The democratisation of the Maldives through the burgeoning multi-party system cannot be reversed, President Mohamed Nasheed asserted in his Independence Day address.
“No government can last in this country anymore except through clearly stated policies, pledges made to the people and [based on] the extent that the pledges are fulfilled,” Nasheed said. “No greater independence nor a happier state than this could be seen from an independent country. We have definitely changed to that state.”
The type of political system found in a country, said Nasheed, was the “true foundation” for sustaining independence.
Although multi-party constitutional democracy in the Maldives was in its infancy, Nasheed continued, the hopes fostered through the new system promised “a much brighter future.”
Maldivians have proven that “anyone could aspire to become President,” he added.
After emerging as a nascent democracy post-2008, President Nasheed said that the Maldives was punching above its weight in the international arena.
“Especially in the area of human rights and environmental advocacy, the Maldives is by God’s will among the front rank,” he said. “It is unlikely that we will see a better, smoother transition to democracy than the example shown by Maldivians.”
President Nasheed praised and congratulated Maldivians for being forerunners to the Arab revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt as well as democratic change in other parts of the world.
Meanwhile former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom issued a statement on Independence Day warning of “foreign influences” that could compromise economic independence, sovereignty and “independence of thought.”
Gayoom argued that while “enslavement of Maldivians” by foreign armies was unlikely given the vast changes that have taken place in the world, the undue influence of powerful external forces was a challenge to small states like the Maldives.
“In light of this reality, we have to renew efforts to strengthen and fortify the Maldives’ political and economic independence,” he said.
In his message to the nation, the former President said that preparations to celebrate 50 years of independence in 2015 as colourfully and joyfully as possible should begin now.
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In this age of internet and global media, democratization is irreversible. That should not even be an issue anymore. Certainly a dictatorship cannot flourish any where, be it Maldives or Middle east.
The challenge for Maldives is good democratization, that is gradual and smooth. But that takes good leadership. Why cant President Nasheed join with Maumoon for the greater good of the country for that. Please put your egos aside for once.
What Maldives should avoid is 'democracy on steroids' that the country is now going through.
Two opposing messages display at last, the true difference in policy between the opposition and the current administration.
Both support welfare-based policies and both have records of leaning left towards big government and high-handed intervention in private enterprise.
However, both seem to differ in their foreign policy. Nasheed's administration is clearly pro-West and favors foreign interests above the local population. Kind of like Cuba before the revolution.
Qayyoom displays nationalist tendencies. The Qayyoomian national identity is based on the religion of Islam and resistance to accelerated opening of our borders to foreign influence.
Gay Yoom has only one interest, live like a king and be the lord of Maldives. Hope we get rid of this dictator soon and we don’t have to waste our time criticizing this bloody sod and his cronies.
Qayoom is always on high from his Islamic fantasy and power hunger. He thinks all fantasies are real.
He doesn’t know the difference between reality and fantasy. Maldives never been enslaved by any power. Why would any global power ever wanted to colonize Maldives. He doesn’t know colonization was mere economic interest and Maldives never was economically interested place. But the truth is Maldives never had freedom of thought and freedom of economy under his power as well as any time in the history of Maldives. Why he twists the facts with is vague hallucinated feeble mind. He is a charlatan for twenty first century but he can be a hero or spiritual leader for gullible Maldivian.
President Anni, Maldives should be mindful of the stern arm India is flexing, yet you let them flex there stern arm.
"The Qayyoomian national identity is based on the religion of Islam..."
Religion is the sole weapon that Gayyoom knows how to use. He has been wielding it quite a bit lately. You can tell how desperate Gayyoom is when the intensity of his religious fervour increases. It is directly proportional to his state of paranoia!
Unsurprisingly, or perhaps surprisingly, he is still able to get some mileage from this age old weapon. Expect quite a lot of it coming from him in the next couple of years.
@tsk tsk
Well said, I agree with you fully, just like in Cuba there will be a mafia orgy of some sort, money being made, what is batista upto today!
@tsk tsk is clearly some one with head in the clouds. not only the analogies to Cuba and left leaning are wrong, they are out of context, perhaps purposely, in order to divert attention.
the point here the lack of national unity and polarisation. it's not brought by the west or india. Maldives problems with democracy is self inflicted during previous regime and even in the current regime. simple as that. there is no need to compare with Maoist china or post revolution Cuba etc.. please do not intellectualise bullshit
@ misguided:
- Out of which context? My statements are mine and made in the context of what I say.
- I could claim that your head is in the sand for thinking that all of our problems are self-made without any foreign, financial or vertical influence from our leadership.
- It would be hard to compare this country to Maoist China and I have not done so, however let me simply explain the pre-revolution Cuba analogy. Let us take Cuba out of the picture altogether. The reason why I mentioned the Latin-American country was to simplify matters and not post an unnecessarily lengthy comment. However if I must educate you, then I shall. Cuba before the revolution was ruled by a government of corrupt business individuals who were, for lack of a better word, funded by the American government and corporate interests. They cared little for their people and only about the cut they got from the foreign investments which leached off Cuba's natural resources.
I hope I have explained myself. Read further and you will see the misguidedness behind your own comment.
Maldives still does not have democracy. I hope it will soon
democracy in this form will generate an entire industry of politicians eating our taxes away.
we need a more lean system instead of a multi party system as if we are a huge country.
we need to reduce politicians. we need to talk less and work more.
This is way forward. Now, what we need is a good system of justice where wrongdoers are subject to punishment without injustice. When that happens, we will see a decent and democratized nation.
Fight for it and demand for it.