new constitution.

The question is, how do I decide who to vote for! Should I vote to repay a candidate for his past contributions to the country and to me personally or based on my personal relationship to him? Is there a yard stick to measure who is the best candidate to vote?

Should I look to the past or the future? How can I decide who is best fit to lead the future? What questions should I ask? How shall I find the answers?

Democracy and Dignity

2008-08-18T02:27:00.003+06:00

Sunday afternoon I was in my regular coffee house for a quick bite and a hot milo. There were a couple of anti-Jumhooree Party activists who were gathered around two tables. The topic of discussion was the upcoming presidential elections. Their joy was calling names and filth at Gasim Ibrahim. I wondered to myself, I may not promote or campaign for him in the upcoming presidential elections, but he deserved better for his generosity to the ordinary folk of this country. Some even went to the extent of saying that his recent wealth was created from a World Bank loan which conditioned him to give social welfare assistance, and asked around for people who did not receive any.

My my! We Maldivians are practising for the month of Ramazan! My cafe colleagues also believe that Islam is their religion and would rise to any occassion to defend it - not practise it!

I was reminded of the gist of what Human Rights Commission Chief Saleem said in an interview two days ago, on TVM. He said that there can be no democracy without human rights, and the sum total of human rights was respect for other humans. He did say that democratic culture was a set of values inculcated in people over a long period of time, not an overnight phenomenon. How true I thought! Our champions of democracy were behaving like uncivilized barbarians!

Election Promises and Housing Policies

2008-08-15T07:44:00.005+06:00

The day before August 12, MDP presidential candidate Anni announced his housing policy, addressing an audience gathered at the site of the temporary shelters for tsunami victims, in Gaaf Alif Villingili. On the 12th, he briefed the media on his housing policy which seeks to provide adequate permanent housing to to over 5000 persons displayed by the 2004 tsunami who still live in temporary shelters.

The day after, on August 13, Hulhumaale Development Corporation announced that it would open applications for 488 flats to be completed in February next year. The government has announced that it would roll out 1500 flats in the next three years. This would cater to over 12,000 families who live in either slum conditions or "unaffordable" rent in Male'.

Dr. Hassan Saeed's housing policy states that (social) security depends on (affordable) housing. He has said that his housing policy would seek to establish a mechanism that would provide affordable housing to all Maldivians and facilitate a housing finance scheme for new home owners. He has proposed to build 5000 - 8000 flats in selected islands, and that the schemes would not seek to make a profit and that having children or being married would not be made an eligibility criteria for housing.

The government has no clear housing policy that is adequate to cater for the needs of the people, and the DRP presidential campaign has not announced a housing policy that they would implement should the people elect their candidate to lead the next government.

Anni in his press conference to brief the media on his housing policy, said that; a government of his would seek to provide affordable decent housing to all Maldivians and also to provide construction materials for social housing at an affordable rate, and provide soft loans through housing finance. Anni also said that he would develop a land use plan in consultation with the people.

The majority of the Maldivian people - tsunami victims and the rest alike; continue to live in slum conditions and will continue to do so until there is sincerity in delivery of the noble policies that are being promised and would be promised by presidential hopefuls. Such sincerity in action is hard to come by, as it would badly affect the house-owners (nearly 20% of Male' population) who live a luxurious life on income from rented properties.

Jumhooree Party who has announced that it would compete in the upcoming presidential elections is yet to announce its candidate in the race or its housing policy.

Who are you voting for?

2008-08-14T01:39:00.001+06:00

Day before yesterday, a friend sent me a text which simply read, "... who are you voting for?"

I had a simple answer, "Undecided. Want to see who is most likely to give the people the best deal. I will make my deicision on Decision Day. I am closely watching Anni, Hassan and Maumoon. It is likely to be one of them unless Gasim can convince he will serve the greater public good."

It is going to be a difficult decision, but one that I will take; because I choose to vote!

