Adhaalath And MDP Considered Alliance

Leaders of the Adhaalath party approached the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) to discuss an alliance against President Gayoom in 2006, Ahmed Ibrahim Didi (Sandhaanu Didi), has told Minivan News.

Didi was Adhaalath’s Political Advisor until he quit the party to rejoin the MDP last week. He says he only joined Adhaalath in July 2006 “to take it in a good political direction” and forge an alliance with the MDP. But “high ranking officials” in Adhaalath were put off by the MDP’s tactics of protest and demonstration.

According to Didi, Adhaalath’s priority is now religion, and the MDP is the only party committed to political reform.

Common Ground

When he joined Adhaalath in July 2006, Didi says its leaders were aware he intended to forge a political alliance with the MDP.

“I didn’t approach them, they actively sought me out,” Didi says. “They knew I was not religious in the sense of being able to give sermons like them… I told them very frankly, I am not from your category, why should I go with you? We will have different opinions.”

“But they said we will work together… They believed I could give political sermons in this country… They believed in me. They knew I dad political intentions… and I wanted to take [the party] in a political direction.”

And, Didi says, in July last year, the MDP were equally enthusiastic about the possibility of an alliance. “I talked to Mr Zaki [the Acting MDP President] about this as soon as I joined Adhaalath. He welcomed it. He said even before I approached him, they themselves [Adhaalath leaders] had approached him.”

Didi says he did not believe the religious character of the Adhaalath party should prevent an alliance on “political common ground.”

“I was not from a religious party and, from the beginning, Anni [the MDP Chairman] he was a political man. We were doing what we were doing. Adhaalath were doing something else from the beginning.”

But, “they have registered as a political party. They have supporters from society.” And “their ambition is the same as MDP… to overthrow Gayoom. They are not with the government. I am 100% sure. They are against the government.” So, “together we could work on this political ground.”

Arab Money

Didi wanted Adhaalath to assist the MDP’s attempts to win support in the international community, and support its demonstrations on the street.

“I suggested to them, why don’t we go to Sri Lanka and give a helping hand to Anni when he talks to the embassies.”

Didi believed Adhaalath’s religious character could be used to win financial support from the Middle East. “I said… with beards… if we go to Arabia, we can also get something. Now Gayoom is just taking money from them in our name. So why don’t we go? Why don’t we stop it?”

He attended most MDP protests during his short time in Adhaalath and asked the party leaders, “why don’t you come to the street and join the MDP. Why don’t you allow me to hoist the Adhaalath flag [at protests].”

“My Aim Had Failed”

“With my work with, in my opinion, Adhaalath could have been a better party than they are now,” Didi says. But his attempt to make Adhaalath play a more active political role was frustrated.

“Top-ranking [Adhaalath] officials are not interested” in an alliance, Didi says. “The MDP is coming on to the street. But they [the Adhaalath officials] feel this is something very bad. They don’t want this.”

Although Didi did not officially leave Adhaalath until last week, on the day he rejoined the MDP, he says he stopped working for Adhaalath at the end of 2006.

“I believe in these [Adhaalath] people and highly respect them for their religious work. I respect what they are doing… But I don’t think its enough… It’s a political party, and must work as such.” Didi explains. “I didn’t join just to go preaching Islamic sermons with them.”

Didi says he told Adhaalath leaders, “Gayoom is not listening to us. We cannot bring reform while we site in an air-conditioned room… We cannot just write. We have to pressure him somehow.” But, he says, “Adhaalath was just keeping quiet.”

By the end of 2006, the MDP and Adhaalath were publicly attacking each other. Adhaalath accused the MDP of being Christian missionaries at a public rally in September and complained that MDP Chairman Anni had publicly attacked them in a media interview.

Religious Appeal?

The two parties have since drifted towards religious and political identities. Adhaalath delivers political messages through fatwas and religious sermons, making it impossible for the government to control them, while MDP activists are regularly arrested for political activities.

Didi accepts Ahdaalath’s religious tactics can be effective. “Some MDP members say that Adhaalath is on the right track,” he admits, “in the case of Hussein Salah, religious pronouncements were very effective.”

But he says Adhaalath’s religious statements are powerful because they are critical of President Gayoom. “I feel [people] are going to Adhaalath to hear Hussain Rasheed [Adhaalath’s President] be highly critical of Gayoom. Only some of them go for the sermons.”

Didi says the MDP is right to continue its political campaign and should not imitate Ahdaalath’s religious tactics. “There is no question of religion. These are political affairs we have to deal with. We should not bring religious and political affairs together.”

And he believes Maldivians remain supportive of the MDP. “Sometimes they [Adhaalath leaders] feel they are popular enough without the MDP. But I don’t feel that… I don’t think in the coming election, if they do not change their policy, they will be winning.”

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Throughout his interview, Didi says he shares Adhaalath’s view of a Muslim society. “I am a pure Muslim. I have no disagreement with Adhaalath on Islam… they are my friends.”

He pinpoints one difference between himself and his former colleagues. “Adhaalath want a good Islamic society. I want an Islamic society, but without Gayoom.”