Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s Progresive Party of the Maldives (PPM) has joined the Dhivehi Rayithunge Party (DRP) in withdrawing from the roadmap talks, after Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MPs blocked President Mohamed Waheed Hassan from addressing parliament on Thursday.
The session was eventually cancelled, after Speaker Abdulla Shahid – a DRP MP – was repeatedly blocked from entering the chamber.
While a seven point agenda had been agreed during the Indian-sanctioned cross-party roadmap talks last week – including early elections as a discussion point – the parties had been unable to agree on an order of preference.
Local media had reported that the meeting was “heated” due to the participation of Indian Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai, with representatives of some parties expressing their “dismay” at the Indian government “interfering in the domestic affairs of the country and trying to rush towards an early election.”
The MDP meanwhile issued a statement reiterating its support for the roadmap and a peaceful solution to the crisis, but placed an early election date as a precondition to continued progress – both in the talks, and parliament, which it contends Dr Waheed has no right to address as an “illegitimate” president.
“In-line with the Inter-Parliamentary Union and others, we understand the importance of dialogue, especially in the Majlis, as a means of resolving the political deadlock in the country,” said the party’s spokesperson, Hamid Abdul Ghafoor.
“However, we also believe that in order to have a focused dialogue inside and outside parliament there must be a clear commitment by Dr. Waheed to elections by a certain date during 2012. When that date is announced, all parties can and must work together to ensure the conditions are set for the conduct of those elections. MDP will certainly play its part in that regard.”
Ghafoor also expressed regret over “isolated incidents of violence both by and against protesters and at any injuries caused. MDP again calls on all those participating in protests to do so peacefully and within the law and to show maximum restraint.”
International community responds
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon issued a statement, expressing “concern about the continued political tensions in the Maldives, which were manifested today in actions that impeded the opening of the Maldives’ parliament.”
“The Secretary-General urges all parties concerned to resume immediately their political dialogue, both in and outside parliament, in order to find a mutually agreeable way forward on the basis of the Constitution and without jeopardizing the democratic gains achieved thus far in the Maldives,” the UN said in a statement.
Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma also issued a statement expressing concern over disruption of parliament, urging for a “swift and dignified State Opening of the Majlis so that pressing national needs can be debated and advanced.”
While freedom of assembly and freedom of expression are core Commonwealth values, so too is constitutional democracy, including respect for the dignity of office-bearers appointed under the constitution and enabling those office-holders to perform their responsibilities fully and freely.
“Parliament is the heart of a democracy. The Commonwealth finds it unacceptable that the State Opening of the Majlis of Maldives has been disrupted, and the offices of the President and Speaker have been seriously disrespected,” the Commonwealth said in a statement.
“While freedom of assembly and freedom of expression are core Commonwealth values, so too is constitutional democracy, including respect for the dignity of office-bearers appointed under the constitution and enabling those office-holders to perform their responsibilities fully and freely.”
The Commonwealth has meanwhile appointed Sir Donald McKinnon as Special Envoy to Maldives, following consultations with political leaders in the country.
“These are very serious times for Maldives. Cooperation and a shared sense of national interest are required, as well as restraint. Our Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group is understandably deeply concerned, and is committed to working with Maldives in a constructive and positive way. The Commonwealth at large is fully committed to assisting Maldives,” said Secretary-General Sharma.
“Maldives has committed itself to the Commonwealth’s values and principles, which include constitutional democracy, the rule of law and separation of powers, and human rights. Our principles include consensus and common action, mutual respect, legitimacy, transparency and accountability. These are the foundations on which an enduring, prosperous and peaceful future for Maldives can be built.”
“I am delighted that Sir Donald has agreed to serve as my Special Envoy. He will visit Maldives to promote the consolidation of democratic culture and institutions, and Commonwealth values and principles; to encourage inclusive agreement among political leaders on a way forward from the current political situation; and, to oversee further Commonwealth support for Maldives, including a new technical assistance programme aimed principally at strengthening the judiciary.”
Sir Donald McKinnon is a former Commonwealth Secretary-General from 2000-2008, and former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand.
During his tenure as Secretary-General, he led the Commonwealth’s support for Maldives’ transition to multiparty democracy. He previously brokered a peace accord in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, for which he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
He was also decorated with the highest award in New Zealand (Order of New Zealand), and awarded the Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order by Queen Elizabeth II.
