:: Dhivehi Observer :: Peoples Press ::

Gayyoom relinquishes some of his powers and makes changes to the cabinet

by A.S.I.Moosa (Sappe'), Editor in Chief, 1st Sept. 2004

Ismail Shafeeu is the new Defence Minister not Gayyoom

Umar Zahir trasnferred to Home Ministry from Min. of Construction

Mohamed Jaleel promoted to cabinet level, former State Minister of Finance

Anbaree A Sattar resigned from the post of State Minister of Defence, will be posted as an Ambassador most likely in Delhi, India

Abdulla Hameed has resigned from the government as Speaker of the Parliament and Atolls Minister (unconfirmed)

DO Editorial on 27^th August discussed imminent changes to Gayyoom’s cabinet. Today, Gayyoom has made decorative changes to his cabinet, relinquishing two portfolios that he has held from the time he assumed office in 1978, Defence Minister and Finance Minister. It is apparent that Gayyoom is still hesitant to make formidable changes and bringing in new blood to his cabinet or sack the corrupt elements such as his brothers Hameed and Yameen, because he can only trust the ones he has groomed who submits to him completely. Three specific changes to the cabinet were made and announced today.

Firstly, Ismail Shafeeu (formerly Minister of Home Affairs) has been appointed as Minister of Defence and National Security. Mr. Shafeeu is one of the longest serving member of the cabinet and until recently many believed that he had a mind of his own. However, he has disappointed many by projecting himself as a puppet of Gayyoom. Ismail Shafeeu is the son of one of the most respected and loved leaders of Maldives, former Prime Minister the late Ahmed Zaki. Shafeeu is most certainly marred the legacy of Zaki by being a defender of Gayyoom’s regime compromising the peoples’ rights and interests.

Secondly, Mohamed Jaleel (formerly State Minister of Finance) has been appointed as the Minister of Finance and Treasury. This is perhaps to fix the constitutional crime committed by Gayyoom by allowing Jaleel to sit in the Constitutional Assembly as a cabinet minister, whilst Jaleel was a state minister. Dr. Munawwar, former Attorney General, MP for Addu Atoll, argued on 19^th July at the first meeting of the assembly that it was unconstitutional that Jaleel sits there as a cabinet minister. Dr. Munawwar has been in jail since 13^th August along with other pro-democracy activists who participated in the demonstration last month.

Thirdly, Umar Zahir (the Minister of Construction and Public Works) has been transferred to Ministry of Home Affairs. As reported earlier, on 1^st of September the Police will become a civil service under the Home Ministry. Umar Zahir has been involved in fixing Gayyoom’s problems and mistakes. He is a close associate of Commissioner of Police Adam Zahir, who is not the most loved person in the country. This will allow Adam Zahir to be just as cruel as he has been.

According to pundits, these are just decorative changes. Gayyoom needs to prove to the wider world that he is prepared to let go of his power base in the Maldives. Up until today, his portfolio was:

President (the executive)
Commander-in-Chief
Head of Judiciary
Minister of Defence and National Security
Minister of Finance and Treasury
Governor of the Central Bank (Maldives Monetary Authority)
Supreme authority of Islamic Affairs

Finally, State Minister Anbaree A. Sattar has resigned and he will now be posted as an Ambassador, again as reported by DO last week.

DO is receiving information from credible sources that Gayyoom’s brother, the mighty Abdulla Hameed, who is the incumbent Atolls Minister and Speaker of the Peoples Assembly has resigned from all his government posts.

Furthermore, new ministers will have to be appointed for Ministry of Construction and Public Works shortly and the most likely candidate is Mauroof Jameel, who is the nephew of Gayyoom’s best friend, the incumbent Foreign Minister Fathuhulla Jameel. It is in deed a family affair.

These changes can be welcomed but only once we see the results. Gayyoom has played similar cards before which did not produce the desired effect for the public at large.