It is our future and we have to protect is with our lives

Editorial
It is our future and we have to protect is with our lives

by A.S.I.Moosa (Sappe') - 27th February 2005

There is no rule of law in Maldives and Gayyoom's will is the law. The country is run by a Dictator without any regard for the adopted constitution. The prime responsibility of protecting the constitution lies with the Member of the Parliament and they have so far failed to do so. However, after mounting pressure from dissident both abroad and in Maldives coupled with international pressure and media criticism of the regime of Gayyoom, the last election has given some hope to great many Maldivians who have waited for more than 50 years for a proper state to emerge.

People today are more aware of what is going on and they are desperately seeking and wanting change for the better. The country is run like a private company owned by Gayyoom and his family from both sides. This is a fact, whether people like it or not, this is the truth. To succeed in business, you have to be in their good books and bribe top government officials. The general population is completely helpless and take whatever handouts they get as a blessing from the high heavens where Gayyoom spreads his powers.

What is most important today is for people to protect their representatives, their members whom they have elected to the parliament. There is no doubt that the elections were not free and fair but still, this is what we have today. In the same instance, let us state the facts that some very able and hardcore reformists have been elected by sheer pressure and determination from the people, namely from Male and Addu Atoll, which constitutes almost 40% of the Maldives population. This is a clear indication that Gayyoom is today weaker than he has ever been. He is loosing power daily like a cup of coffee loosing its warmth. And, if we continue to act responsibly and defend our rights, soon we will get where we want and begin to live in a society freed from the tyranny of ignorance and fear - Gayyoom.

It's not Gayyoom only but most Dictators resist change. How on earth can we hail a statement from Gayyoom about Justice and Law when it is too late in the day. After all, he probably is too old now to even think straight. Passing 70, he surely does not have any idea of what the world is today and how it is made up otherwise he will not go around telling lies to the world like, there is freedom of expression in the Maldives, there are no arbitrary arrests or even there has been no systematic torture in Maldive prisons? If he was not mentally inapt, why would he go around claiming that these reforms are all his ideas and state on the record that he has presided over one of the most prosperous nations in Southeast Asia? He must be twisted because Maldives has been one of the poorest nations in the world until 24^th December 2004, when it was promoted to the second stage ‘The Developing Nations' but 2 days after that, Maldives was hit by the Tsunami which has made the country probably the poorest country in the world now.

The most important role of the newly elected members of the parliament is to ensure that the existing constitution is implemented comprehensively. It certainly has flaws but there are also important clauses which if respected will protect the people far better than they are today. Freedom of Expression, Association and Assembly are guaranteed. These are the fundamentals of a free society from which the call for greater democracy and freedom will have to emerge, not from a man who has brutally oppressed his people for over quarter of a century.

The people of Maldives are responsible for the actions of their members and must work hard and diligently to protect them from Gayyoom and that is when they will perform well in their duties to create an affluent society, that is tolerant, self sufficient and free.

We must not make the same mistake like we have for the past 50 years. We must act responsibly and defend our nation and our constitution. We have a responsibility to ensure that our children can live together happily with a spirit of solidarity and respect.