15 Minutes with Mohamed Latheef, Founder & Spokesperson for the Maldivian Democratic Party

Minivan News spends 15 Minutes with Mohamed Latheef, Founder & Spokesperson for the Maldivian Democratic Party
1) You chose not to stand for an executive position in the recently held MDP elections for the Provisional Governing Council. Why is that?
I’m perfectly happy to be a founder and the spokesperson. What is important is that the reform agenda goes forward, not whether one has an executive position or not. I distinctly prefer to exercise, if I can, moral authority rather than executive authority.
2) Given that you did not contest, and Mohamed Nasheed (Anni) was elected Chairman of the MDP Council, does this mean Anni is now effectively the leader of the MDP?
No. He is the chairman of the Provisional Governing Council. The party leader would be elected by the whole party membership on the basis of one-member one-vote, when we are able to function in the Maldives more openly and without constraints.
Anni is both energetic and imaginative; he is the best man for the job. He certainly has my full confidence.
You would notice that the Council has made a conscious effort to diffuse the powers of any one individual.
3) How is that?
We have an executive body of four and additionally the Parliamentary Working Group, a registrar-general, two advisors and myself, all with well defined roles and responsibilities. All are responsible to the Council.
This would bring about the necessary checks and balances within the party hierarchy. The idea behind this is to ensure that the party remains true to its ideals of democracy and does not degenerate into an autocratic political institution. Autocracy is precisely what we are struggling against. We need to set an example, practice what we preach.
4) Why then, were the positions of the Council not chosen directly by the membership of the party?
The membership earlier decided to give the responsibility of choosing office-bearers and positions in the Council to the members of the Council till such time as the party is able to function more openly and transparently in the Maldives.
Bear in mind this is only a provisional council. As soon as the party is registered there will be fresh, direct elections from the party membership. Given the present constraints including, for example, our inability to have an open party meeting in the Maldives, the members decided to entrust the 15-member Council to elect a provisional leadership. This is an interim arrangement.
When the party is registered and members can exercise their membership freely and without fear we will have a truly inclusive party election that will attract an even more competent leadership. We look forward to that day.
5) What is the relationship between the MDP Provisional Governing Council and the Parliamentary Working Group (PWG) – who is in charge of who?
The PWG is elected by the Council and will operate within the broad guidelines set out by the Council. Having said that, the group would work independently from the Council as far as the nitty-gritty details are concerned. Many of us in this struggle harbour a deep suspicion of, almost an aversion to, highly centralized authority.
6) So, for instance if you have a major point of principle on constitutional reform, such as whether the party would back a Westminster or a Presidential system of democracy, how would the Council and the PWG come to an agreement if there was a difference of opinion?
The decision of the Council shall necessarily prevail. Keep in mind that the PWG has its authority delegated to it by the Governing Council. As such there must be the discipline to adhere to the basic principles espoused by the party as a whole.
7) After the parliamentary elections, the MDP seems to be going into a new phase, moving from essentially an advocacy group into a properly-functioning political entity. Is this perception correct?
Very much so. As you are aware, MDP-backed candidates won a clear majority of the popular vote in the recent elections, including overwhelming victories in the two urban centres, Male’ and Addu Atoll.
However, we still don’t have a majority in the parliament but we have enough seats to create robust debate. The party needs to build its capacity even further and to work as a responsible opposition, which we will do. As the recent election affirms, MDP’s vision of a just, free, liberal and equitable society based on ideals of democracy, respect for the rule of law and human rights has found resonance in our society. Our strategies and tactics must evolve to effectively achieve such hopes and aspirations. We are hopeful the government will give us the space to work as a responsible opposition.
8) Despite getting a majority of the popular vote, why don’t you have a working majority of seats?
Despite a majority of popular votes, especially in the urban centres, the MDP still does not have a working majority in the parliament because at present there is no proportionate representation and each constituency is represented by two members regardless of the density of the population. For example in Vaavu Atoll the number of eligible voters is 1,197 and in Male the number is 29,763. Yet the constituencies are represented by two members each.
Moreover, the President is able to appoint eight members of his choice, without recourse to a popular democratic mandate whatsoever.
9) Given that the MDP is perceived to have done so well in these elections, are you now dropping your complaints that the elections weren’t free and fair?
No. The election was overwhelmingly rigged in favour of pro-government candidates. This fact can be verified by the statement made by the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives. Moreover, the pre-election environment was hardly conducive to a free and fair election.
At least ten MDP members, who would have most likely won, were unable to contest because of intimidation while under arbitrary detention or because of forced exile. I have no doubt whatsoever that in a free and fair election MDP and reformists would win at least two-thirds of the elected parliamentary seats.
As the Human Rights Commission clearly indicated some candidates “won” their seats, in some constituencies, through widespread electoral fraud. The shockingly poor showing of Gayoom’s cabinet ministers in Male’, Addu and Laam Atoll, where voter intimidation was comparatively more difficult, is indicative of the mood of the people.
