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Editorial

National Unity Alliance has divided the MDP

Dhivehi Observer, 14 May 2008

A great majority of Maldivians were very optimistic about their future when all the opposition parties and dissident movements joined hands last year in an attempt to promote the need for a transitional government to ensure that upcoming multiparty elections will be free and fair, especially the Presidential Election which is likely to take place this August. However, when that failed, the National Unity Alliance (NUA) began promoting the idea that they will generate a single candidate to contest and defeat Dictator Gayyoom, which will bring the much desired end to his 30 year old iron-fist rule. The NUA comprised of the largest opposition party Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Adhaalath Party (AP), Islamic Democratic Party (IDP), Social Liberal Party (SLP) as well as the New Maldives Movement (NMM). The NMM, formed by three former cabinet ministers, Dr. Hassan Saeed, Dr. Ahmed Shaheed and Mohamed Jameel, are seen by many as the trio that negotiated the idea of an alliance movement.

Unfortunately, as we are getting nearer to the deadline for the presidential poll, the NUA is evidently as divided as can be in that two of the parties, IDP and SLP, have now officially left the alliance and are going to contest the presidential election on their own. The MDP on the other hand held a presidential primary and Mohamed Nasheed (Anni) comfortably secured the party nomination with around 70% of the votes, making him the candidate with the largest public primary mandate. During his campaign, Anni insisted that he will work hard to get the NUA to produce a unity candidate. However, his remarks about being prepared to be the running mate of Dr. Hassan Saeed even before the NUA could agree on a unity candidate resulted in his party members feeling disillusioned and demoralised. Although not officially confirmed, a handful of members have even left the party and several other grass-root members appeared to have taken a step back from direct involvement in party affairs. According to some analysts in the party, this is the sharpest blow the party has suffered since its inception and whilst the intention to join the NUA was good on MDP's part, the move, if anything, has been detrimental to the party's own unity.

What is also very strange is the myth created from the inception of the NUA that former Attorney General Dr. Hassan Saeed would eventually become the NUA's presidential candidate, despite the fact that he does not have the kind of public mandate and support as with the registered political parties. The New Maldivian Movement group is represented by former Attorney General Dr. Saeed, former Foreign Minister Dr. Shaheed and former Justice Minister Mr. Jameel, all of who were heavily criticised by the reformists for being at the forefront of selling the bogus reform agenda and road map of the dictator, Gayyoom. However, when they eventually resigned and expressed their dissident views and desire to oust the aging dictator of the Maldives, many reformists began to associate with them and invited them to opposition forums. Dr. Hassan and his colleagues could have joined the MDP and gained the confidence of the party and could have secured his nomination, a suggestion put forward to them by many reformists but they chose to ignore that and worked out the strategy of forming the NUA, which is now as good as dead and buried.

What's important for MDP now is to officially distance itself from the NUA and begin their presidential campaign without further delay. Anni should make his intentions clear and abide by his mandate, which is to take part in the upcoming presidential elections on behalf of MDP. As for a running mate, he need not look any further. There are several candidates that could create the winning duo. Party president Dr. Munavvar and Reeko Moosa, who contested the presidential primary, will be excellent choices. The alternative, if he doesn't want to run for President, is for him to make way for Dr. Munavvaru, who secured the second most votes in the primary to represent the party and become his running mate or the party could hold another presidential primary to determine a candidate.

What is very important for all of us to remember is that MDP doesn't and must not revolve around a person. Our objective is to become the governing party of the Maldives that will endeavour to govern by the rule of law, to bring social justice and much needed prosperity to our country.

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