Political stasis threatens tourism
Ongoing political instability threatens the tourism industry, the Maldives Association for Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) has said, issuing a statement expressing concern that tourists “will have apprehensions about visiting the Maldives if the ongoing political unrest and demonstrations turn violent.”
“A democracy will have protests, tourists know that too, and the resorts in Maldives are situated separately and far from the capital Male and other inhabited islands, so protesting wouldn’t harm the tourists,” said Secretary General of MATATO Mohamed Maleeh Jamal.
However ongoing political strife had smeared the peaceful image of the holiday destination, he said, and emphasised furthe efforts to promote the industry.
“Even now tourists who come to Male are seeing the protests, some refuse to visit Male’ and souvenir shops and guest houses located in Male have suffered because of it,” Jamal said.
Widespread media coverage of the country’s political unrest could cost the tourism industry as much as US$100 million in the next six months, the Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) has warned.
“Various allegations such as the installation of an Islamic regime, possible enactment of full Sharia law and Anti Semitic remarks made by politicians at public gatherings have also caught the attention of the international press,” MATI stated.
While the resorts are largely segregated from the rest of the Maldives, the crisis – prompted by a change in government on February 7 in what the MDP contends was a police and military-backed coup d’Ă©tat – has already impacted investor confidence and foreign aid, and is threatening sensitive markets such as China.
(0)Dislikes
(0)Related Posts
International observers should “help, not hinder” state institutions: Foreign Ministry- Commonwealth Special Envoy visits following MDP allegations of “coup cover-up”
- CNI report “turning point for the Maldives to leave the past behind”: McKinnon
- Habitual protests “hindering Maldives development as a modern democracy”: CNI Advisers
- Tourism Ministry reports 14 percent increase in tourist arrivals in July
- Home Minister Umar Naseer to run for presidency in 2023
What the Maldives has right now cannot by any stretch of imagination be termed as a Constitutional Democracy. When we did have one, the office bearers Could address the Parliament as required. What we have now is a military lead Rogue President and cabinet that supports radical interpretations of Islam.
Common should make up their mind. One day they say conditions of power transfer need to be investigated and next day they infer that Maldives has a Constitutional Democracy.
The US the UN and commonwealth shame themselves. They have no interest in democracy in the Maldives.
Mr Donald. This could be the end of all your hopes for a Nobel Peace Prize. Come enter into the snake pit of Maldives politics and do not say i did not warn you! keke
WHY IS INDIA AND THE U.S. GETTING INVOLVED IN THE MALDIVE POLITICS? WERE THEY RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT IS HAPPENING TODAY? THERE WILL BE NO PEACE FOR WAHEED UNTIL THE DAY HE IS OUSTED. HE-ie., WAHEED, CANNOT EVEN BE CALLED AN "ACTING PRESIDENT" !!! HE----WAHEED IS A CRIMINAL! A PUPPET!... DID EVERYONE SEE THE "SMIRK" ON HIS FACE!?....WHEN WALKING TO PARLIAMENT?.... ALL THESE CONSPIRATORS SHOULD BE ----ROUNDED-UP!.......AND THEIR ASSETS FROZEN AND GIVEN TO THE MALDIVIAN PEOPLE...... WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IS TREASON.... WHICH REQUIRES PUNISHMENT IN JAIL!......DO THEY SILL HANG PEOPLE IN MALDIVES?
The Commonwealth needs to understand that the current regime is not legitimate and its sole purpose is to divert the course of democracy in the Maldives.
All those who are behind this regime have repeatedly said that they will never allow the MDP back in power and do all they can to prevent anyone in MDP from holding political positions. Gasim, Umar Naseer etc are on public record for having said that.
Is that what the future of democracy in the Maldives? Forcing the largest political party of the country into oblivion? This regime was installed in preparation for next year's general elections, so that the opposition could bribe, force and threaten their way into power.
The only solution to this crisis (it is a crisis), is to hold elections right now and let the people decide how they want to be ruled. There is no point in holding debates between politicians on the legitimacy or illegitimacy of this and that. The ultimate decision makers are the electorate and the ballot box has the power above all else in a democracy. We need to open the ballot boxes and let the citizens decide right now.
I am a bit baffled by this business of "sanctity" of the Majlis Chamber. After all, this is not a religious ground as far as I know and has no concept of "sanctity".
