“Civil Disobedience if Necessary” – says MDP Presidency Candidate Ibrahim Ismail

Minivan News spends 15 Minutes with Member of Parliament for Male’ Ibrahim Ismail, who is standing for president of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) in the upcoming leadership election, set for 15th December.
MN: Are you planning to stand for the leadership of the MDP in the forthcoming Congress?
II: Yes, I have already submitted my intention to compete to the secretariat.
MN: Why?
II: I believe that the leadership contest of MDP must be healthy and robust and as many people from within the party who have the capability and standing for the job must come forward so that in the end, our party will have the best possible person as our leader. In this regard I believe that I am very well suited for the leadership of MDP, and hence I should compete.
More specifically, since my return from overseas in 1993, I have worked within the system of government for 12 years before I resigned from my job to work more independently in the political arena. During my work in the government, I have visited 196 islands of the 200 populated islands in the country, and worked very closely with ordinary people of this country. I am acutely aware of their difficulties, their aspirations and their despair. I have spent time in jail more than once due to my standing up for the people of this country. Hence, I am very aware of what we are up against, and I believe that I have the stamina and will power to confront this oppressive regime.
Additionally, I have worked very closely with most of the international donors to this country such as the World Bank, ADB, IDB, UN Missions, and in the past year, I have been in close contact with representatives of the EU, Commonwealth and various High Commissions and embassies of countries who are expressing concern over the situation in the Maldives. Therefore I am very aware of what needs to be done on the international front.
Furthermore, a large number of people in Male’ and the atolls are in contact with me and I believe that if I am allowed to lead MDP, I can generate even more public support for the party which will be crucial in an election.
MN: MDP has said the party needs to develop a policy manifesto following the leadership election. What sort of policies would you like to see the party develop?
II: MDP already has a party manifesto. What we need to do now is to develop a broad policy framework which will encompass the ideals expressed in the party manifesto. It is a bit early to go into specifics yet, but on the whole, I am firmly committed to policies which will promote a liberal, slightly left of centre kind of environment which will pave the way for a more egalitarian society. A strong component of the kind of policies which I would like to see evolve out of MDP would be with a strong emphasis on promoting human rights and civil liberties and freedoms.
I believe that great emphasis has to be placed on overhauling the entire system of governance in the country. In particular, the judiciary needs radical change, as this is necessary to deliver people out of oppression and to create an environment in which they can live without fear. I would be advocating a policy framework which will allow people to pursue their dreams without inhibition, and where the role of government is minimized mainly to regulatory aspects and encouraging private enterprise and civil society to lead the way forward to build the new Maldives.
In a rapidly changing world, I believe we should be striving to take advantage of newly emerging opportunities, both in the economic and social front. I firmly believe that young Maldivians have the courage, creativity and commitment to take this nation forward in hitherto unthought-of directions. I would like MDP to develop a policy framework which will unleash that energy, and encourage the taking of calculated risks in new directions rather than being tied down to conservative ideas of “what has worked for us in the past.”
Furthermore, it is my view that the current regime has systematically destroyed the spirituality in our community, and along with material development, we must encourage people to engage in spiritual development though a revival of tolerant Islamic values which promotes harmony and morality in society.
MN: What do you think the MDP needs to do to dig the country out of the political hole it is currently in?
II: I believe that MDP needs to be more pro-active, and to develop a framework of devolved decision making which will allow quick decisions to be made. MDP must capitalize on the huge support it has gained at the grassroots and translate this support into peaceful, yet affirmative action at the grassroots to exert more pressure on Qayyoom’s government.
MN: What should the MDP be doing to ensure those arrested following the 12-14 August unrest are released, including the current Chairperson Anni?
II: We must, on all fronts, expose this government for its illegal actions against these detainees. Information dissemination about the truth of the matter is crucial. Further, action at the grassroots is again critical to exert maximum pressure on the government. I believe that while the international community’s concern and action is having an enormous impact, action taken locally is just as important, and it is this action which will prompt further international action. We need to plan and implement a strategy which impacts the government on many fronts, legal, parliamentary, grassroots action extending to civil disobedience if necessary.
We must realize that we are dealing with terrorism endorsed by the state, legitimized through twisted interpretations of the legislation and sabotaging of the judicial system.
MN: Some people have criticised you for not being a team player and being too autocratic in your leadership style. Do you think these criticisms are fair or valid?
II: It depends on what those people define as autocratic. I challenge anyone to quote a single instance when I have acted without consulting either the council or the secretariat, or having contravened a decision of the council. It could be that some people misinterpret strong views as being autocratic. I believe that I have every right to express my opinion, and to strive to sell that opinion and argue for it. But once a collective decision is reached following the argument, then all should stand by that decision. That is democracy and being a team player, as far as I am concerned. To be a leader is to have the vision when others do not. This country needs radical and revolutionary vision to get us out of the pits.

