15 Minutes with former SAARC Secretary-General Ibrahim Hussain Zaki

Mr. Ibrahim Hussain Zaki has a long and distinguished career at the heart of Maldivian and regional politics. As a former Cabinet Minister in Gayoom’s government, he filled the posts of Deputy Foreign Minister, Tourism Minister and Planning Minister.
As SAARC Secretary-General, he worked closely with Presidents and Prime Ministers across South Asia. He also sat as a Member of the Majlis, representing the people of South Ari Atoll for ten years.
Last year, IH Zaki shocked the regime by joining the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party. Since then, he has been elected as a party councilor and in February this year, was made the MDP’s advisor on political affairs. Mr Zaki was also arrested for taking part in the 12-13th August 2004 pro-democracy rally in Male’.
Mr. IH Zaki was interviewed on Minivan Radio on 12th April 2005, in Minivan’s studio in Colombo.
Minivan Radio (MR): How do you propose to go ahead with the job of councilor to the MDP?
Zaki: First of all I’d like to thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak. It is an honor for me to act as Counselor to the MDP. During a time of political reform, MDP is an organization that is certain to play an important role. To be active within the MDP is an honor. In the future – the future we all wish to see – during a period of political reform, I am prepared to share all of my experience and skills I have learnt through the years in the service of MDP.
MR: You spent 58 days in jail and 2 months under house-arrest for being present at the 12-13th democracy rally in Male’. It was reported that you suffered at the hands of the government along with several others as advocated by Amnesty International and the Maldivian Human Rights Commission. Could you please tell us something about the period you spent under arrest?
Zaki: Yes… There’s no doubt that the experiences of different people arrested will be different.
It was a peaceful gathering. Being present in a public gathering where the public demonstrated its feelings towards the government and the people without resorting to violence was not in defiance of any law. If I am to say something about the time of my arrest and its aftermath, I’d like to state that I was an elected member of the public and thus liable for protection under the law.
From the moment I was taken to the Police Headquarters, for 12 hours I was not made aware of the reason why I was taken into custody. After 12 hours I was notified by the relevant government authority that I was arrested in connection with the activities of 12th and 13th.
Next comes the place of arrest and the way I was held in custody. I was kept in solitary confinement. In my opinion it is a contravention of my human and civil rights. During the period I spent in jail, I was deprived of my basic rights as a human being along with my legal rights. I can prove this aptly.
As regards the investigation, I must say that things are not conducted in a proper manner in the Maldives. The spirit of the investigation was to place the blame on my head for things which I was not culpable of. However, in the condition I was in, I felt my survival came first. To save my life was a priority and hence I requested that I be given access to a doctor and I was taken to the hospital. Afterwards I was placed under house-arrest. Later I was released with the condition that I remain in the country.
MR: After your experience in jail I understand several offers were made to you for a post in the government – why did you refuse the offers?
Zaki: My main reason for turning down the government’s offer was that during 27 years of rule I had not seen any signs of reform. I am not prepared to serve such a government.
There’s no doubt I worked for the government as I would with a friendly party. I wished to seek changes while working within the system. But my ten years of experience in the Cabinet has affirmed my belief that reforms will not be implemented with the present regime in power.
There’s no doubt that when I was placed under arrest I was outside the government. During November of the year 2002, when a new government was formed I was not included within the Cabinet. However, several Cabinet level posts were offered which I refused. From personal experience I do not believe there is any chance for the reforms we seek with the present regime in power.
MR: So you believe that the political changes that Maumoon has promised will not be implemented?
Zaki: Yes… Why has Maumoon’s government promised political reform after 27 years of rule? Let’s take a look. In my opinion these changes have been promised by the government because pressure has been applied on a national and international level. In my opinion the present government we see and the government before that exists for one purpose only. It is a system of government designed to garner the loyalty of the public or to bend them in the government’s direction.
When we wish to see if the government is for reform or not we have to first look in the direction of the past and see the experiences we can gain from the past. There’s no doubt that what we have seen and what we have experienced hasn’t any democratic values attached. What we saw was the government in existence practicing a policy or politics of garnering public loyalty or to bend the public in the direction of the government.
When we seek major changes in government we must first ask the question whether the government would wish for the same changes. One truth that we have to acknowledge is that when we seek changes, the changes will replace something in the system, and when we see the introduction of change, several barriers will be placed in front of the old system.
In my opinion this is not something that the government can afford. Sometimes I feel that as in other parts of the world whether what we want is a government that is on par with the people. If I may say it in English it is important that a national reconciliation government implement the reforms we seek.
MR: At a time when all the Maldivian people are working to bring about freedom what is Zaki’s message?
Zaki: I wish to say that when you look into the corners of the world or when you view the world’s experience – while viewing the Maldives on a national level – the changes we see coming we definitely cannot do without.
The question is when will these reforms take place? According a time for change is in the hands of the people. There’s no doubt that if the people wishes for change, it can come as soon as they wish for it.