Emerging New Maldives: A dynamic political landscape

2008-08-12T06:15:00.001+06:00

When I walked out of Alfresco - STO Trade Centre quadriangle cafe, I wondered to myself at the uniqueness of Maldives. We are a nation who embraced a multi-party democracy almost overnight. We struggled, but the momentum was short lived. There was little bloodshed and minimum suffering by a minority at best, during the peak two years of transition from an independent nation which was an Egyptian style democracy to a multi-party Muslim liberal democracy.

It was there, but the reform movement gained momentum with the death of Maafushi Jail inmate Eevan Naseem who was beaten to death by the National Security Service men and the firing on inmates that followed. Later, during the 2003 Presidential elections in October of the same year, the Maldivian Democratic Party registered in exile in Colombo as the country's opposition party. However, Maumoon was elected to the Office of President with an overwhelming majority. The opposition to his regime grew in numbers and culminated in the August 12-13, 2004 "Black Friday Uprising" which suffocated the National Security Service to a surprise death almost. It was followed by Emergency Rule under Article 144 of the constitution which saw the mass imprisonment of the opposition. Later on Boxing Day, the country was hit by the Indian Ocean tsunami which gave cause for the President to pardon all the detainees.

The opposition movement grow and MDP was synonymous with the opposition to "dictator" Maumoon. The freedom of assembly and criticism of the government allowed enmasse by the government for the first time in the history of in June 2004, gained momentum in 2005 and the government allowed political parties during the same year, under a presidential decree.

MDP - the largest opposition group, was the first political party to be registered followed by DRP - the party of the President and the members of his cabinet and their supporters. Democratizationi of the country became a tug-of-war between the MDP and the DRP with minor interventions by Adaalath Party formed by religous clerics.

As Dhivehi Observer was replaced in its exclusivity as a medium of dissent, by printed media in the country; and constitutional assembly charged with revising the constitution gained momentum; the hate-mongering and character-assassinating strategy advocated by DO Sappe and picked up reform-minded activists became less popular. Anni, the Chairperson and Leader of the opposition MDP, which was the largest opposition party; changed seemed to change his activist stand and turned to more mainstream political strategy, as he contested in the party primaries to elect a presidential candidate from the party for the upcoming presidential elections.

Just before that, the constituent assembly Chair was finally handed to Gasim - one of the first promoters of MDP who joined the DRP and became Finance Minister after he was released from detention following the tsunami. Now, almost two years after; he has delivered on his promise to give a new constitution to the country in time for Presidential elections.

But then, everything has changed. "Zaeem" (Leader) Maumoon has announced his running mate just a day before ratification of the new constitution, Gasim has joined the newly formed Republican Party and is expected to be elected as its Presidential Candidate, ex-Attorney General Hassan Saeed who advise to President Maumoon allowed multi-parties under the old constitution by decree is refusing to join a political party but run for President as an independent candidate, ex-Attorney General who was elected MDP President has been made defunct by his own Party, ex-President of MDP who was also the Chair of the Constituent Assembley's Drafting Committee believes he will win the presidential elections though he has the support of only two elected parliamentarians including himself, and MDP is suddenly left with just 3 seats in parliament - same as the People's Alliance party formed by the first group of ministers and deputy ministers to leave the DRP and the government. All this culminated in our political arena in just under four years.

The people who hated dictator Maumoon to their guts and almost worshipped their hero Anni, now despise Anni more than Maumoon. Most of the leaders who were in the frontline of MDP has left and joined the recently formed Jumhooree or Republican Party. They are now the party with the most number of elected seats.

The National Unity Alliance which was seen as a ray hope for those who wished to oust Maumoon from power after thirty years has turned out to be a complete failure; and there is talk that after all, People's Alliance may join in an alliance with Maumoon's DRP along with other smaller parties. Hassan Saeed who was instrumental in introducing multi-parties may finally have to fight an uphill battle on his own with his ex-cabinet colleauges.

Jumhooree Party is growing exponentially, and may very well see a future alliance with MDP in addition to Adaalath who said that they would favor Gasim to be President - if that is the way to get rid of Maumoon. The strength of JP has shocked all so much that we may see the MDP activists target their political activism to the "new enemy" in favor of the "former enemy".

