Month: December 2004

As part of Minivan News’ commitment to analyse the report on the Maldives by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) we take a closer look into one of the report’s main findings – the overwhelming support for democratic reform in the country and the deep-seated skepticism as to whether Gayoom will ever deliver change.

The NDI is a highly respected political NGO, headed by former US Secretary of State Madeline Albright. The NDI’s mandate is to promote democracy throughout the world. The NDI was invited by the Maldivian government and UNDP to do its assessment into the possibility of establishing political parties in the Maldives in August 2004. The NDI sent a four-person team, headed by the former Prime Minister of Bosnia, to the Maldives in October 2004. The team met with hundreds of people in the Maldives and outside the country. These included representatives of the Government, including President Gayoom, members of civil society groups, the UN and members of the opposition, including democracy detainees and the leadership of the MDP.

The Political Environment for Reform

The NDI noted that “the desire for reform is nearly universal among the public; in fact, the delegation did not meet with a single individual who felt that reform was not needed”. The perceived need for reform was conclusively proven by the NDI’s findings, and there seemed to be a very positive response to the types of reforms laid down by the President in his 9th June 2004 speech. However, the NDI found that there was strong skepticism as to whether the President would ever carry out his reforms in a timely and meaningful way.

The NDI found: “a high degree of cynicism regarding the government’s seriousness regarding reform…most interviewees felt that reform would go ahead…[but] reforms would move forward at an extremely slow pace and would be largely cosmetic.”

“Many interviewees cited the long tenure of the current government as incriminating, noting that the government has had plenty of time to reform already, but has chosen not to do so. Many interviewees, including opposition, pointed to the treatment of opposition voices by the government as evidence of a lack of willingness to engage in genuine reform. A few individuals indicated their belief… that the President lied to the people – encouraging the public to go out and discuss constitutional reform in public forums – and then detaining many of the people who criticized the government in these forums.”

The NDI states that “bold actions will be required by the government to build confidence in any reform process.”

Minivan News spoke to Mohamed Latheef of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). We started by asking him what are the root causes of this skepticism.

Latheef:

The universal skepticism about Gayoom’s commitment to reform is not without cause. Firstly Maldivians are all too familiar with Gayoom’s oft-broken promises of wide-ranging structural reforms every few years – especially when he is under duress.

He made similar promises when he first came to power and later after the attempted coup in 1988. The present constitution, which was supposed to transform the Maldives from an autocracy to a democracy, was one of his earliest promises of reforms. After foot dragging for 17 years he came up with a document of enslavement that confers more power to the Chief Executive than does any other constitution anywhere else in the world. That is just in theory. In practice he exercises greater power than perhaps any past sultan ever did.

Following the attempted coup of 1988, Gayoom made sweeping declarations about the need for not just change, but sweeping structural change that would substantially alter the socio-political dynamics of Maldivian society. Those of us who got caught in his web of lies and took his offer of reform seriously – either as reformists, members of parliament or as journalists – soon found ourselves in solitary confinement in Gayoom’s not too pleasant detention centers. Gayoom’s offers of reform were invariably followed by the violent reprisal of those who took him seriously.

Due to unprecedented international pressure, Gayoom is back to his old business of duplicity. Within days after his 9th June media circus where he, once again, presented his “substantial reform agenda”, Gayoom clamped down on the people’s constitutional rights to freedom of assembly, movement and expression. Within weeks he started intimidating, and finally arresting reformists. Almost the entire reform movement is still in detention after weeks of torture and cruel and degrading treatment by Gayoom’s uniformed thugs.

In the meantime Gayoom and his spin-doctors have the gall to talk about free and fair elections. Any objective observer would come to the conclusion that the brutal crackdown of reformists does not inspire confidence either in Gayoom’s intentions, capacity or commitment to serious, time-bound, verifiable reform.

Gayoom needs to understand that the skepticism about his commitment is no more limited to his subjects. The many declarations and statements made by the international community should make him realize that no one believes his lies, deceit and broken promises anymore. He needs to wake up from, or be jolted out of, his state of deep self-delusion.

Minivan News: The international community has issued strongly worded statements deploring Gayoom’s poor performance following his 9th June offer of substantial reforms. Are you confident that such statements would be effective enough to persuade Gayoom to usher in his planned reform?