Moreover, on numerous occassions, MPs from all sides have engaged in fist fights in the very same Chamber and spilt blood in there! No one talked about "sanctity" then! Where did we find this new notion of "sanctity" for this Chamber? Was that also handed over by Allah on the same day Waheed was handed over the Presidency?
The Commonwealth and the international community need to understand that the current regime is not legitimate and its sole purpose is to divert the course of democracy in the Maldives. the related laws apply to president but not to Waheed because Waheed is not the president and they have no right to utter a single word saying law because they are unlawful they have come after breaking the law
The international community need to understand that the current regime is not legitimate and its sole purpose is to divert the course of democracy in the Maldives. the related laws apply to president but not to Waheed because Waheed is not the president and they have no right to utter a single word saying law because they are unlawful they have come after breaking the law
ELECTION NOW!
DICTATOR NASHEED AND HIS CRONIES LIKE MARIYA AND DICTATOR GAYOOM AND HIS CRONIES LIKE ILYAS IBRAHIM ARE THE CAUSE OF THE DISTRUCTION OF THIS NATION!
MDP doesn't deserve to be in the government as long as they have these violent and protest affinity behaviours. Beat the drums as much as you can MDP, now there will be no elections before 2013, thats guaranteed. Now you have prroved how foolish you all are even to the international arena and the commonwealth. What a shame. 🙂
I wtched much of the MDP drama on TV that day.
The MDP MPs were not DUI. But some appeared to be UI of something.
May Allah grant strength to President Waheed to steer the Maldives from the dictatorial clutches of the past 2 dictators, Gayoom and Nasheed.
What is really happening in the Maldives is MIND CONTROL politics invented in the US in 1950s.
See this link and you know why
http://nwothesis.blogspot.com/2011/01/mind-control-and-politics.html
To all the honorable monkeys of the banana republic (yes, i am referring to all, not just MDP),
Mahloof, do not think you are fooling me by going on tv and preaching on the etiquettes parliamentarians. . don't think i am going to make it easy for you to suddenly elevate yourself to a dignified politician whenever you want to become one. you a baboon and have been babooning in the parliament for years. a sorry fellow like you deserve something less, i don't know what but not this.
and all you MDP parliamentarians. if you had wanted to create a havoc, at least you could have slowly removed the chair's seat and flag, and blocked the entrance. by dancing around, playing iTunes music, posing for model shots on the parliament leaders bench just proves you are no longer fighting for a true cause for which you entered into the chambers, but you guys are also just baboons like your counter parts in the opposition. baboons and more baboons.
with this unprofessional move, you lot just ticked off the good people who rallied behind you. do not for a moment mistake that the masses you are seeing are all members of MDP, there are people there who know something wrong has happened and are there to support the only party who is fighting for the cause. if you mistake for once that all of the people are party members, thats your ego getting the best of you. hiy thiri kurey and keep yourselves in check.
What really happned in Maldives is in 2003 Yameen Abdul Gayoom backed by the people who sit in Singapore and hold the remote controle of the Maldives joined with a certain Mohamed Nasheed to protect their business and family interests and prevent Maumoon and his immediate family from becoming monarchs and the ordinary working class from becoming financially self-sufficeint heros.What a convenient proposition as either nasheed would rule and yameen would be heading the opposition when the old maumoon retires or vice versa.A great plan which went all wrong because Nasheed and his inner gang became 2 power hungry and tried to play one over their initial Godfathers by joining forces with secularists financers in the U.K. and started attacking opposition resort mughals n threatning an empire built by the people who have enslaved the maldivian public since time immemorial and made their grounds in politics after desposing of the first presidnt Mohamed Ameen decades back.The imposition of the tax system and increase of resort leases is testimony to this grand plan that was hatched betwen yameen and Anni.Maumoon having ruled for 30 years would never have been able to pull off the tax deal on the people.
@dhibevun, agree with you.
However, given the apathy of the international community about our crisis, and the lack of commitment by other political parties for an early election, and their refusal to prioritise the items on the agenda at the All Party Talks, perhaps there was a need for a song and a dance and high drama to get the attention of the international community and our people.
All very well to say this is an internal affair and we must sort it out by ourselves. But for goodness sake, haven't the events of the past three weeks been enough to show that we can't manage this ourselves?
With the Commonwealth appointing Sir Donald McKinnon as Special Envoy to Maldives we have hope that we can move on from the heart breaking tragedy of our democracy off the rails.