The person most instrumental in bringing about the freedom that we so cherish today, Anni; is likely to be left to run in the Presidential Elections 2008 by just himself and his grassroots supporters, denied the support and backing of those who shared the leadership of the cause with him.

What a story!

Maldivian MPs: Good-for-Nothing MPs

2008-08-11T11:51:00.000+06:00

Minivan News reports...

The vote for the acting speaker of the people’s majlis (parliament) was suspended following a dispute in the process, meaning the the decision has now been postponed until 12 August. Previous speaker Ahmed Zahir was initially elected with 25 votes to 23, but members of the newly founded Republican Party said Ahmed Shiyam was ineligible to vote, and so the ballot may have to be retaken. Zahir was competing against Mohamed Shihab, who has recently joined the Republican Party with several other parliamentarians. Read more here

The "good-for-nothing" Maldives Parliament or People's Majlis has once again proven its inefficiency and acumen for medling up with proceedings and messing up the decisions that it makes.

The Parliament House did not know that DRP Vice President Ahmed Siyam Mohamed was an appointed member of the MTDC Board of Directors appointed in July this year. Even at the time of his appointment he and the government would have known that he cannot remain a member of the directors' board and also be an MP. And when the confirmation of MPs whose positions in public companies were announced, and Siyam's name did not come up in that list; the Honorable MPs waited till the casting of votes was over, to make the fuss. That way they grab the attention of the people, like babies. Wow!

What wise politicians we have got in this country! Heh he... I believe that these are not mistakes, but hidden messages to the people. What do you think the message could be?

Running Mates and Political Leadership

2008-08-10T23:40:00.003+06:00

The people of Maldives were given a new constitution by President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, when he ratified the country's multi-million Rufiyaa constitution at 1031hrs on August 7, 2008. He also concluded his final preparations for launching his presidential campaign in accordance with the new constitution just before its ratification. He appointed his colleague, DRP Vice Leader Thasmeen as his running mate to team up with him for the presidential elections.

Other presidential candidates who have embarked on campaigning for the upcoming presidential elections have not yet announced their running mates. They seem to be alone on the presidential trial resulting from a lack of political strategy and informed wisdom. All others except Dr. Hassan Saeed seem to lack sufficient choices for a running mate. He is likely to appoint his New Maldives colleague Dr. Shaheed as his running mate. But Hassan has refused to confirm this, thus leaving room for speculation; which means he can bring on a veteran government servant or businessman to team up with him. This is quite likely as Hassan's New Maldives colleagues, Shaheed and Jameel seem to have the capacity to support and let their chosen friend lead them - unlike the key players in the country's political playing field.

The new comer to the presidential race, yet to formerly be nominated by his party to run in the presidential race, Gasim Ibrahim, will have to choose a running mate soon. It is likely that there will be strong competition from within the high-profile team that he has with him. However, with Gasim at the helm, the team maybe more likely to accept his decisions than remove themselves from the party, as has been the case with DRP, PA and MDP. Gasim will have choices though.

MDP Presidential Candidate Anni, who is blamed by ex-party members for bringing down the party to its knees, due to his immature and egoisitic tendencies, now have few choices for the selection of a running mate. He may have to rely on Chairperson Mariya as a running mate. If Anni is to run with her, that would give credibility to him and the party by associating with the global trends in political thinking.

The others who have announced their intention to run in the upcoming Presidential Election 2008 do not have many choices for coming up with running mates other than their close party-activists. But it is becoming clear by the day, that it is not political activism that would win elections, but wisdom and a long term vision coupled with a planned strategy.

The choice of a running mate of a presidential candidate and the process of selection really says very much about the capabilities and the wisdom of the candidate. Maumoon has proven to be tactful and have the capacity to listen to the pulse of his supporters, also steering their pulse and synchronizing with his.

Shocking Political Realities of Maldives and Chairperson Mariya

2008-08-08T14:36:00.012+06:00

Nearly a fortnight ago, the whole nation was shocked and awed by the public display of the "bad-guy" side of the religous-scholar turned into long serving head-of-state of a SARC country. The President of Maldives and Leader of Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party, showed a list of "liars" in the political playing field who had lied to him personally; and briefed his supporters on the details of the lies of five people. They are all key players in the opposition to Maumoon's DRP.