Minivan News spends 15 Minutes with Member of Parliament for Male’ Ibrahim Ismail, who is standing for president of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) in the upcoming leadership election, set for 15th December.

MN: Are you planning to stand for the leadership of the MDP in the forthcoming Congress?

II: Yes, I have already submitted my intention to compete to the secretariat.

MN: Why?

II: I believe that the leadership contest of MDP must be healthy and robust and as many people from within the party who have the capability and standing for the job must come forward so that in the end, our party will have the best possible person as our leader. In this regard I believe that I am very well suited for the leadership of MDP, and hence I should compete.

More specifically, since my return from overseas in 1993, I have worked within the system of government for 12 years before I resigned from my job to work more independently in the political arena. During my work in the government, I have visited 196 islands of the 200 populated islands in the country, and worked very closely with ordinary people of this country. I am acutely aware of their difficulties, their aspirations and their despair. I have spent time in jail more than once due to my standing up for the people of this country. Hence, I am very aware of what we are up against, and I believe that I have the stamina and will power to confront this oppressive regime.

Additionally, I have worked very closely with most of the international donors to this country such as the World Bank, ADB, IDB, UN Missions, and in the past year, I have been in close contact with representatives of the EU, Commonwealth and various High Commissions and embassies of countries who are expressing concern over the situation in the Maldives. Therefore I am very aware of what needs to be done on the international front.

Furthermore, a large number of people in Male’ and the atolls are in contact with me and I believe that if I am allowed to lead MDP, I can generate even more public support for the party which will be crucial in an election.

MN: MDP has said the party needs to develop a policy manifesto following the leadership election. What sort of policies would you like to see the party develop?

II: MDP already has a party manifesto. What we need to do now is to develop a broad policy framework which will encompass the ideals expressed in the party manifesto. It is a bit early to go into specifics yet, but on the whole, I am firmly committed to policies which will promote a liberal, slightly left of centre kind of environment which will pave the way for a more egalitarian society. A strong component of the kind of policies which I would like to see evolve out of MDP would be with a strong emphasis on promoting human rights and civil liberties and freedoms.

I believe that great emphasis has to be placed on overhauling the entire system of governance in the country. In particular, the judiciary needs radical change, as this is necessary to deliver people out of oppression and to create an environment in which they can live without fear. I would be advocating a policy framework which will allow people to pursue their dreams without inhibition, and where the role of government is minimized mainly to regulatory aspects and encouraging private enterprise and civil society to lead the way forward to build the new Maldives.

In a rapidly changing world, I believe we should be striving to take advantage of newly emerging opportunities, both in the economic and social front. I firmly believe that young Maldivians have the courage, creativity and commitment to take this nation forward in hitherto unthought-of directions. I would like MDP to develop a policy framework which will unleash that energy, and encourage the taking of calculated risks in new directions rather than being tied down to conservative ideas of “what has worked for us in the past.”

Furthermore, it is my view that the current regime has systematically destroyed the spirituality in our community, and along with material development, we must encourage people to engage in spiritual development though a revival of tolerant Islamic values which promotes harmony and morality in society.

MN: What do you think the MDP needs to do to dig the country out of the political hole it is currently in?

II: I believe that MDP needs to be more pro-active, and to develop a framework of devolved decision making which will allow quick decisions to be made. MDP must capitalize on the huge support it has gained at the grassroots and translate this support into peaceful, yet affirmative action at the grassroots to exert more pressure on Qayyoom’s government.

MN: What should the MDP be doing to ensure those arrested following the 12-14 August unrest are released, including the current Chairperson Anni?

II: We must, on all fronts, expose this government for its illegal actions against these detainees. Information dissemination about the truth of the matter is crucial. Further, action at the grassroots is again critical to exert maximum pressure on the government. I believe that while the international community’s concern and action is having an enormous impact, action taken locally is just as important, and it is this action which will prompt further international action. We need to plan and implement a strategy which impacts the government on many fronts, legal, parliamentary, grassroots action extending to civil disobedience if necessary.

We must realize that we are dealing with terrorism endorsed by the state, legitimized through twisted interpretations of the legislation and sabotaging of the judicial system.

MN: Some people have criticised you for not being a team player and being too autocratic in your leadership style. Do you think these criticisms are fair or valid?

II: It depends on what those people define as autocratic. I challenge anyone to quote a single instance when I have acted without consulting either the council or the secretariat, or having contravened a decision of the council. It could be that some people misinterpret strong views as being autocratic. I believe that I have every right to express my opinion, and to strive to sell that opinion and argue for it. But once a collective decision is reached following the argument, then all should stand by that decision. That is democracy and being a team player, as far as I am concerned. To be a leader is to have the vision when others do not. This country needs radical and revolutionary vision to get us out of the pits.

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