Dr Waheed lost the tiny window of a peaceful resolution for the conflict with his continuing stand that President Nasheed resigned voluntarily, his hard line rhetoric against the uprising in the south, calling them terrorists, the brutal crackdown on peaceful demonstration the day after President Nasheed resigned, and the people he chose for key positions in government.
In particular the appointment of Dr Jameel as home Minister, and Dr Hassan Saeed as his advisor, Azima Shakoor as AG , and Mundhu Shareef all of whom have been virulent opponents of President Nasheed have enraged our people, MDP members or not. How can tempers cool after such blatant in your face actions?
The appointment of Masoodh Imaadh, pathologocal liar and campaign manager for Gayoom in the last presidential election as Dr Waheed's press secretary shut the lid on any possibility that Dr Waheed to quote Richard is an honest broker.
Dr Waheed's justification of these appointments that the intellectual and technical elite of the country were educated during Gayooms time and will have some kind of association or the other with Gayoom is an insult to many of us who got our university education during Gayooms regime, and worked in Gayoom’s government but have stayed clean and out of his corruption net. There are plenty of us who would have willingly droppd everything to partner Dr Waheed to clean up this messs. But there was no phone calls. It is very clear to us now that this is Gayooms government with Waheed in charge as our cardboard president.
Many of us who were quite fed up with Nasheed's confrontational and dictatorial style of governance and his lack of interest in the opinions and views of others, would have voted for Dr Waheed for President if he ran for President. Not any more. Better work with the devil (Anni) we know than the devil we don’t know (Waheed). Poor Waheed is the biggest loser in all this mess.
Dr Waheed has to wake up and realise that this is not the Maldives he left in the 90s. The truth cannot be hidden from us with our talented and technologically savvy youth managing the social media. Our eyes are open, we can hear, and we can think for ourselves.
To gain something sometimes we have to lose something. By resigning and making it possible for fresh elections, Dr Waheed will gain the respect of our people. It is the right thing to do.
@dhibevun, agree with you.
However, given the apathy of the international community about our crisis, and the lack of commitment by other political parties for an early election at the All Party Talks, perhaps there was a need for a song and a dance and high drama to get the attention of the international community and our people.
All very well to say this is an internal affair and we must sort it out by ourselves. But for goodness sake, haven't the events of the past three weeks been enough to show that we can't manage this ourselves?
With the Commonwealth appointing Sir Donald McKinnon as Special Envoy to Maldives we have hope that we can move on from the heart breaking tragedy of our democracy off the rails.
This is what has to bee done by that day, MDP parliamentary do all ways right.
This is apart of democracy .
Nasheed and MDP stated that they will prevent Waheed from destroying the status of the only true remaining branch of the Republic (in pure form), which is the Majlis (Parliament) BUT the MDP MPs destroyed the image of the Parliament by behaving like a troop of monkeys......go back to the trees where you belong.
Prayer on Sat, 3rd Mar 2012 8:58 PM
"May Allah grant strength to President Waheed to steer the Maldives from the dictatorial clutches of the past 2 dictators, Gayoom and Nasheed."
I don't think Waheed knows much about Almighty Allah. You had better teach him Islam first!
welcome to monkey democracy. all major terrorist countries like US, UK follows the money and make laws to rule the weak this famous method (used since the ancient times by ruling elites). I am seeing the signs of the end of the joke known as democracy and soon all you apostates and atheist and other jokers would be kneeling and laughed at you're foolishness and brainless rhetoric to misguide the common folk. I pray that those who are not advocating this stupidity (aka democracy) be guided to the true path.
People who support MDP are those with the same ideology as MDP. ie: We need an elected government, no police brutality. independent judiciary, respect for Human Rights, Corruption free, fair distribution of state assets among citizens, in other words and decent life. Is this too much to ask for?
It's so much the better to know that none members are fighting for the same cause, same ideology.
Where is yaamyn today?
He always appalaud the activites of MDP, no matter what.
I would like to ask him what he thought of the display the MDPians made on 1 March.
Why is he so quiet?
Why is he not saying anything to support the behaviour of the MDP thugs?
I notice that he has not used any of his aliases either.
Why?