The nation was shown the "bad-side" of Maumoon, just after his national unity address July 26th, National Independence Day. In his campaign speech following the Independence Day sppech, he also dragged into the political-wrangling, the national icon the Late Saikuraa Naeem who passed away just before the Independence Day. It has been reported that Maumoon claimed Saikuraa Naeem to be a victim of the street protests of the National Unity Alliance

Just a week after Maumoon's speech to launch his Campaign Haruge, Anni - the presidential candidate of MDP claimed that his party was not out to take revenge on anyone. His speech was his first national-unity speech since his party launched a nation-wide opposition to Maumoon. His leadership of the party as Chairperson of MDP and also his alleged shady interventions in the party primaries to elect a presidential candidate, has seen the defection of many prominent politicians.

Within a day of Anni's national-unity speech following Maumoon's, Chairperson Mariya of MDP who was the at the center of Maumoon's attack on the opposition; went into the offensive by claiming that they were out to wipe the nation of Maldives from Egyptian colonialism. Chairperson Mariya is also said to have belittled the Late Saikuraa Naeem by disgracing him and belittling him, though he had said nor done nothing to her. This display of Mariya's arrogance and political immaturity and disrespect for basic human dignity shocked even her own party colleagues.

Neither did MDP nor Chairperson Mariya so far has shown the courage to accept responsibility for this shameful incident. They seem to have brushed it aside hoping that it would be forgotten by the people. The consequences were on display in the market area of Male', which I have personally experienced. A group of elderly and middle aged people who were expressing their discontent to Maumoon and his party were having a laugh joking that Saikuraa Naeem is now in heavan.

Speaking at MDP Haruge on the day Mariya made her ill-fated speech, Anni had called upon the trio of Dr. Hassan, Dr. Shaheed and Dr. Jameel to join the a political party claiming that the path they had taken is similar to the trio of Egyptian scholars who came to power thirty years ago. Dr. Hassan responded by saying that none of the nation's political parties were good enough for them. I am not quite sure what he meant; but what it implied was that the people who belonged and cherished these political parties were not good enough for him.

These past two weeks in the run up to the ratification of the New Constitution was crowded with shocking political realities of the immaturity, the bad-side and a lack of basic respect for human dignity of our political leadership. Maumoon in his Ratification Day Speech called upon the nation to make an effort to promote human dignity.

The British Factor: Interference in Maldivian Domestic Affairs

2008-08-03T12:28:00.000+06:00

Miadhu Online has reported that Allan Govindh, a prominent British businessman speaking at MDP Haruge has said, "that Maldives needs the changes which the people wants and he would assist in bringing economical changes to the Maldives. Alan said he believes that Anni is a good candidate to lead the change." Read more from Miadhu Online here.

I cannot understand why the British Conservative Party and British business should poke their fingers into the upcoming national elections, which is very much an internal matter for the nation. By virtue of being colonialists does not give the British the right to interfere in the internal affairs of an independent nation. I believe the British should go home where they belong and leave the Maldives to its people. We are capable of making our own decisions without the "guidance and mentorship" of the British. Please leave!

MDP and Anni should learn to build on the grassroot support and the goodwill of the business community and other influential lobbyists in the nation, rather than bringing in support from foreigners in the democratization process. I don't think the change we want is to replace the Maldivian business community with an MDP blessed foreign business community led by the British. That is not the change the people desire, in my opinion!

We don't need a Govindh to tell us what Anni has done for us and to celebrate his contribution to this nation and the process of its democratization. Anni will be remembered and respected for his contribution to decomcracy and his leadership in our transition from a dictatorial regime to a democractic nation, by his people. Our democratization process needs the moral and technical support of the international community including the British people; but not by means of interference in our internal affairs. I would like to call upon the unwanted Britishers to leave, as a concerned Maldivian. You guys are doing more harm than good to this nation and the MDP, by your interference.

