The Mummy Returns :: Maldives News :: Editorial:: Dhivehi Observer

Editorial

The Mummy Returns

Dhivehi Observer, 14 October 2007

Dictator Maumoon Abdul Gayoom must have thought that the bomb explosion in Sultan Park would have buried the issue of voter fraud in the recent referendum for good. But it is not easy to forget what happened, especially since there are thousands of missing ballot papers.

The Electoral Commissioner Mr. K. D. Ahmed Maniku stated in his letter to the Special Majlis on 23rd September 2007 that 305,000 ballot papers were printed, which included the 300,000 ballot papers printed initially for the day of the referendum and a further 5000 printed because certain islands in Addu had to go for a re-vote. He stated that 155,890 ballot papers were issued on the days of the vote. That means he should have a balance of 149,110.

However, in his letter to the Special Majlis Mr. K.D. Ahmed Maniku claims that he is in possession of 2265 ballot papers.

Firstly, why did Mr. K.D. Ahmed Maniku felt the need to print 300,000 ballot papers when this is almost equivalent to the population of Maldives?

Secondly and more importantly, what happened to the missing 146,845 ballot papers?

His explanation that he will only have knowledge of the missing ballot papers AFTER he checks the reports of those electoral officials in charge of the voting in their respective areas and furthermore, his claim that the security envelopes and ballot boxes cannot be opened in principle UNTIL AFTER any court cases regarding the referendum is concluded, is simply ludicrous.

Any voting system with integrity has to be transparent. Electoral officials should be held accountable for all the decisions they make. Mr. K. D. Ahmed Maniku cannot wind up his role in the referendum until after such a time that he has explained what happened to the missing ballot papers. He is accountable to where the unused ballot papers are located. He should be able to physically produce them if requested by a judicial authority dealing with any case of referendum fraud. He cannot simply dismiss the missing ballot papers, claiming that he can only give an explanation AFTER such a court case.

Until Mr.K.D Ahmed Maniku can give a satisfactory explanation of what happened to the missing ballot papers, this referendum will go down in Maldivian history as one that will always be tarnished with allegations of fraud.

Of course there is one other alternative explanation. In August, just before the referendum, we wondered whether K.D. Ahmed Maniku is a practitioner of the religion of the pharaohs because he is only answerable to his boss, Pharaoh Golhabo I; and there were so many dead people on the electoral roll; including Mr. K.D. Ahmed Maniku’s deceased mother herself. Perhaps the missing ballot papers are safely kept with those voters of the dead. Perhaps that is the reason why he says that he cannot produce the missing ballot papers until after any prevailing court cases. It must take time to get hold of them from the afterlife.

So it looks as if we may not see the missing ballots until (the) mummy returns!

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