Former President Mohamed Nasheed stepped down voluntarily and there was no truth in reports that he was ousted in a military coup, Buddhist author and former Malaysian diplomat, Dr Ananda Kumarasiri, has told Sri Lankan media.
Addressing media at a press conference in Colombo last week, accompanied by Maldives High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Hussain Shihab, Dr Ananda Kumarasiri “expressed confidence that a full-fledged democracy will be restored in the country under the rule of President Waheed and the roadmap towards that end has already been laid,” the Sunday Observer reported, describing him as Dr Waheed’s “consultant”.
“Former President Nasheed and the pressure groups want snap elections to be held soon,” Dr Kumarasiri told the paper. “Some want it held immediately, others within six months and so on. But categorically citing constitutional provisions, President Waheed has stated that elections can be held only in November 2013 and there is no possible way of circumventing it.”
President Waheed had, Dr Kumarasiri said, “appointed a government of technocrats who are capable in their own lines.”
“They are not supposed to function as politicians but instead, they have to do everything in the national interest and deliver the goods through their proposals, projects or whatever. Political parties can go ahead with their kind of politics. In a truly democratic sense he has not appointed anyone to the Cabinet portfolios from his party. He is very transparent, very accountable and is a man of integrity.”
In the Observer interview, Dr Kumarasiri raised the prospect of constitutional amendments under consensus “to overcome the problems in holding elections before the date as specified in the constitution. Constitutional amendments may also become necessary in other areas, including the endemic problem of power separation between the executive, judiciary and the legislative.”
Nasheed’s resignation, Dr Kumarasiri insisted, was “voluntary”, something he said was very clear from video recordings that are now available.”
“His own doings led to his voluntary resignation, including the arrest of a Judge of the Criminal Court and other atrocious acts which turned the public wrath against him. Later, heeding requests of his party men who had lost their positions and economic footing, he took recourse to violent protests demanding snap polls.”
“There was no duress whatsoever on him , he wrote the resignation letter in his own handwriting and handed it over in front of the TV and the public. It was initially found that he had spent monies to the tune of some Rs. 17 billion for projects of his own design and appointing people to them. The amount is believed to be Rs.23 billion now. Under such financial straits, the Maldives cannot even think about snap polls,” Dr Kumarasiri alleged.
Meanwhile, impact on the Maldives’ tourism industry had been limited to “minor hiccups” and “one or two chartered flights were cancelled because the tourists wanted to be on the cautious side.”
“President Waheed has de-escalated the situation,” he claimed.
“Close friend of the President”
Dr Kumarasiri first appeared to the media during a Q&A session with foreign media held in Dr Waheed’s residence on February 16, introducing himself as “a friend passing through”.
Australian SBS reporter Mark Davis challenged Dr Waheed that “you are an educated man who has been deeply involved in the United Nations, you know that that when a General puts a gun to your head, even metaphorically, that is not a resignation. Do you not accept that?”
Dr Kumarasir injected, stating: “If I may inject, from the video tapes, I do not see how my colleague has got this impression that there was a coup. If there was a coup then [it would show] from the tapes… from the evidence.”
President Waheed’s Press Secretary, Masood Imad, told Minivan News that Dr Kumarasiri was not employed by the government, but was “a very close friend of Dr Waheed” who had stopped by.
Imad expressed surprise that Dr Kumarasiri had spoken to Sri Lankan media: “I thought he had gone back to Malaysia”.
According to biographical notes online, Dr Kumarasiri is a retired career ambassador of thirty years standing, who joined the Malaysian Foreign Service in 1966.
Born in Malaysia to Sri Lankan parents, his early diplomatic postings included Assistant High Commissioner in Madras (1966-1972), Counsellor in New Delhi (1972 -1975) and Counsellor in Tokyo (1975-1978), Minister in Washington DC (1981-1984) and High Commissioner to Nigeria and Ghana in 1984.
He later became Director General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and authored the book, “Professional Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs Management: The Malaysian Experience”.
He is also a acclaimed speaker and proponent of Buddhism, and has written numerous titles on the religion including, in 2009, Siddhartha: Prince of Peace, as well as Matu-Posaka: Paragon of Filial Piety, Angulimala, My First Word Book: Buddhist Pedagogical Approach, The Terrifying Drug Menace: Relevance and Role of Buddhism, Welcoming the Birth of a Child, Living Buddhism: The Way Forward, Living Buddhism: Advancing from Knowing to Being, My Alphabet Book: Buddhist Pedagogical Approach and A Compendium of Buddhist Personal Names: Heritage and Significance of Adoption.
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He should be concerned at the number of ancient Maldivian Buddhist relics, including Buddhas, that were smashed as soon as his friend usurped power.