We didn't need a David Hardingham to help in the transition nor do we need an Allan Govindh.

CMDA releases suspension on MTDC dividend payments

2008-08-01T23:31:00.001+06:00

On 26th July 2008 - the national independence day which is a public holiday, the Capital Market Development Authority (CMDA) announced that it had asked the Maldives Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) to suspend paying dividend to its shareholders.

CMDA announcement referred to the payments as "payments made in the name of dividend" of 2007. The first paragraph of the press release said that the suspension was because the payments in contravention to the ordinary practise of dividend payouts. And that such disbursement of payments in the name of "dividends" (implying that it was not legal dividend) would confuse the shareholders and the (stock) market.

The third paragraph said that CMDA believes that a payout that is more than the net profit of the company for the year, should be explained to the market. And that the suspension was to investigate the matter, following the decision by (MTDC) to declare the dividend.

Being a shareholder of MTDC affected by the unfounded and illegal CMDA decision that did not follow accepted standards anywhere in the world, I looked up what the investopedia and britannica said about dividend and found nothing abnormal about the dividend declared by MTDC. And it is funny that infact the Bank of America is said to have decided on a divident which meant the bank practically will have to pay out virtually everything it earns.

There is no legal provision in Securities Act or the Companies Act that gives the CMDA the authority to stop dividend payments as adopted legally by shareholders of a company. By law, the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting of the Company is the highest and most powerful organ of the institution.

It is very interesting that the five member board of CMDA think that they are an ultimate authority who can act above the law. The board is chaired by Mr. Abdul Ghafoor Abdul Latheef of the Maldives Monetary Authority.

CMDA has made no public announcement, but it seems to have released the suspension after coming to its senses about the wrong it has done.

Sunpaa Thashi: SAFF Championship Trophy

2008-08-01T11:28:00.003+06:00

This morning I was watching the Ten O'clock News on TVM. One of the news items on the bulletin was the meeting by a team comprising of youth and members of island committees with the atoll chief Mr. Ahmed Moosa of Fuvah Mulah. The team had told the atoll chief that they wanted to have the SAFF Championship trophy brought to island. Their meeting was held following a petition by a number of youth to stop the trophy being brought onto the island.

What struck me was that this is the championship trophy that "united the whole nation" in the run up to the final in Colombo. We were so "blinded" by the taste of winning that we spent over 7 million US Dollars in Colombo over just two days and over 100 million Rufiyaa in a month, to support and celebrate the success of the national team. This symbol of this very event that united the nation in "a single dream" has now divided it. It seems to be like a bad omen. I for one atleast, wish that we had never won this doomed Championship. The Indians would have celebrated the success in a more civilized manner! A championship should be won by a nation who deserve it. An undeserving nation would not even have the capacity to celebrate it in a civilized manner.

The Maldives today, is a nation looking for highs. We like to be "hypnotized" by something. We have to have a reason to fight. We have to have a reason to forget our miseries and our pathetic conditions. We are Muslims but no longer able to identify with Islam. We feed ourselves from tourism revenue, but no longer the hospitable people nor the peaceful paradise that attracts the traveler.

The petitioners who object to the Championship trophy's tour around the country, including the petitioners from Fuvah Mulah say that they are concerned with the unnecessary expenditure it involves, in a time when the country is facing great economic difficulties. Everyone seems to be an expert on the economy, on reform, on democracy and good governance. That is the beauty of Maldives. We are all experts, but hardly anyone can deliver on anything. We have big ideas and wonderful dreams, but wish that God would execute and deliver those ideas and dreams. That's how we have been brought up through centuries - ultimate responsibility lies with God!

Two Days Pay to work full shift on a Public Holiday

2008-07-27T01:50:00.005+06:00

On this independence day, for the first time since the adoption of the Employment Law, the employees around the country will be paid 2 days salary to work on a "public holiday". There are ten days which are designated as public holidays in the employment act.

