Dear Participant [of the donor conference],
I welcome you to the Maldives and extend good wishes for a pleasant stay in our country. Your visit to the Maldives to take part in the Maldives Donor Conference 2010 is testimony that you wish our country and its people well. I thank you for your kind interest in the Maldives and its well being.
Maldives has experienced some challenging milestones in the recent few years. A new constitution was enacted in August 2008. A new government was formed in November 2008. A new parliament was elected in May 2009.
All of these are fruits of an ambitious and extensive agenda for democratic reform that was put into motion by the government that preceded the current administration. All of these provided faith for the Maldivian people that the country would usher in a modern and liberal multiparty democracy that was inclusive, participatory, open and transparent.
However, with sixteen months into the current administration, we have been confronted with some sharp realities which are of concern to a people who are anxious to embrace a modern and liberal democracy based on human rights, rule of law and good governance.
The country is consumed in destructive politics. The political opposition continues to be intimidated and harassed. The political actors in the opposition are being subjected to undue restraint and control in the exercise of their conscience.
The parliament continues to be disrupted and prevented from the conduct of its constitutionally empowered mandate of holding public officials and government responsible. Every act to ensure accountability is being viewed as an obstruction to government and an attempt to oust it from power.
The private media is at the receiving end of sharp criticism and unequivocal objection from government officials and politicians associated with the government. Officials and owners of certain private media are being subjected to unnecessary harassment and public ridicule.
The judiciary continues to meet with harsh political rhetoric from politicians associated with the government and certain public officials. Independence of the judiciary, although guaranteed by the constitution, is increasingly becoming an untenable reality in the current climate.
The independent institutions of the state are also being controlled through restrictions put on their expenditure and budget. Additionally, those institutions such as the Human Rights Commission, Anti-Corruption Commission and the Civil Service Commission are being subject to unnecessary and harsh rhetoric from politicians associated with the government.
The shift in the economic policy has seen the creation of some twenty over government companies within the last one year where activists and sympathizers of the current government and the political parties associated with it, are being rewarded with directorial and other positions even though they are far from being competent for those positions.
The economic policy of the government is also seen as a roller coaster ride of privatization of various government undertakings including sale of profit making state assets and enterprises, without any transparent public bidding or credible policy or process.
The reduction of the civil service by a third is being achieved not through proper laws on redundancy or lay off, but through a backdoor approach of converting civil service outfits into government corporations and taking those outfits outside the ambit of civil service thereby throwing the security of tenure otherwise available to a civil servant into oblivion.
Citing economic difficulty, the government has unilaterally withheld percentages of salary for public officials and civil servants even though there are laws guaranteeing their pay and benefits. The situation is exacerbated with the creation of hosts of political posts totally unnecessary to discharge the functions of the president, but seen beneficial to reward associates and activists of the president and his party.
Although the current president came to power on a platform of democracy, good governance, human rights and rule of law, there has not been a single policy or project or program that has been unveiled in the past one and half years of his administration that could spell out the vision and strategies of the president to consolidate a democratic culture in the Maldives.
Quite conversely, we are seeing the country sliding into political chaos and resultant instability.
The president has often remained a president for the men and women of his party, and has failed miserably to reach out to the rest of the people of this country by becoming a leader of the nation.
He has failed to institute any mechanisms for participation and inclusion of the political opposition in matters of national importance, or develop a framework for consultation and dialogue with the opposition in the conduct of the affairs of the nation.
That is brief and incomplete overview of the state of affairs in the Maldives under the leadership of the current administration.
Therefore, it is my humble request that you may please exercise the powers of your good offices to address the issues of democratic deficit in the current administration – counsel against the efforts of the government to consolidate absolute power in their hands, and advocate for the discontinuation of their endeavors to eliminate an effective political opposition.
It is also my appeal to you that you may please consider linking of aid or assistance or investment to clear cut standards or processes of democratic consolidation, fair play, good governance, and rule of law in the Maldives.
While thanking you, I remain,
Yours faithfully
Ahmed Thasmeen Ali
Leader Elect, Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP)
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Outrageous!
The DRP has apparently now proven that for them no blow is too low, no tactic too cheap, and not even the country's interests can stand in the way of petty politicking.
The recent actions of its 'senior' MPs on the streets have been utterly disgraceful. And now this letter has shown that the DRP can no longer claim to be a responsible opposition.
I'm being forced to think that the recent (rather shameless) street violence by its MPs have been part of this no-holds-barred to shame the nation (or, as they imagine it, the government) in front of donors who we desperately need.
This deserves the severest condemnation, and once again I lament the lack of responsible leadership in this country.
Also, I rue the day the DRP thought its more educated, mature leaders should take a back seat in favor of unruly activists and, for the lack of a better word, thugs.
All rehtoric. No substance!
It is amusing to note that Thasmeen and Ablo Shahid were both invited to today's donor forum but failed to show up!
And he has the gall to say: "He has failed to institute any mechanisms for participation and inclusion of the political opposition in matters of national importance, or develop a framework for consultation and dialogue with the opposition in the conduct of the affairs of the nation."!!!!