“Maldives has committed itself to ...... human rights..." said Commonwealth Secretary General Sharma. This is absolutely not true. The Maldives has openly, and quite blatantly, committed itself to violating human rights. Why is the Commonwealth casting a blind eye over this? The right to freedom of religion is denied in law and by every political party. The Commonwealth must gain respectability first by acknowledging, publicly, this simple truth. Please disregard the Islamic bombs that may be directed at your offices, Mr Sharma. Beefing up security is how to deal with terror. Telling lies in order to appease terrorists isn't. The truth is sacred.
omg! wrote "I pray that those who are not advocating this stupidity (aka democracy) be guided to the true path." For 30 years Maumoon Abdul Gayoom claimed he ran a democracy. The Arab spring countries are allegedly implementing democracy and every mullah is calling for democracy in those countries. Are they all misguided or are they all telling lies?
@Mohamed
Do you really think Sir McDonald is our salvation? Until these local political buffoons get their heads rewired, no amount of international pressure and intervention can help this hopeless state.
If you are a Maldivian, take responsibility for the vote you gave to elect the incompetent to their underserving seats in the executive, parliament and judiciary. for the lack of a better alternative, the entire nation is going down the shitter.
we rarely get defining moments to turn this whole fiasco on its head, perhaps the moment Anni resigned and the nationhood that followed is one. But yet again, these parliamentarians has made it look silly and clumsy.
What the parliamentarians do and how they behave directly reflect on Anni and MDP. and what they showed is not pretty and dignified. it is just way too silly seriously for a group people who genuinely wish the best for this country. coz quite frankly, i believe this country is thoroughly messed up for the next foreseeable 10 years because of this. act responsibly.
This is the time for all men to come to the aid of the Nation.
Please refrail from any violent act.
Please do not confuse the public by spreading untrue statements.
Please sit back, relax and think. We are only 300,000 people. We know each other, and are mostly related to each other. Think of the reason behind this hatred.
I personally feel its party system. Think about it.
why is no one calling for an independent inquiry. That would surely make the point of an early election irrelevant.
If there was proof of a military coup then no election is required as Nasheed would be re-instated as President.
If there was no military coup Waheed would be President till 2013.
So why this fuss for an election when there is no inquiry or proof as to what happened?
I'm a Maldivian,I don't except present government and Waheed is the president. there is lot of questions to answer ...
Nasheed should have avoided the coup by not hastening to arrest the judge. Had this been done towards the end of the year, housing, medical care and cost of living among others, would have borne the expected fruits and general public most probably would be behind the government, including army and police, since achievements would have been visible beyond dispute and the illegitimacy of toppling the government would have been too pronounced. However, timely arrest of the judge to weaken the opposition would have been no mean feat apart from the moral high ground of assisting the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) to action in disciplining the judge for misconduct. Fact is, it was not timely.
Nasheed could have presented the already submitted bill to the parliament (which he did) to reduce the number of judges on the bench. This would yet again give the President the opportunity to re appoint the judges under the amended law eliminating the alleged influence of the Gayoom regime at the appellate level. What Nasheed did was jumping the gun by arresting the judge and submitting the bill later to reconstitute the bench.
Considering the clout of MDP in terms of vote in parliament it is evident from elicited votes in the past that MDP did manage to push the bills through. However, what he hastened to do was clearly a case of jumping the gun. If he did not arrest the rogue judge and submitted the bill of amendment to the judges law, perhaps the situation prevalent today could have been averted to the uproar of the opposition. Oppoition in such a scenario could have done nothing other than trying to mount challenge in parliament to the utter dismay as MDP commands simple majority to clear bills through. Nasheed's government had been able mobilize unlikely votes as that of Gasim Ibrahim to pass bills despite being at loggerheads with the opposition.
It was unfortunate that Nasheed opted to take the collision course with the opposition by arresting the judge before his popularity matured as a result of newly introduced free medical care and elimination of import duty so as to bring down the price of commodities as an election pledge. When he could have chosen the legal method instead of interventionist apparoach to the judiciary, to my mind, the situation by far would have been different in terms of negative spin by the opposition to disrepute him.
