:: Dhivehi Observer :: Peoples Press ::

Summer-Ray must go

Opinion by a Maldivian Journalist, 25th June 2004

Samaru Blue Ibrahim Manik

Efforts by the Dhivehi Observer and other campaigns by exiles certainly seem to have caught the attention of the international media and, put the heat on foreign governments to re-evaluate their relations with Gayoom's government. But within the Maldives and, in particular, the rural islands, little has changed.

I can personally confirm that Abdulla Hameed's network of atoll and island heads were involved in rigging last year's presidential elections too; on several islands, people were required to do little more than stick pre-ticked paper into boxes. With the heavily-armed coastguard ships just a few hours away, who can blame these people for doing what they had been conditioned to do for most of their lives?

But a host of independent, printed national newspapers would change things dramatically, and no one is more aware of this than Gayoom himself. This is the reason that he had to abort his "Come out of the Shell" campaign in 1990, and close down the popular weeklies Sangu and Hukuru. The ageing dictator, who was considerably less senile back then, knew that it was either the newspapers or him.

On-line magazines such as the Dhivehi Observer are useful to draw international attention to the problems in this country, and set the Male- elite chattering. But in a country which has limited internet access, especially out in the atolls where three-quarters of the population live, the stories and debates would have little, if any, impact.

An independent press will do much more in less time than all the internet campaigns and the resulting cosmetic “reform” seminars can ever hope to achieve.

A free fourth estate, therefore must be foremost in any fight for a better Maldives, not only to take the air of change and anticipation to the rural communities, but to also ensure that if the new parties come in they don't escape the scrutiny either.

So long, Summer-Ray, and thanks for all the plagiarisation.

Editorial Note

Samaru Blue Ibrahim Manik is probably the most unpopular cabinet Minister and amongst the most uneducated of them all, he is a school dropout. He was appointed as Minister purely because he was married to Gayyoom's sister-in-law Fareesha.

He is believed to be working from a make-shift office in Olympus, the main cinema in Male' and rarely goes to his Ministerial Compounds.

Appointing Mr. Manik to one of the most prominent and influential cabinet posts, being charged with Information, arts and culture is an absolute disgrace and another act by Gayyoom which shows his blatant disregard for the culture and heritage of Maldives. As head of all broadcasting institutes, the Television and Radio Maldives as well as the regulator for press, Mr. Manik is given a free-hand and he openly says that as long as Gayyoom is in power he will remain in the post.

So much so, Mr. Manik has a freehand is dealing with the finances of the Ministry and no one, not even the Auditor General is allowed to ask him for details. Mr. Manik favours his friends to conduct the deals within the Ministry who in turn payback the favour by assisting the prolongation of the tyranny of Gayyoom.

Recently there have been rumours that Mr. Manik has obtained the permission to produce a film about Great Mohamed Thakurufaanu, legacy of the famous Maldivian freedom fighter. Mr. Manik has apparently decided that the file shall be produced by Bollywood and Hollywood elites the cost of which is anticipated to be millions of dollars. This clearly shows where the priorities lie for Gayyoom, who maybe a the longest serving leader in Asia, a great majority of his people are deprived of most basic education and healthcare and investments in such public services is not as important as a film to invoke national identity, when the last thing we as Maldivians have to worry about is a threat to our national identity. There is no way to independently confirm this because of the secretive nature in which these activities are conducted in the Maldives.