President Waheed had, Dr Kumarasiri said, “appointed a government of technocrats who are capable in their own lines.”
How pathetic? People who know Maldives politics are aware of his so called "Gaumee Party". They registered with 3000 signatories and now the number has gone down to 1800 or so. His party failed in all recent elections including Parlimentary election and local council elections. Heis party has got not a single seat in any of the councils and also in the Peoples Majlis?? so? He has got his wife, brothers and close friends in his party and how could he appoint ministers to cabinet from his party when there is no one to appoint who is capable registered in his party?
Waheed. The Bagee, the loser!!
“They are not supposed to function as politicians but instead, they have to do everything in the national interest and deliver the goods through their proposals, projects or whatever. Political parties can go ahead with their kind of politics. In a truly democratic sense he has not appointed anyone to the Cabinet portfolios from his party. He is very transparent, very accountable and is a man of integrity.”
How pathetic? People who know Maldives politics are aware of his so called “Gaumee Party”. They registered with 3000 signatories and now the number has gone down to 1800 or so. His party failed in all recent elections including Parlimentary election and local council elections. Heis party has got not a single seat in any of the councils and also in the Peoples Majlis?? so? He has got his wife, brothers and close friends in his party and how could he appoint ministers to cabinet from his party when there is no one to appoint who is capable registered in his party?
Waheed. The Bagee, the loser!!
Well A Buddhist close friend of Waheed ...I don't think Sheik Imran can work with such a non-Muslim. Or they use religion just for political purpose.
Being a Buddhist, it is a big surprise someone like him to paint a picture of a person of broad liberal like Nasheed as someone has atrocious nature. The course of action that Nasheed took was in chaotic environment where liberalism and democracy was seen as unfriendly and evil. He had rebellious minded opposition who were not used to democratic values but rather had history of barbaric methods to deal with opposite thinking where fact and reality is considered as myths and myths and fantasies are believed to be real. And mostly self- centered egocentric opposition.
Dr. Kumarasiri should visit "lonuziyaaraiy kolhu" in the evening with his video camera and a translator! He will learn a lot about how Maldivians feel about his friend and his so called Government!
I cannot believe how ignorant this man is.. You don't know anything about the Maldives and it's situation ..stop writing stupid articles about Maldives and get your rest at home you old AH . Dr Waheed has no integrity , he was just greedy for power. He is showing his iron fist now cos his brains are getting tired already. He has no political weight in this country and he has no capacity to solve any problem in this country. Watch the demonstrations going on in this country.. and it is not violent you old bag ....
Shall we finish this for our future. I suggest to have an election as soon as posible. Let the Maldivian Voice to be heard. Why we need foreigners to get involved in our internal issues. We have enough capacity to solve our issues. We don't need foreign interfierences.
Waheed is so desperate that he has to bring foreign diplomat friends as allies and make them talk on behalf of him in the international media. how pathetic!
Obviously Dr Waheed doesn't trust his allies, to have brought a "friend" from Malaysia, to help him out and to defend his position. Well, not surprising, since Dr Waheed would know how he came to be the President, and he would also know that the people surrounding him are hungry for power and would be more than willing to get rid of him at the earliest opportunity. As for Dr Waheed's dear friend, I have to say that writing a book on Buddhism and being a retired diplomat doesn't make him an expert on politics in Maldives. Maybe Dr Waheed's dear friend can be so kind as to offer refuge to him, when he will eventually have to leave Maldives from shame?! Good to know that he atleast he has some dear friends...he'll need all the friends he can get.
GET LOST, You are the same........
Do not come to Maldives in 2013.
Waheed is working with a BUDDIST PREACHER to run the country??? This is the situation now!! We have an invasion of BUDDISM from the new government!
This government tell us we have to "embrace Islam" and then they let a well known BUDDIST from another country into the inner circle to RUN OUR COUNTRY.
Congratulatipns to Waheed for letting a BUDDIST answer the difficult questions in your interviews. What else does he advise on, how to stay in power when you do not have a seat from voting??
Excellent international and foreign influence and from another religion. Well done you hypocrites and Saeed!
what is this? some 'just passing through'comment isn't going to mean we Maldivians are blinded to what you terrorists are doing. waheed had better leave the Maldives while he can methinks..
Ooopps! We now have a famous BUDDIST running the country too.
Vote for Waheed!
When does a close friend who is heading a state and to that matter a foreigner become the mouth piece of a government.
This man clearly does not understand What really happened.
Waheed if your such a peace loving man why don't you pave way for peace.
Hey! How Much Did You Get Paid To Say Those Things You Said? Are You A Supporter Of Sarath Fonseka(TheJailbird/Kalavedda/Paharaya)Too? You Idiot, Are The Same As The Waheed Fella. Cannot See Common Sense? Greedy? You Blind? You Supporting Paedo Ranil At Present? Or that JVP Loud-Mouther.? Keep Away From Maldive Politics, YOU LOSER. Get Your Money elsewhere.Follow Your Siddhartha Principles. WHO YOU KIDDING?
