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A.S.I.Moosa (Sappe')

Dhivehi Observer
Editor-in-chief

We must boycott the upcoming Parliamentary Elections

Editorial - 23rd September 2004

Gayyoom is not a democratically elected leader. In the public referendums that have been held in the Maldives, it was illegal to lobby for a NO vote. This means that the people of Maldives are not free to elect their President, despite the fact that it is a democratic right enshrined in the constitution.

Gayyoom has influenced the democratic process from the day he took office. For the first 18 years of his rule, the constitution was being amended and no one was allowed to challenge him for the post of the President. In 1983, 1988 and in 1993, he was the sole candidate. In 1998 and 2003, he allowed others to contest in the initial stage in which he was able to achieve 100% votes of the parliament. Public referendums are more like a celebration of Gayyoom's rule. Candidates who challenge him are not allowed to lobby with the Members of the Parliament. No popular public figure is allowed to stand in his way. "If I resign now and challenge him I will be thrown in jail" Dr. Munavvaru said in 2003 when a I asked him to resign from the post of Attorney General and stand for Presidency.

Until the amendment of the constitution in 1997, there was no way for a person to challenge him. The procedure that Members of the Parliament decides and votes on a candidate who is then elected upon achieving no less than 50% in a public referendum. On top of the 8 appointed members, Gayyoom makes sure that the Members of the Parliament are on his side. Anyone who expresses any dissent is quickly defamed and eliminated. When Gayyoom was challenged by Ilyas Ibrahim, his brother in law and then the (State) Minister of Defence as well as Trade, He was defamed and stripped off his powers. Ilyas ended up living in exile for over 4 years.

In the Parliamentary election, arbitrary arrests during election are common. These have been reported by Amnesty International as well. Candidates who are sponsored by the government have a free hand in campaigning whilst the others are restricted what they can say, who they can meet whilst canvassing or lobbying. These candidates can use state funds to gain support and usually are supported by their Minister like Gayyoom's brothers Abdullah Hameed (Atolls Minister and then Speaker of the Majlis) or Yameen (Trade Minister). In addition to that there are 8 members out of 50 appointed by the President in the Parliament. This autocratic system gives him enormous powers and he comes out overwhelming majority in all Presidential referendums, well above 90%. [Maldives Presidential Referendum 2003]

Gayyoom has never experienced any organised opposition until recently. Dissident Maldivians decided at last to launch a full assault on the regime and expose his tyranny. As a result, in just a few months Gayyoom and his government began to crumble down and fall apart. Majority of Maldivians know that this man is ruling the country with fear and intimidation, with the power of the gun. The people are now restless and determined to bring an end to Gayyoom's 26 years of dictatorship.

Furthermore, the world at large is now aware of his Secret Dictatorship (a secret no more) and his total disregard for the rule of law and human rights. World media and international organization and individual governments are no longer in any doubt as to the political situation in the Maldives. A human rights abuse in Maldives is quite appalling and well documented.

By locking up and detaining the most respected reformist Gayyoom hopes to eliminate opposition to his rule and have a free hand in amending the constitution. The European Union referred to them as 'the democratic future' of the Maldives. This abuse of power by Gayyoom has been strongly condemned by regional governments as well as international organizations. Maldives might be small but it is a member of the global community. Her people also deserve liberty and freedom; a right to an affluent life.

Gayyoom knows that he stands no chance of getting re-elected in a free and fair democratic election. Furthermore he knows that in the upcoming parliamentary election next month, he 'government sponsored candidates' stand to loose almost all elected seats of the parliament to reformist candidates. This could lead to a vote of NO CONFIDENCE and the end to his tyranny. He therefore wants to ensure that all reformists are behind bars whilst the parliamentary elections are held. Government candidates are already canvassing and lobbying around the islands.

There is no doubt that if we work in unity our hopes and dreams will come true. Our tiny nation belongs to us all not to Gayyoom and his cronies. So what can we do now is the question. The people can refrain from voting in the upcoming parliamentary elections unless reformists are released and allowed to contest. According to pundits, as many as 30 potential candidates are behind bars, being held in solitary confinement without a charge.

Parliamentary election dates also must be changed because the government candidates have had a free hand over the last few months in lobbying around the country, which is in fact against the law in Maldives. Candidates are required to submit their campaign material and get approval from the Election Commissioner prior to engaging any lobbying.

The world must not give this tyrant any more time. It is now time for freedom to prevail in our tiny country. We, the Maldivians have an obligation to stand by our leaders who are behind bars. We have to make sure that they represent us in our parliament. We must therefore boycott the upcoming elections to show our solidarity and unity as well as our collective wish for change in the Maldives.