10) The government spokesman, Dr Shaheed, alleged in an interview with a newspaper in Sri Lanka that some MDP candidates won because they paid money to voters. Can you comment on this?
I love the good Dr. Shaheed! I consider him one of MDP’s greatest assets. He is so outrageous in his pronouncement, so far removed from the truth that no one – neither the people of Maldives nor the international community – takes him seriously.
As the Human Rights Commission quite rightly stated, money was a factor in the election. Very clearly government resources were liberally and overtly used by pro-government candidates. This is an established fact. It is as if the government was underwriting pro-government candidates.
Then there is the case of a government Minister who had his unofficial business partners as candidates dishing out money by the bag-full to buy seats for themselves. Pro-government candidates openly flouted election laws to get themselves elected. To no one’s surprise Dr Shaheed, as usual, is barking up the wrong tree and he knows it.
11) What does the international community think about the election?
I’m extremely pleased with the reaction of the international community. They now know very clearly and unambiguously that MDP has captured the imagination of the people of Maldives. They know the election proves that, after 27 years of autocratic rule, the country is ripe for freedom and democracy. They know that there is no getting away from genuine reform as opposed to the tokenism that we have seen so far. From a party virtually on trial for treason, as it were, a few months ago the MDP has proved to the people of Maldives as well as to the international community that we represent ideals whose time has come. The message of the electorate is loud and clear: MDP can no longer be marginalised. The international community understands this. The question is, does Gayoom?
12) Is the government listening? I understand that both the government and the MDP are making conciliatory gestures. Is this true?
Given the homogeneity of our society, given the small population, we can and we must resolve our differences amicably and through dialogue. Despite the noises and cosmetic changes, the regime seems unable to grasp this reality. The regime still seems to believe that, through a mixture of coercion and co-option of individuals, it can thwart this movement for freedom. It cannot. As awareness continues to increase in the Maldives, the movement will only grow stronger.
13) So, what are you looking for from the government?
It can start by acknowledging and accepting the fact that our society does face problems. Deep-rooted socio-political and economic problems. Problems related to issues of governance. Problems that cannot be swept under the carpet anymore. Greater courage and political will, as opposed to coercion and intimidation, is now needed. The government, especially Gayoom, needs to be more imaginative, more accommodating.
14) The government would point to the separation of the police and NSS as examples of reform. Police brutality has abated has it not?
Has it really? I believe not.
The brutal crackdown and the subsequent systematic torture, sexual abuse and cruel and degrading treatment meted out to detainees subsequent to last August’s peaceful gathering is the worst show of police excess we have had in recent years. As the overwhelmingly excessive force used on one unarmed person on Election Day clearly demonstrates, a policy of using violence to maintain the regime in power is still very much in force.
The fact that the Maldives, in terms of percentage of GDP, is one of the top-ten spenders in the world on the military is no accident. It is a state policy – a policy of repressing a homogenous nation of less than 300,000 people to maintain the political status quo.
I have credible information that more tools of violence and more sophisticated riot gear is being purchased. Let not sweet sounds about “substantial reforms” lull us into complacency: the Maldives is still a police state. Full stop.
The fact that Police Commissioner Adam Zahir, who is widely regarded as a symbol of police brutality and human rights abuses, is deeply entrenched in power and is still in charge of maintaining the regime in power is a glaring symbol of the oppressive nature of our system of governance.
The new blue police uniforms may well be quite pretty. But, for most people I know that hardly constitutes the “substantial reforms” that Gayoom likes to flaunt. Gayoom needs to move beyond tokenism.
15) So what advice do you have for President Gayoom?
Would he listen to my advice?
Could I submit a wish-list instead?
I wish that Gayoom would, at long last, truly understand that the people of Maldives yearn to get out of the oppressive, archaic, medieval and feudalistic political system we are bogged down in.
I wish Gayoom would understand that fancy rhetoric about change, even if accompanied by an expert PR exercise, does not, per se, result in meaningful change.
I wish Gayoom would appreciate that, to be believable, he needs to back his words with deeds.
He needs to ease off the hardliners and those who continue to violate the people’s fundamental rights under the guise of maintaining law and order.
While on the subject of the law, we look forward to being ruled under the rule of law whereby we could enjoy at least the fundamental civil and political rights guaranteed by the constitution.
I also wish that 42% of my fellow countrymen need not live in poverty amongst plenty. A fairer and more equitable system of distribution of the Nation’s wealth, a more rational, accountable and transparent system of governance that would guarantee such equality needs to be established.
The list goes on…
16) OK, I get the point. What if Gayoom agrees to all those wishes – will the MDP be prepared to work with Gayoom?
Absolutely. In a country this small and this homogenous, where everybody knows everybody else, antagonism need not be the order of things. Like I always say; with goodwill and strong commitment on the part of all stakeholders we can evolve, without recourse to violence, into a vibrant democratic, freedom-loving nation.
Yes, the MDP would back any sincere attempt by President Gayoom to initiate meaningful democratic reform.