Another reason is Nasheed's government was apparently too overconfident of the wider acceptance of the election pledges being very ably delivered though there was limited public awareness as regards the success of the efforts being made towards the ongoing projects. Only intermittent headlines were there and hardly viewers glued to opposition channels were aware of those. There were too long periods of silence without responding to regular allegations being leveled on MDP almost on a daily basis. As election pledges, free medical care, transport network , housing and welfare handouts were extremely popular projects. So was efforts to rehabilitate youth, though there was some controversy in the way the rehabilitation was handled. Housing projects kept the spirits of public high with the hope of realizing the long awaited dream of affording a housing unit. Nevertheless, the arrest of the judge (whose collusion with the opposition was always suspected due to his unfair practices towards MDP) amid wonderful headway in terms of governance and delivery of pledges, was utter nightmare for the opposition whose jitters soon escalated into terrible fears following the leaked audio clips of President Nasheed's intention of never releasing him. The prominent opponents had serious cases of corruption pending in the Criminal Court
was it a coup
Can anyone imagine a situation where the commander in chief is facing some mutineers and the mutineers are not being arrested by the serving generals. Moreover, the mutineers later on resorts to verbal abuse of the commander in chief and the mutiny fueled and fomented by the opposition taking a turn of revolution with clear abetting of the generals leaving the commander in chief with no option but to resign to save his own life and to save the nation from bloodshed. Nasheed had two options; face the combined mob of mutineers and violent activists right in front without protection or resign with assurance of protection. This was a situation orchestrated with days of planning and calling for sedition through engagement of opposition activists as precursor just to veil the event as a people's uprising. The leave pattern of police and soldiers are rather astounding including some transfers in the lead up to the disaster.
Besides, what illegality and what unlawful order on the part of the President ( "unlawful order" was central to the mayhem being wreaked as a major tool of sedition) could enable the police and the military to mutiny lawfully against the constitutionally elected commander in chief. To legally overthrow a government there are two options under the constitutional framework- impeachment and ballot. Nowhere does it mention mutiny, protest or compulsion by the armed forces for the commander in chief to resign. If the police chose to disobey the so called unlawful order, they could say "no sir" and resign or await expulsion to seek reinstatement later on through legal recourse. If each policeman and soldier were to judge every order as either illegal or legal what does that order leave for the commander to be responsible. Every policeman and soldier is adjudicating for himself as to the lawfulness of the order. This could leave law enforcement in shambles. Assumption of office by Vice President as the new President was only a constitutional procedure which was followed in letter. The issue is with the situation which compelled serving president to be helpless even for his own life. Only an independent inquiry could reveal who involved to what extent.
This is nothing short of a constitutional disaster to the budding democracy that we so dearly cherish and the world should not let this happen ever again anywhere in the world.
@ Manik
I agree. We need to know exactly what happened on the 7th February. MDP party members may believe President nasheed when he said he ewas forced to resign under duress. But the whole nation needs to believe this if we are to have peace in our country.
Investigation NOW. And please can we have international representation on this committee because frankly I don't believe there is anyone out there who is not going to be biased. I certainly don't believe Shafeeu Fawas and Yasir can do the job.
Dr Waheed is a MONUMENT that was gifted by the world-famous Most Silent DICTATOR Gayyoom...........As we all are Muslims we can never ever afford to put this monument here in the Maldives even if the EU, UN or the CMAG suggests us to keep it...As we all can remember we have destroyed all the Monuments that we got from our friendly SAARC countries prior to the last SAARC Summit in Addu
Best regards
Maldivian Muslims
Abdulla on Sun, 4th Mar 2012 12:52 PM
Thank you for the insightful thoughts. I had given up on a level of discourse on Minivan commenting forums ever being higher than that of 12 yr olds.
With the benefit of hindsight your comments are valid, however if push ever came to shove they could depose the government at anytime. If it wasn't Ablo Gazee it would be something else. They can create protests out of non-issues such as "monuments" when religion and nationalism is brought into play.
It's the people, the electorate who hold this country back. They are susceptible to propaganda and manipulation. Feudal attitudes from the past still hasn't died, loyalty is to a person not to a policy. Leaders and persons of influence of certain lineage (who usually are rich individuals) are to be obeyed without question.
People are fickle and do not hold their demigods to task. For e.g. the disruption of Majlis on Thursday (not condoning) was likened to be a national embarrassment, and on Facebook numerous status updates and comments confirmed that this was the feeling of many citizens- yet the "monuments" fiasco was not embarrassing for them? Is it a veneer of respect which really matters without addressing the real underlying issues?
We are in for the long run; especially when the least informed, the least aware and the least intelligent tend to speak the loudest. Read 90% of the above comments.