Political Parties now allowed in Maldives but what does this all mean? :: Dhivehi Observer

Editorial
Gayyoom's military muscle on display as parliament decided to introduce political pluralism in Maldives

A.S.I.Moosa (Sappe'), Dhivehi Observer, 3 June 2005

It did not quite add up to the usual happy day for the Maldivians. Whilst the parliament was considering a motion to allow political parties to operate in the Maldives, senior officials of the opposition movement, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) were in detention, arrested early morning allegedly to avert a possible demonstration according to Gayyoom's spokesman.

With one hand Gayyoom makes way to a constitutional right (freedom of association) and with the other he withholds the right to freedom of assembly.

Gayyoom tried to create more fear amongst the public by blocking off access the Majlis and other important building by deploying his riot police in full gear. This show of military might is quite simply pathetic and goes to prove that Gayyoom is paranoid about the public support for the democratic movement in Maldives led by MDP.
"This is just absolutely pathetic, imagine what the tourists will say when they see these pictures, it looked like they are prepared for a biological or a nuclear attack, I just cannot stop laughing," said Shiyam.

Gayyoom is now trying to take credit for the whole democratic movement in Maldives. He is telling locals in Male' that he had specifically instructed the Speaker of the Majlis to get the matter finalised yesterday (an act of treason as usual). What Gayyoom is forgetting is that this action of his further proves the point dissidents have been making all along. It was not the members of parliament or the local population who did not want political reform in Maldives, it has been Gayyoom all along. And, under pressure from locals and international bodies and governments, he has had to do it. The vast majority of Maldivians will not give him the credit for these changes as he is bringing them because he has no other choice.

Gayyoom thinks that he can get away with his propaganda as before but he is forgetting that the world and most importantly many of his own people are now watching his every move from a closer distance than he actually realizes. What really happened today was the passing of a vote by Maldives parliament to uphold a constitutional right, which many have argued for years as an act of treason committed by Gayyoom. The man is a 'joke' and has no place in the future of Maldives.

Maldivians must be vary about these developments. This change is just one of the many changes that are necessary for our country to begin rebuilding based of social justice and equality. The most important element of all, free media and freedom of expression will be the hardest to achieve whilst Gayyoom is still in power. The man cannot even stand a funny cartoon of his; that is his level of tolerance. We must reflect on what happens in countries like Zimbabwe where there are political parties but the influence of the government machinery on the election processes is such that the whole country revolves around the ruling party and its leader. We must not let that happen in the Maldives.

It took him 27 years to introduce political pluralism to Maldives. How many years will he need to establish a proper justice system and a free media?