Minivan News spends 15 Minutes with Mohamed Latheef, Founder & Spokesperson for the Maldivian Democratic Party

1) You chose not to stand for an executive position in the recently held MDP elections for the Provisional Governing Council. Why is that?

I’m perfectly happy to be a founder and the spokesperson. What is important is that the reform agenda goes forward, not whether one has an executive position or not. I distinctly prefer to exercise, if I can, moral authority rather than executive authority.

2) Given that you did not contest, and Mohamed Nasheed (Anni) was elected Chairman of the MDP Council, does this mean Anni is now effectively the leader of the MDP?

No. He is the chairman of the Provisional Governing Council. The party leader would be elected by the whole party membership on the basis of one-member one-vote, when we are able to function in the Maldives more openly and without constraints.

Anni is both energetic and imaginative; he is the best man for the job. He certainly has my full confidence.

You would notice that the Council has made a conscious effort to diffuse the powers of any one individual.

3) How is that?

We have an executive body of four and additionally the Parliamentary Working Group, a registrar-general, two advisors and myself, all with well defined roles and responsibilities. All are responsible to the Council.

This would bring about the necessary checks and balances within the party hierarchy. The idea behind this is to ensure that the party remains true to its ideals of democracy and does not degenerate into an autocratic political institution. Autocracy is precisely what we are struggling against. We need to set an example, practice what we preach.

4) Why then, were the positions of the Council not chosen directly by the membership of the party?

The membership earlier decided to give the responsibility of choosing office-bearers and positions in the Council to the members of the Council till such time as the party is able to function more openly and transparently in the Maldives.

Bear in mind this is only a provisional council. As soon as the party is registered there will be fresh, direct elections from the party membership. Given the present constraints including, for example, our inability to have an open party meeting in the Maldives, the members decided to entrust the 15-member Council to elect a provisional leadership. This is an interim arrangement.