Latheef:

The outrage expressed by the international community has, in the past few weeks, helped mitigate the level of brutality traditionally meted out to political prisoners and prisoners of conscience. However, the international community’s impact on political reform has been negligible. Gayoom and his minders seem to take comfort in the belief that the international community will not go beyond strongly worded statements. That the country’s lack of geopolitical importance would mean the international community will not bother to sustain its interests in the Maldives.

Gayoom is a strong believer that time will heal his problems. Giving more time to Gayoom will only make the situation worse for his subjects. If the international community wishes to effect change in the country, than it has to go beyond words of censure. Gayoom is not impressed by mere words. Words are fine but hide-bound despots like Gayoom need to know that they will be matched by deeds. He has reneged on every promise of reform he has made and as the 31st December election and the impeding trials of reformists clearly proves, he is getting away with it. The international community needs to take more robust, tangible steps to stop Gayoom’s abuse.

Minivan News invites the Maldivian government to respond to Mr Latheef’s comments.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

With two weeks to go, the international community seems to be waking up to a fact that Maldivians have known right along – under Gayoom there can never be a free and fair election in the Maldives. Under pressure from the international community, Gayoom crooned sweetly about “substantial reform’ and about free and fair elections. The international community pounced on Gayoom’s sweet inanities and encouraged him and subtly (and often not so subtlety) pressurized him into keeping his promises and commitments.

The pressure did work to some extent. The best proof of this perhaps lies in the fact that no pro-democracy reformists – including even those who called for Gayoom’s and brother Hameed’s resignation – have as yet been tortured to death or permanently physically incapacitated. When one considers how cruelly past political prisoners and detainees have been brutalized for far lesser “offences” this is immense progress. Challenging Gayoom’s authority has always been the biggest political offence.

After the initial orgy of torture, beating and sexual abuse, following the August 12 – 13 demonstration, the security personnel (who according to Colonel Moosa Jaleel cracked down on the crowd on Commander-in-Chief Gayoom’s direct order) are now less violent. Agreements with the ICRC, visits by diplomats and the courageous stand taken by the Human Rights Commission of Maldives have meant that – at least for the time being – prisoners and detainees need not live in constant fear of torture, sexual abuse and cruel and inhuman punishment. Strongly articulated concerns of the international community alone with the belief that Gayoom is under scrutiny (and hence cannot operate with total impunity) have given hope and courage to pro-democracy activists – even while they know they face harassment and possible imprisonment. There is new hope that the human rights situation would inevitably change for the better and that the rest of the world would not simply wait and watch while Gayoom bludgeons the people of Maldives into submission.

The international community’s impact on the 31st December parliamentary election is, however, minimal. To start with Gayoom has simply ignored the call to grant the people the right to freedom of association despite his clear, unequivocal assertion “our laws do not bar anybody from forming a political party if they want to”. More ominously Gayoom has intimidated and pressurized at least ten people (who would otherwise have won) from seeking nomination. Most of the reformist leaders who would have spearheaded the reformist election campaign are being systematically intimidated and continue to remain in detention. In the meantime pro-government candidates continue to openly enjoy state patronage and public resources for their election campaign. Minister of Atolls Administration, Hameed has given specific instructions to atoll chiefs that they must ensure victory for pro-government candidates.

Given this reality, it is naïve for the international community to expect Gayoom to relent merely because of declarations or statements – even if they are strongly worded.

Gayoom is now immune to declarations and statements. In fact he uses such statements as “proof” that the international community endorses his despotic rules. To get Gayroom’s attention, words need to be replaced by firm action.

As far as the elections are concerned, the international community needs to come to terms with the reality that, as stated above, most of the rigging has already taken place. Even in the unlikely event that the rest of the election process would be “free and fair” the damage already done would mean that the election would be both unfair and unrepresentative of the wishes of the people. Under the circumstances sending observers just for the Election Day would be not only meaningless, but would give Gayoom the opportunity to legitimize a grossly unfair electoral process.