Waheed Will Not Have Elections For ever. He's Gonna Bring Military Rule To Control Innocent People! After-All He ie Waheed Need To Fill His Pockets First.!
Oh dear! We have a Buddhist giving direction to Waheed now. If I recall correctly, Waheed's cabinet colleague, Jameel, was claiming (only a few weeks ago), that Christian Priests were behind President Nasheed!
Where are our defenders of the faith? Where is Jameel? Why isn't he running to the media and the Courts with this? Surely, a Buddhist sitting with Waheed and advising him poses even more danger to the country than a Christian Priest that we have never even seen.
C'mon, Comical Waheed, you're making me laugh so hard today!
Dr Kumarasiri has seen videos of the coup but the Maldivians have seen and observed the Coup from its beginning to the end....people have seen the national TV station's Main gate was destroyed by the Security forces and someone telling President Nasheed shall resign soon...people have seen a former national security officer telling to the Police & MNDF officers who were directly involving orders of someone but not of the elected President Nasheed telling that Nasheed has no choice but to resign....
Kumarasiri!!!! you better seek medical care for having difficulties in understanding what is apparent & real
budhu waheed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7eFhuVjKds&feature=youtu.be
“a friend passing through”!
His next book - GONDI KOKKO WAHEED Prince of TREACHERY!
The Sheikhs after having been tools for smashing anything and everything relating to idol worship at the National Museum, has imported this legend, addicted to propagating Buddhism!
"Embrace Buddhism to DEFEND ISLAM" next theme of the Sheikhs who vowed to DEFEND ISLAM, to the last drop of their blood!
Alarming!
If the people who gathered on 24th February at artificial beach are the "JIHAADHISTS" as Dr. Waheed say to DEFEND ISLAM and the Country!
Allah! Save us!
No wonder why Gola was screwing and bribing all Buddhists in Malaysia trying to create a 21st century dictator induced democracy look
Nice to see another Buddhist friend of Dr.Hassan keke
We Maldivians have seen it, been there, felt the tear gas, brutal attacks, threats and bled.
And suddenly an all knowing retired diplomat who is "just passing" by knows what really happened?
Btw I didnt know just anyone could speak or "inject" on behalf of a president of the Maldives...can I have a go at injecting too?
Getting cornered like the rat you are huh Waheed?
Whats the big deal if Dr Waheed has a budhist friend. Nasheed had a christian friend called 'Robert Blake' as one of his advisor employed by maldivian government during his presidency. Where were you all critics back then. So hypocritic.
Dr.Kumarasiri.tell me have you ever heard on any media that a president of a country resigned just few as 600 demonstrators protesting in an area of 400/300 meters?justify how can a civilian take comand of military and police force?let me show u the picture... The whole thing was pre-planed since the first day of demonstration.reason 1 no country will allow people to demonstrate infront of its military head-quarters.
Even if there is a fair election currently Anni has no chance to win. He wants one before he gets busted to all the illegal works he has done...
So finally Dictator Gayyoom from Malaysia hired a diplomatic mercenary to come and assist Waheed to legalize the coup. Please enjoy all the robbed monies from us in Malaysia and don't send mercenaries to destroy us any more. We don't want you. Go to Hell Gayyoom.
Yes sure, Mohamed Ali....we totally agree with u..........we request Gayyoom not to send diplomatic mercenaries to our country for legalizing Feyrey Waheed's brutal coup
It is shameful and saddening to see a supposedly Searcher for Truth not only lying blantantly but taking side with the presently stronger side. "Atrocities" are what your people have been inflicting to the Tamil minority in your country. Chose your words more carefully when referring to the morally absolutely necessary and right step to arrest a criminal judge. How dare you write books about enligthening of the mind when your own is so obviously corrupt? Please don't write books for others! Do some proper meditation and purify your own mind!!!
@ Yasir
Nasheed welcomes the world and other's expertise and opinions to drag this country out of the dark ages - this new regime preach hatred and sharia to any-one who is not 100% Isalm. Did you see Waheed shouting last week - idiot!
Don,t you understand this?? It makes Waheed a fake, a puppet and the whole new regime hypocrites!
By the way, Robert Blake has nothing to do with MDP - look up the facts before you print your rubbish.
@ Sabina Manik = 100% spot on!
Our great new President can not speak for himself, the Buddist preacher answers the tricky questions for him and our country to the world'd media.
So much for 100% Islam Jameel and Saeed!!!!
Laughable.
Gayyoom & Mahathir Co. Pte. Ltd.