When the party is registered and members can exercise their membership freely and without fear we will have a truly inclusive party election that will attract an even more competent leadership. We look forward to that day.

5) What is the relationship between the MDP Provisional Governing Council and the Parliamentary Working Group (PWG) – who is in charge of who?

The PWG is elected by the Council and will operate within the broad guidelines set out by the Council. Having said that, the group would work independently from the Council as far as the nitty-gritty details are concerned. Many of us in this struggle harbour a deep suspicion of, almost an aversion to, highly centralized authority.

6) So, for instance if you have a major point of principle on constitutional reform, such as whether the party would back a Westminster or a Presidential system of democracy, how would the Council and the PWG come to an agreement if there was a difference of opinion?

The decision of the Council shall necessarily prevail. Keep in mind that the PWG has its authority delegated to it by the Governing Council. As such there must be the discipline to adhere to the basic principles espoused by the party as a whole.

7) After the parliamentary elections, the MDP seems to be going into a new phase, moving from essentially an advocacy group into a properly-functioning political entity. Is this perception correct?

Very much so. As you are aware, MDP-backed candidates won a clear majority of the popular vote in the recent elections, including overwhelming victories in the two urban centres, Male’ and Addu Atoll.

However, we still don’t have a majority in the parliament but we have enough seats to create robust debate. The party needs to build its capacity even further and to work as a responsible opposition, which we will do. As the recent election affirms, MDP’s vision of a just, free, liberal and equitable society based on ideals of democracy, respect for the rule of law and human rights has found resonance in our society. Our strategies and tactics must evolve to effectively achieve such hopes and aspirations. We are hopeful the government will give us the space to work as a responsible opposition.

8) Despite getting a majority of the popular vote, why don’t you have a working majority of seats?

Despite a majority of popular votes, especially in the urban centres, the MDP still does not have a working majority in the parliament because at present there is no proportionate representation and each constituency is represented by two members regardless of the density of the population. For example in Vaavu Atoll the number of eligible voters is 1,197 and in Male the number is 29,763. Yet the constituencies are represented by two members each.

Moreover, the President is able to appoint eight members of his choice, without recourse to a popular democratic mandate whatsoever.

9) Given that the MDP is perceived to have done so well in these elections, are you now dropping your complaints that the elections weren’t free and fair?

No. The election was overwhelmingly rigged in favour of pro-government candidates. This fact can be verified by the statement made by the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives. Moreover, the pre-election environment was hardly conducive to a free and fair election.

At least ten MDP members, who would have most likely won, were unable to contest because of intimidation while under arbitrary detention or because of forced exile. I have no doubt whatsoever that in a free and fair election MDP and reformists would win at least two-thirds of the elected parliamentary seats.

As the Human Rights Commission clearly indicated some candidates “won” their seats, in some constituencies, through widespread electoral fraud. The shockingly poor showing of Gayoom’s cabinet ministers in Male’, Addu and Laam Atoll, where voter intimidation was comparatively more difficult, is indicative of the mood of the people.

10) The government spokesman, Dr Shaheed, alleged in an interview with a newspaper in Sri Lanka that some MDP candidates won because they paid money to voters. Can you comment on this?

I love the good Dr. Shaheed! I consider him one of MDP’s greatest assets. He is so outrageous in his pronouncement, so far removed from the truth that no one – neither the people of Maldives nor the international community – takes him seriously.

As the Human Rights Commission quite rightly stated, money was a factor in the election. Very clearly government resources were liberally and overtly used by pro-government candidates. This is an established fact. It is as if the government was underwriting pro-government candidates.

Then there is the case of a government Minister who had his unofficial business partners as candidates dishing out money by the bag-full to buy seats for themselves. Pro-government candidates openly flouted election laws to get themselves elected. To no one’s surprise Dr Shaheed, as usual, is barking up the wrong tree and he knows it.

11) What does the international community think about the election?