To ensure a free and fair election the entire process needs to be restructured. According to MDP the minimum requirements for a free and fair election are:

(a) The immediate registration of political parties.
(b) Release of all pro-democracy detainees.
(c) A level playing field free from fear and intimidation whereby reformists and pro-government candidates can compete on an equal footing.
(d) An opportunity for detainees and others, who earlier did not seek nomination out of fear and intimidation, to seek nomination afresh.
(e) About thirty days of campaigning and
(f) A transparent system for monitoring and counting of votes.

Most people would find the above requests reasonable. Gayoom would not. Gayoom fully understands that, without rigging, he would lose his traditional control over the parliament which in turn would lead to loosening of his stranglehold on power. More ominously, (from Gayoom’s point of view) the coming parliament would decide if he would be re-elected as President for the 2008 – 2013 presidential term. By asking Gayoom to hold free and fair elections, the international community, in effect, is asking Gayoom to commit political suicide. Gayoom has yet to prove any suicidal tendencies.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Despite calls for free and fair elections without any influence by the government, the Maldives Parliamentary Election 2004 campaign is marred in corruption and irregularities.

Those candidates with Gayyoom’s blessings, have endless resources beginning with access to state owned media, TV, radio and newspapers, and open coffers of treasury funds. Sadly, it does not stop there. These candidates, including ministers and deputy ministers as well as other officials and close associates of Gayyoom, are getting enormous help from private businesses as well. This will obviously play a role in swinging votes their way in the atolls.

DO has information that anti-Gayyoom candidates are unable to get any funding for their campaigns, and some members can’t pay for travelling costs to visit their constituents, let alone meet the production cost of campaign material. There are many private businesses and wealthy Maldivian who want to help these candidates, but their movements and activities are closely monitored by Gayyoom’s cronies and hence these people are scared to help any anti-Gayyoom candidates.

Many able candidates are being hampered by financial difficulties, while ignorant thieves and corrupt people are visiting each island in chartered speedboats and flights. Being corrupt and rich appears to be the way to secure a majlis seat in the Maldives, regardless of the fact that some of these government candidates can barely read and write in Dhivehi or English. How on earth can we entrust people like them to be the law makers of our country?

The dirtiest games in this campaign are played by Gayyoom’s brothers, Abdullah Hameed and Abdullah Yameen. They have openly bribed people to support government candidates, and are authorising the use of public funds as if it is their own money.

In order to counterbalance this, Maldivian businessmen must make a stand and help the reformist candidates who can bring about necessary reforms. Entrepreneurs must realise that long-term business will flourish with an open, transparent and democratic government. All businessmen know they have to conduct their present operations through bribery, deception and other illegal practices.

We call on Maldivians to act responsibly and help reformist candidates in any way they can. It is not against the law to support and help a candidate for the majlis, and if we submit to the illegal demands of this outdated regime, Maldives is destined to remain corrupt and our people oppressed, for years to come.

www.dhivehiobserver.com

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) welcomes the Declaration by the Heads of Mission of the European Union accredited to the Maldives on Monday 13th December, calling on the Maldivian government to ensure that the forthcoming Majlis elections are free and fair.

Contradictory to his oft repeated promises to the international community of “substantial reforms”, President Gayoom continues to flagrantly deny the people of the Maldives their fundamental political rights. Gayoom continues to deny the MDP its constitutional right to freedom of association while simultaneously keeping MDP activists and reformists in detention, preventing them from taking an active role in the elections.

Through a process of incarceration and systematic physical and mental torture, Gayoom has intimidated at least 9 members of the constituent assembly from seeking election. This includes two of his former cabinet members, I H Zaki and Dr Munawwar.

Gayoom’s regime continues to violate electoral laws including the intimidation of Atoll Chiefs, Island Chiefs and government servants in the Atolls to ensure the ‘success’ of pro-government candidates. Public funds and resources are openly used to fund government candidates whilst pro-democracy candidates and their supporters are intimidated and labelled as ‘traitors’ and ‘terrorists’.

Just hours after the EU Declaration on Monday, three pro-democracy campaigners, Eva Abdulla (cousin of MDP Councillor Mohamed Nasheed), Jennifer Latheef (daughter of MDP Spokesperson Mohamed Latheef) and Elena Abbas (daughter of MDP Councillor Ahmed Abbas), have been summoned for questioning by Gayoom’s security services.

