After the hype of the last few months, many must be wondering
whether the waters have now settled in the political stir of the
Maldives. It is not the case. The opponents of the government have
come to realise that the game is to be played at a level field to
ensure that the desired results are achieved from their collective
efforts.
In this
hi-tech era, information is easily disseminated throughout the
world. Opponents of Gayyoom have successfully launched a campaign to
discredit his inhumane rule by informing the world of his brutality.
As never before, Gayyoom is scaling down his oppressive measures
because he is now aware that if he crosses the line, he is bound to
get pressure from the international community, which is something
that he cannot disregard.
So what next,
one might ask. Democratic Reform. It will be slow. He will resist it
very much but he now knows that there is no other way. His opponents
are growing in numbers and are now internationally recognised, by
governments, NGOs and the world media. He can no longer arrest them,
lock them up and play God. People of Maldives are also being
empowered by all means possible to stand up for their own rights.
There are great many Maldivians who are capable of running the
affairs of the country a million times better than Gayyoom and his
family. People know that now and they will no longer stay put.
It is the mighty guns that is now keeping him in power, not the
people.
Resentment is
significant even amongst top level government officials. Human
beings are born free so naturally they have the urge to prosper and
repel slavery. There are many Maldivians who feel that the
misfortunes brought upon by this despotic regime must be resented
now and change is inevitable.
Over the next
couple of years, Gayyoom will try to convince the world that he is
reforming the country and he will. When the system is setup for
democratic processes to take place, in no time, Gayyoom will find
that his time as the unchallenged ruler of Maldives is over. If he
believes that he can remain in power after reform then he is kidding
himself. The only way a dictator can remain in power is by fear and
intimidation. In a democratic society, despots like him will have no
room to survive. The fear factor is diminishing at an alarming rate.
So what are
the key reforms that Gayyoom must bring to save his current term of
office? Below are some of the key tasks that he has to carry out to
survive in office for the full term, until 2008:
-
He has to
allow freedom of association and assembly and stop mixing
everything up with National Security. In this regard, he must
release all political prisoners unconditionally and compensate
them
-
He must
allow opposition to his rule
-
He must
make press and media completely independent and free from
government influence
-
He must
abolish many ministries that were designed only to empower his
family and friends
-
He must
appoint a new Speaker of the Majlis
-
He must
look into the numerous allegations of corruption, homosexual
lifestyle and sodomy levelled against his brothers in the
cabinet, who must all be suspended until the findings are
published
-
He must
stop interfering with the electoral processes and campaigns of
candidates seeking parliamentary seats and office
-
He must
propose constitutional amendments to change the Presidential
Referendum to be a Presidential Election with multiple
candidates; not a single candidate to be chosen by the MPs and
endorsed by a referendum
-
He must
propose constitutional amendments to abolish the appointment of
8 members to the parliament by the Executive
-
He must
propose a constitutional amendment to make the Judiciary
completely independent of the Executive as well as the
Legislature
Above reforms
would suffice to convince the world that he is not a brutal dictator
or rather that he is willing to change. This will effectively bring
him down but Maldivians will never forgive him and hence he will
have to flee.
