Constitution Complete By January: Ibra

When the Special Majlis was formed to agree an amended constitution for the Maldives, no-one thought it would be a walk in the park.

But fast-forward three years; endless procedural debates, sniping among members and poor attendance have threatened to derail the process altogether.

Ibrahim Ismail (Ibra), Chair of the constitution Drafting Committee, tells Minivan News why the constitution will be complete by the end of the year, hits out at game playing, and talks up his own Presidential hopes.

End of The Year?

Ibra, who has always been sceptical about the 30 November deadline agreed by Special Majlis members, says he is “optimistic” the constitution will be finished “by the end of the year.”

”Members are running out of gas,” he says, but public pressure will force them to complete the dragged out process.

“It’s increasingly more apparent to the public what is happening, and most members have aspirations to run for public office,” Ibra points out.

Despite Ibra’s optimism, members have been unable to agree final versions of several clauses of the bill of rights, the first draft chapter to be considered on the Special Majlis floor.

The Drafting Committee has the unenviable task of writing new versions more likely to receive majority backing from the Special Majlis floor.

So how can consensus be achieved when solutions have to be acceptable to everyone?

Ibra’s reply that it is “is possible,” because “it has to be possible,” is not massively convincing.

Personal Interest

Ibra blames political parties, the Government’s DRP and the opposition MDP account for most Special Majlis members, for failing to whip members behind particular amendments.

“We could have finished this chapter [a bill of rights] by now if there had been more cooperation from them,” he sighs.

But key issues appear to have cut across party lines. A decision on whether to incorporate the Islamic sharia into the draft bill of rights divided the Majlis completely last week, drawing passionate support and criticism from both major parties.

Ibra says these individual battles are tied up in “personal interest” and warns “playing to the public,” could still threaten the constitution’s passage.

Gayoom’s Shadow?

Ibra and the MDP have consistently accused President Gayoom of using his in built majority in the Special Majlis to stall the constitution reform process.

But Ibra says international pressure will prevent Gayoom undermining the process, “however much he would like to.”

“He’s on borrowed time, as far as the international community is concerned,” he says, confidently. “The Government can’t afford to go back on it’s word to major international stakeholders.”

Yet he tells me there has been “more than one occasion” when Gayoom has proposed amendments through party members, to try and slow the process and consolidate power.

“Abbas’ recent amendment was deliberately put on the floor by Gayoom,” he says, referring to the divisive proposal to incorporate sharia into the bill of rights.

“You have to look at these amendments as a sequence,” he adds, arguing Gayoom is plotting to ensure the executive retains significant power under the revised constitution.

Eventually incorporating sharia could give, “ultimate power to the Chief Justice over the Supreme court, by-passing the Majlis [parliament] altogether.”

Ibra for President?

Ibra was among the first to declare his candidacy for next year’s presidential poll. Yet his fledgling Social Liberal Party (SLP) is still not registered, and he faces stiff competition from President Gayoom among others.

So how does he believe he can win?

“I think I have an excellent chance,” he says, although he refuses to disclose exactly how many supporters his party has, because he doesn’t “trust the Electoral Commission.”

Last week former Attorney General Dr Hassan Saeed, launched his own campaign.

Saeed, like Ibra a reform minded candidate, said he had contacted opposition parties to discuss a united front against Gayoom, but Ibra has yet to hear anything.

“It doesn’t bother me,” Ibra says on Dr Saeed’s candidacy. “Maybe Hassan doesn’t consider us a political force within the country, or a party worth consulting. But that’s his prerogative.”

“Good On Anni”

Ibra started his political career in the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party. He was the party’s first president before falling out with MDP chairman Mohamed Nasheed (Anni) over the latter’s refusal to engage with the Government.

Anni himself has been criticised party activists in recent weeks for meeting with representatives of President Gayoom. So does Ibra feel vindicated now Anni is following his own tactics?

Ibra refuses to say I told you so, instead congratulating Anni on taking a necessary political step.

“It’s about time MDP started behaving like a mature political organisation,” according to its former leader.