The MDP calls on the international community to take effective, practical steps to ensure that the political rights of the Maldivian people, including the right to free and fair elections, are upheld by President Gayoom.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Around the World we are celebrating Human Rights Day. On the 10th December 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that was written in 1789, and therefore celebrating more than 200 years of History. In its preamble the United Nations stated:

“Now, Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction” [http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html]

However, in the Maldives, people are still struggling to gain the basic human rights expressed in the form of 30 articles.

For instance, article 5 states “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment”. In September 2003, the government proved their disregard of the law with the assassination of Evan Naseem and that ongoing tortures and abuses are perpetrated in prisons.

Furthermore, the members of the Maldivian government persistently breech article 9 (“No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile”) by keeping unfairly imprisoned any subject that voices their disagreement with the regime imposed by president Gayoom. Consequently, they can ensure that the up-coming parliamentary elections will not be free and fair with the intimidation of any potential opponent candidate.

The further one reads the Declaration of Human Rights, the more one will come to realise that every article is being constantly breeched by Gayoom and his government.

After the Evan Naseem tragedy, the international community began watching more closely the activities of the Maldivian government. In response, president Gayoom set up a Human Rights Commission and announced to the public: “the Human Rights law will be passed by the Majlis, and the law will be based on Paris principles”. One year later the commissioner, Mr. Ahmed Mujuthaba, has written in his report that nothing has changed and the government is still carrying the same unlawful practices. He stated very fairly that in the Maldives it is “ Rulers Law rather than the Rule of Law ”.

President Gayoom has now postponed the inauguration of the commissioner’s annual report that was supposed to take place today on the anniversary date, to January 2005 and consequently slowing down the process of reforms, and continuing to suppress the Human Rights Commission itself, which is still under presidential decree, and therefore subject to being withdrawn by Gayoom at anytime.

Unfortunately today, Maldivians will not celebrate the anniversary of the proclamation of the Universal Human Rights Declaration.

Friends of Maldives will work to ensure that the Maldives will be able to join the rest of the World in celebrating Human Rights Day in the future.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Abbas Ibrahim, speaker of the Special Majlis and brother-in-law of President Gayoom, has concluded what can only be described as an ‘unsuccessful’ campaign trip to Gaaf Dhaal, where he is a candidate in the upcoming Majlis elections.

Abbas left Male’ earlier this week courtesy of a government speed boat (using government property to further a candidate’s election campaign is outlawed in Maldivian election regulations). Upon arrival a small reception party was assembled, which included the Atoll Chief, the Assistant Atoll Chief and all of the Island Chiefs (election regulations state that Atoll Chiefs are not allowed to meet with candidates during the election campaign).

Despite enjoying the favour of the government, Abbas’ reception amongst the electorate appears to have been less agreeable. In his first meeting, Abbas was heckled by a member of the crowd, who reportedly stood up and shouted “we will not vote for you, we will not gain anything from you!” Abbas, fuming with anger, demanded that the assembled crowd remove the man from the meeting. The crowd did not budge, and the man continued his tirade, “even if you throw us out of here or pay us, we will not vote for you in this election” sources from Gaaf Dhaal reported.

Abbas left the island and continued on his campaign tour, which took him next to Madaveli Island. His reception there, however, was no warmer. Angry residents reportedly told him to “close your campaign office, do not campaign here again.” Abbas reportedly lost his temper for a second time.

To conclude his lightning tour of the Atoll, Abbas then went onto Thinadhoo Island. Noticing, though, that the island was covered with the campaign material for candidate Hafeeza Afeef, a known reformist, Abbas reportedly decided to call it a day, and sailed back to Male’ in his government speed boat.

Abbas Ibrahim courted controversy last month when reports from Gaaf Dhaal indicated that his campaign team had been portraying him as ‘a friend’ of MDP Spokesperson Mohamed Latheef.

The rumours forced Mr Latheef to ‘clarify his position’. Speaking to Minivan News – in an interview also carried on Minivan Radio last week – Mr Latheef said: “given his known reactionary views on social and political reform, Abbas is the least suitable person in the entire country for this important post [of Special Majlis Speaker].”

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)