Mr. Ibrahim Hussain Zaki has a long and distinguished career at the heart of Maldivian and regional politics. As a former Cabinet Minister in Gayoom’s government, he filled the posts of Deputy Foreign Minister, Tourism Minister and Planning Minister.

As SAARC Secretary-General, he worked closely with Presidents and Prime Ministers across South Asia. He also sat as a Member of the Majlis, representing the people of South Ari Atoll for ten years.

Last year, IH Zaki shocked the regime by joining the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party. Since then, he has been elected as a party councilor and in February this year, was made the MDP’s advisor on political affairs. Mr Zaki was also arrested for taking part in the 12-13th August 2004 pro-democracy rally in Male’.

Mr. IH Zaki was interviewed on Minivan Radio on 12th April 2005, in Minivan’s studio in Colombo.

Minivan Radio (MR): How do you propose to go ahead with the job of councilor to the MDP?

Zaki: First of all I’d like to thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak. It is an honor for me to act as Counselor to the MDP. During a time of political reform, MDP is an organization that is certain to play an important role. To be active within the MDP is an honor. In the future – the future we all wish to see – during a period of political reform, I am prepared to share all of my experience and skills I have learnt through the years in the service of MDP.

MR: You spent 58 days in jail and 2 months under house-arrest for being present at the 12-13th democracy rally in Male’. It was reported that you suffered at the hands of the government along with several others as advocated by Amnesty International and the Maldivian Human Rights Commission. Could you please tell us something about the period you spent under arrest?

Zaki: Yes… There’s no doubt that the experiences of different people arrested will be different.

It was a peaceful gathering. Being present in a public gathering where the public demonstrated its feelings towards the government and the people without resorting to violence was not in defiance of any law. If I am to say something about the time of my arrest and its aftermath, I’d like to state that I was an elected member of the public and thus liable for protection under the law.

From the moment I was taken to the Police Headquarters, for 12 hours I was not made aware of the reason why I was taken into custody. After 12 hours I was notified by the relevant government authority that I was arrested in connection with the activities of 12th and 13th.

Next comes the place of arrest and the way I was held in custody. I was kept in solitary confinement. In my opinion it is a contravention of my human and civil rights. During the period I spent in jail, I was deprived of my basic rights as a human being along with my legal rights. I can prove this aptly.

As regards the investigation, I must say that things are not conducted in a proper manner in the Maldives. The spirit of the investigation was to place the blame on my head for things which I was not culpable of. However, in the condition I was in, I felt my survival came first. To save my life was a priority and hence I requested that I be given access to a doctor and I was taken to the hospital. Afterwards I was placed under house-arrest. Later I was released with the condition that I remain in the country.

MR: After your experience in jail I understand several offers were made to you for a post in the government – why did you refuse the offers?

Zaki: My main reason for turning down the government’s offer was that during 27 years of rule I had not seen any signs of reform. I am not prepared to serve such a government.

There’s no doubt I worked for the government as I would with a friendly party. I wished to seek changes while working within the system. But my ten years of experience in the Cabinet has affirmed my belief that reforms will not be implemented with the present regime in power.

There’s no doubt that when I was placed under arrest I was outside the government. During November of the year 2002, when a new government was formed I was not included within the Cabinet. However, several Cabinet level posts were offered which I refused. From personal experience I do not believe there is any chance for the reforms we seek with the present regime in power.

MR: So you believe that the political changes that Maumoon has promised will not be implemented?

Zaki: Yes… Why has Maumoon’s government promised political reform after 27 years of rule? Let’s take a look. In my opinion these changes have been promised by the government because pressure has been applied on a national and international level. In my opinion the present government we see and the government before that exists for one purpose only. It is a system of government designed to garner the loyalty of the public or to bend them in the government’s direction.

When we wish to see if the government is for reform or not we have to first look in the direction of the past and see the experiences we can gain from the past. There’s no doubt that what we have seen and what we have experienced hasn’t any democratic values attached. What we saw was the government in existence practicing a policy or politics of garnering public loyalty or to bend the public in the direction of the government.

When we seek major changes in government we must first ask the question whether the government would wish for the same changes. One truth that we have to acknowledge is that when we seek changes, the changes will replace something in the system, and when we see the introduction of change, several barriers will be placed in front of the old system.

In my opinion this is not something that the government can afford. Sometimes I feel that as in other parts of the world whether what we want is a government that is on par with the people. If I may say it in English it is important that a national reconciliation government implement the reforms we seek.

MR: At a time when all the Maldivian people are working to bring about freedom what is Zaki’s message?

Zaki: I wish to say that when you look into the corners of the world or when you view the world’s experience – while viewing the Maldives on a national level – the changes we see coming we definitely cannot do without.

The question is when will these reforms take place? According a time for change is in the hands of the people. There’s no doubt that if the people wishes for change, it can come as soon as they wish for it.

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