I’m extremely pleased with the reaction of the international community. They now know very clearly and unambiguously that MDP has captured the imagination of the people of Maldives. They know the election proves that, after 27 years of autocratic rule, the country is ripe for freedom and democracy. They know that there is no getting away from genuine reform as opposed to the tokenism that we have seen so far. From a party virtually on trial for treason, as it were, a few months ago the MDP has proved to the people of Maldives as well as to the international community that we represent ideals whose time has come. The message of the electorate is loud and clear: MDP can no longer be marginalised. The international community understands this. The question is, does Gayoom?

12) Is the government listening? I understand that both the government and the MDP are making conciliatory gestures. Is this true?

Given the homogeneity of our society, given the small population, we can and we must resolve our differences amicably and through dialogue. Despite the noises and cosmetic changes, the regime seems unable to grasp this reality. The regime still seems to believe that, through a mixture of coercion and co-option of individuals, it can thwart this movement for freedom. It cannot. As awareness continues to increase in the Maldives, the movement will only grow stronger.

13) So, what are you looking for from the government?

It can start by acknowledging and accepting the fact that our society does face problems. Deep-rooted socio-political and economic problems. Problems related to issues of governance. Problems that cannot be swept under the carpet anymore. Greater courage and political will, as opposed to coercion and intimidation, is now needed. The government, especially Gayoom, needs to be more imaginative, more accommodating.

14) The government would point to the separation of the police and NSS as examples of reform. Police brutality has abated has it not?

Has it really? I believe not.

The brutal crackdown and the subsequent systematic torture, sexual abuse and cruel and degrading treatment meted out to detainees subsequent to last August’s peaceful gathering is the worst show of police excess we have had in recent years. As the overwhelmingly excessive force used on one unarmed person on Election Day clearly demonstrates, a policy of using violence to maintain the regime in power is still very much in force.

The fact that the Maldives, in terms of percentage of GDP, is one of the top-ten spenders in the world on the military is no accident. It is a state policy – a policy of repressing a homogenous nation of less than 300,000 people to maintain the political status quo.

I have credible information that more tools of violence and more sophisticated riot gear is being purchased. Let not sweet sounds about “substantial reforms” lull us into complacency: the Maldives is still a police state. Full stop.

The fact that Police Commissioner Adam Zahir, who is widely regarded as a symbol of police brutality and human rights abuses, is deeply entrenched in power and is still in charge of maintaining the regime in power is a glaring symbol of the oppressive nature of our system of governance.

The new blue police uniforms may well be quite pretty. But, for most people I know that hardly constitutes the “substantial reforms” that Gayoom likes to flaunt. Gayoom needs to move beyond tokenism.

15) So what advice do you have for President Gayoom?

Would he listen to my advice?

Could I submit a wish-list instead?

I wish that Gayoom would, at long last, truly understand that the people of Maldives yearn to get out of the oppressive, archaic, medieval and feudalistic political system we are bogged down in.

I wish Gayoom would understand that fancy rhetoric about change, even if accompanied by an expert PR exercise, does not, per se, result in meaningful change.

I wish Gayoom would appreciate that, to be believable, he needs to back his words with deeds.

He needs to ease off the hardliners and those who continue to violate the people’s fundamental rights under the guise of maintaining law and order.

While on the subject of the law, we look forward to being ruled under the rule of law whereby we could enjoy at least the fundamental civil and political rights guaranteed by the constitution.

I also wish that 42% of my fellow countrymen need not live in poverty amongst plenty. A fairer and more equitable system of distribution of the Nation’s wealth, a more rational, accountable and transparent system of governance that would guarantee such equality needs to be established.

The list goes on…

16) OK, I get the point. What if Gayoom agrees to all those wishes – will the MDP be prepared to work with Gayoom?

Absolutely. In a country this small and this homogenous, where everybody knows everybody else, antagonism need not be the order of things. Like I always say; with goodwill and strong commitment on the part of all stakeholders we can evolve, without recourse to violence, into a vibrant democratic, freedom-loving nation.

Yes, the MDP would back any sincere attempt by President Gayoom to initiate meaningful democratic reform.

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