While agreeing with Yaamyn, I must say that I do agree with this sentence in Thasmeen's letter "The president has often remained a president for the men and women of his party, and has failed miserably to reach out to the rest of the people of this country by becoming a leader of the nation".
Not always, but often!
No more money to Anni and his crooks..stop complaining like children MDP, time is running out for you all. The people will get the power soon..You called tourists not to come to maldives when maumoon was in power and that was right?..HUH..get a life..tick tock tick tock time is running out
The problem now in Maldives is, everything MDP and Nasheed did in the past and now is democracy and everything what others do is harassment. Otherwise why should he complain, we remember the same kind of donor conference few years back organized by same Dr.Shaheed in Bandos, MDP and Nasheed went to Bandos though not invited and even try to submit a paper there un officially.DO Sappe carried those stories on his website for months.Even now they are in the archives.
I think Thasmeen has every right to say what he think and he said it on an open letter showing his maturity and civility.
For a second, I could comprehend it. SO I read it again.
Then, after a while, I began to realize the DRP wrote this. Overwhelmed by the sheer irony of the situation, I just sat in my command bunker and laughed and laughed.
They claim that the country's opposition is being harassed and such; all the while conveniently forgetting the brutal tactics they employed when they were in power .
Now that the people have tossed them out, they show their true, thuggish nature. What can you expect of a party when their leaders are drug barons, torturers and corrupt businessmen?
As I recall, DRP is emulating the tactics of MDP in the past, but more mildly. At least they have not called for a tourism boycott of the Maldives! The lessons of political disruption have been learnt well by all, and no one should object-it is after all democratic politics.
This claim by DRP supporters that the party is just emulating actions of MDP is kinda wierd. If someone teaches a bad thing (DRP said running around town disrupting peace is bad), should you than do that thing and hold the teacher responsible?
They need to learn to be responsible for their own actions to be a respectable opposition.MDP was trying to bring down a 30 year old autocratic government at a time when you couldn't voice dissent without getting arrested. Now TV's, Radio's, newspapers, even the parliament is a place where you can show dissent and say whatever you want about the government. When all these venues are open, DRP making a nuisance of themselves on the streets every night is uncalled for.
Thasmeen how about showing up to donor forums and other events you are invited to, instead of complaining that this government does not engage with the opposition.
US State Department congratulates Maldives on democratic progress
By Minivan News | March 28th, 2010 | Category: News in Brief
The US State Department has expressed confidence in the Maldives government, congratulating the country on “the progress it has made in its democratic transition.”
“The United States congratulates the Maldives on the progress and commends the substantial reforms undertaken by the government to strengthen democratic institutions and promote economic growth and social development,” the State Department said in a press release today.
“The United States looks forward to the opportunity to continue to partner with Maldives to address crucial challenges, such as the social, environmental and economic impact of climate change, customs and border security, and strengthening democratic institutions,” it added.
The US will be represented at the donor conference by Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs, Michael Owen.
The US assistance package on the table currently totals $4.6 million, “with a particular focus on climate change adaptation assistance,” the State Department noted.
ARE THE AMERICANS STUPID, THASMEEN?
There is a true picture in this letter, considering economic factor such as selling or disinvesting/ privatizing profit making companies. Government appointing too much unnecessary political appointees (heavy on top ranks salaries). These were the concern by the former opposition MDP, but they are doing it. We remember the speeches you gave MDP politicians, be honest.
hey man is it true that one of your deputy"maibadha umar " was trying to enter mulee aage in the middle of the night? Why cant you send this guy for a medical check up.....Get a life man....
Thanks for making me laugh Thasmeen. Good exercise for me.
"The parliament continues to be disrupted and prevented from the conduct of its constitutionally empowered mandate of holding public officials and government responsible. Every act to ensure accountability is being viewed as an obstruction to government and an attempt to oust it from power."
No - its only the calls for Revolution and the physical charge on the Presidential residence that is seen as an attempt to unlawfully oust it from power
"The economic policy of the government is also seen as a roller coaster ride of privatization of various government undertakings including sale of profit making state assets and enterprises"
Of the entire state assets - most are lossmaking and need serious levels of investment. Due to your ridiculous level of spending - the government cannot afford to make these investments. The only way these companies can go ahead is through privatization.
Not to mention - states owning enterprises is not an acceptable notion in a free market economy.
DRP - the party of the Jackasses led by the Jackals
This letter is nothing but an exaggeration of the signs and symptoms of a democracy at its extreme infancy. Those of a country trying to get rid of the shackles put on her by 30 years of dictatorship.
We, Maldivians have just started to breath freely. For all those years reigned by Gayyoom, we were holding our breaths. We were fearful that if we our breath is heard we will be jailed.
This, I am sure will be something the donors will be made aware of, if they already were not aware. So Thasmeen's letter will also be nothing unexpected. It is rhetoric only expected from those who were defeated in the first democratic election.
My biggest issue with the DRP as opposition is that they boycotted the conference. For me, not participating is a clear message which means "we can't be bothered."
I wonder Why BML shareholders and Bank Board not sending a letter to Thasmeen stating to payback Public 1 billion which he robbed
I wonder why you guys not posting my comments ... Is minivan and anni on the same boat .. or some kinda deal to support him to get rid of Golhaa ... ????
am Just curious