In praise of the demonstrators :: Maldives News :: Dhivehi Observer

Nashid Column

In praise of the demonstrators

by Dr. Ibrahim Nashid - ibrahimnash@gmail.com, G. Keneree Ge, Male', 30 January 2006

The peaceful demonstration by the supporters of the Maldivian Democratic Party on last Tuesday and the events preceding it brought out a few truths home. First and foremost, it must be clear now to even to the most ardent supporters of Gayoom that the violence in our society is created by the security forces under the control of Gayoom. For once when the security forces refrained from beating the public, whom they are legally obliged to protect, the peacefulness of our society, despite the vast number that joined the gathering, was visible for all to see. Although it was the first time in the history of the Maldives that the people gathered in public to demonstrate their dislike of a ruling government, the people conducted themselves as if they were old hands in such matters of democracy. Thereby they proved those wrong those who have been claiming that the general public does not understand the meaning of democracy.

It is important to applaud the impeccable behaviour of the crowd that gathered last Tuesday, in particular when compared to the conduct of some of Gayoom's ministers in the build up to the demonstration. The foreign minister's behaviour was more that of a street thug than the senior diplomat of a government. Perhaps he would now stop prophesizing the death of the Maldivian Democratic Party, although we cannot completely expect him or any other minister in Gayoom's government to stop lying. Fortunately for the Maldivian public, the government's lies are very quickly exposed these days either by local or international media. Most notable in this is the recent press statement by the European Union contradicting Dr. Shaeed's blabbering on Maldivian television regarding the pace of Gayoom's so called reforms.

The people showed real courage in coming out despite the threats from the police and the Attorney General. This is the same Attorney General who claimed a few months ago that one has to fight for rights. I would like to inform the Attorney General, in case he has forgotten, that his duty by law is to defend the rights of the citizens and not the thugs of the security forces. However, like younger sons who try to please a patriarch, the "new Maldives" ministers are trying hard to make fools of themselves. Now the Attorney General is threatening to charge those who took part in the demonstration. I would like to see him charge and sentence a good part of the population of Male'. Not only because he will not have the courage to take his threat forward, but also because it would have the ideal effect of breaking down the whole system of detention in the country.

While the people were displaying their courage, the leader of the security forces was cowardly hiding abroad. Recently, whenever the situation got tense, Gayoom had very conveniently arranged a foreign trip to a friendly Arab country. I wonder what he would do if he was caught unawares by a spontaneous demonstration. Perhaps he has got enough cardboard boxes hidden somewhere in his palace now.

Maybe the police acted with restraint on Tuesday due to the large number of demonstrators or maybe it was because Gayoom was trying to score a point in front of the international public. He is fully aware of the impending visit of the Commonwealth delegation to get all parties to meet to discuss a way forward. I do not think Gayoom is brave or intelligent enough to meet with the opposition to discuss his resignation. It is very likely that he will find some excuse not to attend and send a minister who is powerless to negotiate.

If the opposition is going to negotiate a settlement with Gayoom's government, I would call on them not to allow Gayoom a safe passage outside the country. He should be brought to justice for the suffering he has caused to the Maldivian public for almost thirty years. It is important for our democracy and for the people's respect for the law and the judiciary that Gayoom be tried and sentenced respectfully by a Maldivian court of law. It would be very easy to allow him a safe passage abroad and to think that we are rid of him. We may get rid of him in that way, but we cannot build a better future and system unless we confront our problems head on. When Ibrahim Nasir left, a lot of people said the same could not happen again. Yet we have experienced almost thirty years of more corruption and brutality than during the reign of Nasir.

The events of last Tuesday indicated that the leaders of the opposition can control the public and the public are willing to trust them. I think a lot of the dreams of a brighter and more democratic future would be shattered if the leaders of the opposition allowed Gayoom to get away scot-free.

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