If employees are required to work on a public holiday, the employer must pay the employees a half days salary. And on public holidays the staff must be compensated for overtime to the equivalent of one and a half of the hourly rate. Therefore, a staff who is required to work the full shift on a public holiday will get two days salary in addition to the day's wages.

Therefore, resort workers and other staff such as prayer-callers (mudhims) who are required to work the full shift on all the ten public holidays will get an additional twenty days wages for the year.

But I am not quite sure how many employers would follow the law.

The Most Shameful Independence Day!

2008-07-26T12:39:00.005+06:00

Today is the 43rd anniversary of Independence of the Maldives, since 26th July 1965. This independence day is special because a cabinet decision to scrap the Indepdence Day Grand Ceremony on the 26th was overturned by the Home Minister on the wise counsel of school children. The children echoed their grievences on national tv.

The cabinet decision that was overturned less than 24 hours after its announcement showed that we do not have a THINKing cabinet, despite the recent THINKnation initiative by the Information and Legal Reform Minister. When this fantastic idea [to cancel the 26th night celebrations] was suggested to them by the President or whoever did it, they could not disagree with anything in front of the President. So, they did not take a minute to hesitate, but praised the wise counsel.

We thought we had a capable cabinet. I am sure now we all know the caliber and the capacity fo the cabinet we have now. Shame!

The Road to Anarchy: Part One

2008-07-25T11:24:00.007+06:00

The CSC on 23 July instructed the President’s Office to take appropriate action against Mundhu for violating the civil service law by being a delegate in the DRP’s India visit, reported Minivan News in its article "MDP, DRP Seek Indian Support".

The Civil Service Act is one of several legislation introduced by the Maldivian Parliament to clip the wings of the President of Maldives and to make sure that he cannot be a dictator to his own people. They had only one very noble intention, if we cannot get rid of Maumoon, we will deprive him of his ability to perform. For the Maldivian Parliament (and all the other key players in the political front) the person of Maumoon became synonymous with the Head of State and the Government of Maldives. They had to make sure that he would be so fed up with heading a government that virtually ran through smaller independent agencies which had no control from the President elected by the people to head the government. They were effective in doing this through legislation and the new constitution that the Special Majlis adopted when tasked with revising it to enable a liberal democratic Islamic state of Maldives.

Our politicians lost sight of the big picture and the future of this nation. They displayed typical Maldivian heritage of our passion for living for the day and leaving our tomorrow in the Hands of Almighty. The irresponsibility and lack of character in the upcoming new constitution and the fast-track (baseless and senselss) legislation recently introduced by Parliament has left the country in a state of absolute confusion created by "first-class, five-star" legislation for a third-world people.

The Civili Service Commission set up by the President as required by law, gave hope for a professional body that would regulate and oversee the Maldivian Civil Service. Since their inception they seem to replicate the part of the ex-Monster they represent (the Public Service Division); only far worse. They seem to want to involve themselves directly in minute day to day matters of administration, when that is actually not their business.

The CSC seem to have lost the capacity to differentiate between the Commission and the Civil Service. The instruction given to the Permanent Secretary of the President's Office by the CSC clearly shows this.

Ofcourse, the situation arose in the first place because of the creation of an Almighty Commission by Parliament. The CSC seem to have put themselves above the law by going against the law that created the Commission, in their appointment of Permanent Secretaries; and no one even dared raise the issue or take them to task. I know you will challenge me on this, because I am not literate in law. But I believe I can read Thaana fluently and understand it as well. The law requires in very clear language that the appointment of staff to the Civil Service should be first on academic merit. The CSC seems to think that it is not practical and therefore decided to overlook Article 5 (e) on page 3.

The Civil Service Law says that it should serve the people, when in actual effect it should serve the government. The CSC should be accountable to the government and not the other way around. They should enable the government to serve the people through the creation of a professional Civil Service for the Government of Maldives. The CSC ensures a professional civil service; it is not the institution that runs the government.

Just like the two recent first-class five-star budgets of the government, the first-class five-star institutions created by short-sighted legislation is edging us closer to Absolute Anarchy! Atleast, that is what came to my mind as I read the Minivan News article by Emily.